Held Lonborg Review - A Sensible Laminated Touring Suit for Real-World Riding

There is a reason laminated motorcycle clothing gets so much attention. For riders who spend serious time on the road, especially in British weather, it solves one of the biggest frustrations with textile kit. When the waterproof membrane is bonded directly to the outer shell, the suit does not soak up water in the same way as a traditional drop-liner setup. It stays lighter in the rain, dries faster afterwards, and usually offers far more effective venting when the weather turns warm.

The problem, historically, has been price. Laminated touring and adventure gear has often sat firmly in premium territory, which means a lot of riders like the idea of it long before they like the cost of it. That is where the Held Lonborg becomes interesting. It is aimed at riders who want the key benefits of a laminated suit without immediately stepping into the highest price bracket.

At Moto Central, we see a lot of riders trying to find that balance. They want something waterproof enough for regular UK use, ventilated enough for summer riding, protective enough to feel like a genuine upgrade, and comfortable enough to live with over long days in the saddle. On paper, the Held Lonborg promises to sit right in that gap. In practice, it turns out to be one of the more sensible all-round options in its category.

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Watch The Held Lonborg Video Review

If you want to see the suit in more detail, including how it looks and feels in hand, the full video review is above. For those who prefer a written breakdown, here is the blog version.

Why The Held Lonborg Stands Out

The biggest appeal of the Lonborg is not that it tries to be the most technical or most premium laminated suit on the market. It is that it focuses on the things most touring riders actually care about. The jacket comes in at £389.95 and the trousers at £294.95, which immediately puts it in a much more approachable position than a lot of laminate-based competition.

That pricing matters because it shifts the conversation. Instead of asking whether this is a direct rival to the most expensive expedition suits on the market, the more useful question is whether it delivers the main advantages of laminate in a package that still feels realistic to buy. For many riders, that is exactly what it does.

The outer construction uses a laminated shell, so the waterproofing is built in rather than relying on a separate loose membrane. In day-to-day use, that means less water retention, less soggy bulk, and a suit that feels more ready for unpredictable conditions. That is the real appeal of laminate and it is why riders who have used it before are often reluctant to go back.

Key Held Lonborg Features

Comfort Matters More Than Spec Sheets Suggest

One of the easiest ways for a laminated suit to disappoint is in how it feels. Even when the protection and weatherproofing look good on paper, some cheaper laminated garments can come across stiff, awkward and slightly overbuilt. That is one of the first areas where the Lonborg makes a better impression than expected.

For laminated kit, it feels surprisingly easy to wear. It is softer and more flexible than a lot of riders assume it will be, which makes a difference the moment you try it on. Touring riders in particular tend to care less about whether a suit sounds dramatic in marketing language and more about whether it is comfortable after several hours on the bike. The Lonborg feels designed with that in mind.

That also helps explain why, despite its adventure styling, it often appeals just as strongly to road-biased touring riders as it does to people specifically shopping for adventure kit. In the real world, many riders are not buying these suits to cross deserts or hammer through deep mud. They are buying them for commuting, weekends away, longer road trips and mixed British conditions. That is exactly where the Lonborg feels most at home.

A Strong Balance Of Protection Without Excessive Bulk

The Held Lonborg is AA rated under the EN 17092 standard, which is a reassuring place for a touring and adventure textile suit to sit. For most road riders, AA represents a very sensible middle ground. It offers a meaningful level of abrasion and seam performance without pushing the garment into the sort of weight or stiffness that can make some higher-rated kit feel less practical for everyday use.

It also comes with Level 2 armour in the key impact areas, which is a genuine plus at this price point. Too many mid-range textile suits still arrive with a more basic armour specification, so having Level 2 protectors included straight out of the box gives the Lonborg a more complete feel. It contributes to the sense that this is a properly thought-through riding suit rather than something built to hit a headline price and then padded out with optional extras later.

Just as importantly, the suit does not feel excessively bulky as a result. That balance is important. Protection matters, but touring kit only really works when riders are happy to wear it all day. The Lonborg does a good job of giving reassuring specification without becoming cumbersome.

The Venting Is One Of Its Best Features

The other area where the Lonborg makes a convincing case for itself is ventilation. This is often where laminate either proves its worth or falls apart. The whole advantage of the construction is that, when the vents are open, airflow should reach the rider properly rather than getting trapped behind a waterproof barrier. When that works well, a laminated suit becomes much more versatile across a wider temperature range.

On the Held Lonborg, the venting feels like a genuine feature rather than a box-ticking exercise. The chest vents move a worthwhile amount of air, and together with the rear exhaust venting and trouser ventilation, the overall effect is far better than many riders expect from waterproof touring kit. It gives the suit a much broader comfort window, especially for road riding through spring and summer.

That does not mean it behaves like mesh gear in the height of summer, because it does not. It is still a laminated shell. But for riders who want one suit to handle changing conditions rather than a wardrobe full of specialist kit, the venting is strong enough to make the Lonborg feel genuinely usable in warmer weather.

If there is one slightly fiddly point, it is that the larger chest vent arrangement is not the sort of thing you casually tidy away mid-ride with one hand. It works, but it is worth closing properly. That is not a major flaw, just one of those small details that becomes obvious when you actually live with the suit.

How It Feels In Everyday Use

Where the Lonborg scores particularly well is in the ordinary, practical details that riders notice after the first few rides. It does not feel overly heavy. It has enough adjustment to stop the fit becoming baggy or unsettled at speed. The armour sits well, and the overall cut feels more streamlined than some adventure-style textile suits tend to be.

The fit itself is generally close to what most British riders would expect, which is helpful. There is always the usual need to try things on where possible, but this is not one of those garments that feels wildly disconnected from normal sizing expectations. One point worth keeping in mind is that the trousers can feel slightly long in the leg on shorter riders, so that is something to pay attention to when matching them with boots and checking the riding position.

The jacket sleeves are also a useful length and work well with different glove styles, which is one of those details that often gets overlooked until it becomes annoying on the bike. In general, the Lonborg feels like a suit designed by people who understand that touring riders notice the cumulative effect of small comfort details.

Useful Features Without Overcomplication

Practicality is another strength. The Lonborg includes the sort of features most riders actually use, rather than filling the suit with gimmicks. The outer pockets are waterproof and useful, and there is a handy quick-access zip pocket that makes a real difference when you are stopping for fuel or trying to grab something simple without opening the jacket fully.

Inside, there is sensible storage for everyday essentials, including a pocket clearly intended with modern items like phones in mind. On the trousers, the overall usability is equally solid. They are comfortable enough to wear over normal clothes when needed, which adds to the suit’s appeal for commuting and mixed-use riding rather than purely leisure use.

There is also enough adjustment throughout the suit to help keep the fit tidy and the armour correctly positioned. That is important not just for comfort, but for safety as well. A suit can have good armour on paper, but it still needs to sit where it is supposed to sit when you are actually riding.

Waterproofing And Year-Round Practicality

For most riders considering a suit like this, the central question is simple: can it handle a typical British riding year? The Held Lonborg makes a strong argument that it can. Because the waterproof membrane is laminated into the shell, it is always ready for bad weather. There is no separate waterproof liner to install at the side of the road, and there is none of the heavy, soaked outer-layer feel that riders often end up disliking with cheaper waterproof systems.

The removable thermal liners broaden its range further. They are not designed to turn the suit into deep-winter expedition wear, but they do make it more adaptable through spring, autumn and cooler days, and there is enough room in the overall cut to make layering underneath realistic.

For riders doing relentless winter motorway mileage in all weathers, there are more specialist options out there. But for the majority of road-focused riders who want something dependable across commuting, weekends away and longer trips, the Lonborg covers a lot of ground.

Laminated Suit vs Drop-Liner Suit

If you are comparing the Held Lonborg against more traditional waterproof textile kit, the main difference is how the waterproofing is built into the garment.

Back Protection, Chest Protection And Future Upgrades

The Lonborg also makes sense for riders who like the option to build on a suit over time. It does not include a back protector as standard, but it is set up to accept Held’s D3O Level 2 back protector, and there is provision for chest protection as well. That means riders can start with a strong base package and upgrade further if they want a more complete protection setup.

One particularly useful inclusion is its compatibility with Held’s clip-in air vest system. That gives the suit a useful bit of future-proofing. More riders are thinking seriously about airbag protection than ever before, and it is a real advantage when a jacket is already designed to work with that sort of upgrade rather than needing to be replaced entirely.

Who The Held Lonborg Is Really For

The Lonborg makes the most sense for riders who want a capable laminated touring suit without paying premium money for a premium badge. It suits road-biased adventure riders, commuters who want something more versatile than a basic textile setup, and touring riders who value comfort just as much as specification.

It is particularly strong for people who want one outfit to do a bit of everything reasonably well. It vents better than many waterproof suits in its price range, feels more comfortable than some cheaper laminate options, and offers a protection package that feels properly competitive. It is not trying to be racewear, and it is not pretending to be top-end expedition kit. That honesty is part of its appeal.

There is also a ladies version available, which is worth highlighting because too many touring and adventure ranges still fail to offer a genuinely considered women’s option. That broader availability makes the Lonborg range a much more practical proposition for a wider group of riders.

Shop The Held Lonborg Range At Moto Central

If you want to take a closer look at the Held Lonborg range, you can find the main options below on our website.

Held Lonborg Jacket

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Held Lonborg Trousers

View trousers

We stock the full Held range at Moto Central, and if your exact size or preferred variant is not currently on the rail, we can order it in directly.

Is The Held Lonborg Worth Buying?

The best way to describe the Held Lonborg is probably this: it feels like a grown-up choice. It does not rely on exaggerated styling or inflated claims. Instead, it offers the practical benefits riders actually want from laminated touring clothing - waterproof performance, useful venting, solid protection and good everyday comfort - at a price point that is far easier to justify than many of its rivals.

That makes it one of the more convincing mid-range laminated suits for riders who want genuine all-round usability. It is comfortable enough for long days, ventilated enough for warmer riding, protective enough to inspire confidence, and practical enough to work well in the everyday conditions that matter most.

If you want laminated touring kit that stays grounded in the real world, the Held Lonborg is well worth serious consideration.

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Explore More Touring Gear

If you are building a touring setup, you may also find these Moto Central pages useful:

• Shop Motorcycle Touring Gear
• Shop Motorcycle Jackets
• Shop Motorcycle Trousers
• Visit The Moto Central Showroom