In our search for functional cycling clothing, we ended up in Finland this time. The Halti brand has been on the market since the 1970s, primarily for outdoor, cross-country and ski clothing. It's only logical that the company from Söderkulla near Helsinki should have come up with the idea of offering rain jackets and trousers specifically for bikers.
So we tested two of Halti's rain and windproof suits specifically designed for biking: The hardshell rain suit Liike 3 L Drymaxx Nano and the softshell combination Exhale Stormwall.
The membrane used in the hardshell jacket and rain trousers - called Drymaxx - was developed in-house by Halti. It was presented back in 1995 and is waterproof up to 20,000 mm, but at the same time breathable with a value of 25,000 g/m2/24 hours. Both values are manufacturer specifications. In this practical test, we only assessed the subjective feeling and the rainproofness in practice.
The softshell garment is windproof and breathable at the same time, although at 15,000 g/m2/24h according to the manufacturer, it is significantly less than the rain jacket. More on this in the following test report.
Halti Liike 3L Drymaxx hardshell jacket
The Liike 3L Drymaxx from Halti is a classic three-layer hardshell rain jacket - in our case even in signal neon yellow. As well as being waterproof, the in-house waterproof Drymaxx membrane is also quite breathable: not only on paper, but also on our rides in temperatures between +10 and -5°C.
As it should be, the only thing that actually built up was moisture under the rucksack. The ventilation holes under the arms, which are well positioned, probably help here, as you never have the feeling of a draught - but the climate in the jacket rarely gets sweaty. In the rain, the seams (glued) and the fabric held tight, even under the rucksack. However, we only washed the jacket once during the test.
There is a so-called Napoleon pocket on the chest for your phone and other items. The jacket has an additional pocket in the side seam, which can even hold a smartphone, but certainly small lightweight items such as bars, gels or keys. The hood of the Halti Liike rain jacket is huge, so that most helmets should also fit under it. It is also adjustable with a drawstring at the back.
Above all, the fabric of the Liike hardshell bike jacket seems to be really robust. After a fall on ice with several bruises, the Halti showed no scratches or even tears! The same applies to the rain trousers.
Only the dirt has rubbed deep into the fabric, so that it did not come out completely during washing (see photo). It should also be mentioned that the polyester fabric is pleasantly quiet, beautifully soft and also consists of 50% recycled material.
In short: This cycling jacket protects against wind and rain, keeps you warm but not too warm and is very comfortable to wear. Please note the size: The size chart on the website shows a size L at 106 cm. However, the jackets then run very large. So if you normally wear a size M with this chest circumference, you can also wear a Halti. In addition to our neon-coloured version, the Liike jacket is also available in more subtle colours such as black or blue.
The Halti Liike 3L Drymaxx rain jacket in brief
- Waterproof and breathable jacket
- Detachable and adjustable hood
- Taped seams
- Chest pocket with zip
- Additional pocket in the right side seam
- Ventilation holes under the arms
- Large reflective prints on the shoulders
- Elasticated reflective waistband at cuffs and hem
- Material: Drymaxx Nano Pro Lite
- Waterproofness: 20,000 mm
- Breathability: 25,000 g/m2/24h
- Material composition: 50 % recycled polyester, 50 % polyester - 5 colours available
- Sizes: XS to XXXL
- Price: 340.00 Euro (RRP)
Halti Liike 3L Drymaxx rain trousers
The Halti Liike 3L Drymaxx rain trousers are inconspicuous in the best sense of the word. Just like the rain jacket, they are quiet, soft, hardly sweaty or not at all and are just as robust. Neither the unavoidable blackberry thorns in my home turf nor the aforementioned fall on black ice (see photos) could harm them.
And the biggest weak point of many rain trousers, the seat area, which is maltreated by the saddle and dirt, is generously reinforced here with a polyamide fabric called "Rough Active Ripstop". So far, this has shown no signs of wear, even though a lot of water and dirt is thrown into this area when riding through the mud.
The Velcro-adjustable trouser legs prevent the fabric from getting caught in the bike chain or flapping in the wind; a concealed zip at the leg ends helps you pull them on. However, the bike shoes barely fit through the trouser legs, so you still have to take them off to jump into the Liike rain trousers. Reflective prints make the entire calf glow in the headlights.
Conclusion on the Halti Liike rain trousers
The Halti Liike rain trousers have a loose fit, are very comfortable to wear and withstand the rigours of wind and weather. The soft, very quiet fabric makes them feel almost like simple MTB trousers, except that they also reliably keep out water and dirt. And they also appear to be robust enough for frequent use. The trousers, which are only available in black, are also made from 50 % recycled fabric. So the obvious conclusion is: I like Liike. - Marc Strucken, BIKE editor
The Halti Liike 3L Drymaxx rain trousers at a glance
- Waterproof and breathable shell trousers
- Taped seams
- Adjustable and elasticated waist
- Zip pocket on the right side
- Reinforcing fabric on the seat
- With zip and adjustable trouser legs with Velcro fastener
- Reflective details
- Material 1: Drymaxx Nano Pro Lite
- Waterproofness: 20,000 mm
- Breathability: 25,000 g/m2/24h
- Material composition: 50 % recycled polyester, 50 % polyester - Material 2: Rough Active Ripstop
- Material composition: 94 % polyamide, 6 % elastane - Colour: black
- Sizes: XS to XXXL
- Price: 260.00 Euro (RRP)
Halti Exhale Stormwall softshell cycling jacket
If the winter isn't quite so cruel, i.e. it's at least dry, then the Halti Exhale Stormwall bike jacket is the right choice. This classic softshell is light(er), flexible and above all - keyword: Stormwall - windproof. It also has breathable properties.
However, with a value of 15,000 g/m2/24h, the breathability already lags behind that of the Liike rain jacket from above. This is also noticeable in practice. During heavy exertion at around -2 °C, the Exhale jacket exhaled less, i.e. breathed out less, and instead held in the warm, moist air. As a result, a lot of condensation formed on the inside. However, it is warm and windproof.
The very pleasantly warm and adjustable hood is a good feature, as are the arm cuffs, which can be adjusted with a Velcro strap. The collar is also nice and high and closes well around the neck. The fact that the Halti Exhale was derived from outdoor jackets that were primarily developed for other sports can be seen in the small details.
For example, on the front pockets. Keys or a mobile phone stowed there would hit your thighs super annoyingly when pedalling or jam between your leg and stomach in a more sporty position. This makes the jacket less bike-specific, but it is also suitable as an outdoor training jacket for the winter. Another positive aspect is that it is made entirely from recycled material.
The Halti Exhale Stormwall softshell jacket in points
- Breathable, flexible material
- Adjustable hood
- Two zip pockets
- 360° reflective details
- Material: Stormwall Softshell Breathe Stretch Recy
- Breathability: 15,000 g/m2/24h
- Material composition: 100 % recycled polyester - 3 colours available
- Sizes: XS to XXXL
- Price: 170.00 Euro (RRP)
Halti Exhale Stormwall softshell cycling trousers
My rating for the Halti Exhale Stormwall cycling trousers is along the same lines. They do offer the advantages of softshell trousers and are warm, soft and windproof. However, neither the additional insert on the seat nor the leg width really fit the bill of a typical pair of bike trousers.
The seams that hold the ripstop insert at the back are particularly noticeable when sitting in the bib with sporty, tight seat pads. The reinforced seat area is also far too small: you quickly find yourself sitting next to it and your sit bones are fighting with the seams.
In addition to the normal side pockets, which are actually not very useful for biking, there is also a side pocket in which you can at least put small items. The lower breathability compared to rain trousers is also noticeable under heavier loads due to "dampness".
Conclusion on the Halti Exhale softshell trousers
Halti's Exhale trousers are loose and nice and warm - like thick training trousers - but only like that. The seams of the small ripstop reinforcement in the seat area are unfortunately not well thought out for real use on the MTB. For all running sports, the Exhale Softshell is certainly more suitable and has its justification there. Or the other way round: I prefer to wear the Liike rain suit from Halti, which "breathes" much better and also offers 100% protection from the rain. - Marc Strucken, BIKE editor
The Halti Exhale Stormwall softshell cycling trousers at a glance
- Elasticated waist, adjustable with cord
- Zip pockets
- Zip pocket on thigh
- Raised waist at the back
- Reinforced fabric on buttocks
- Reflective details
- Material 1: Stormwall Softshell Breathe Stretch Recy
- Breathability: 15,000 g/m2/24h
- Material composition: 100 % recycled polyester - Material 2: Rough Active Ripstop
- Material composition: 94 % polyamide / 6 % elastane - Colour: Black
- Sizes: XS to XXXL
- Price: 150.00 Euro (RRP)
About Halti: Outdoor clothing from Finland
The Halti story began thanks to the realisation of a young Finn, Juhani Hyökyvaara: people should have a connection with nature and need better equipment to be outdoors in changeable weather conditions. So Halti was born in 1976.
As a young man, Hyökyvaara worked in a hiking and camping shop in Helsinki and realised that customers were looking for lighter and more functional tents, sleeping bags and rucksacks. He put his ideas into practice, founded his own company and began to design and manufacture such products.
The story is similar to the one we know from Norrona. Between 1976 and 1982, Halti invented new outdoor equipment with the Halti 100 and 200 backpacks, fibre-filled sleeping bags and nylon tents. Halti continues to support expeditions, professional athletes and competitions such as the World Ski Championships to this day.
Marc Strucken
Editor
