This jacket from Dane is a serious item of kit, which demands an equally serious test.
Thankfully I had just the task for the Dane’s Limfjord 2 Gore-Tex jacket, and its matching Brondby 2 trousers, to tackle – a five-week Patagonian adventure.
The 5600-mile trip would take me south from Santiago in Chile to Ushuaia, Argentina and back north to the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires.
Patagonia is infamous for high winds and a climate that can give you all four seasons in one day. I needed gear to cope with high winds, heavy rain and temperatures ranging from 3°C to 25°C.
Over the five weeks of my trip I saw all of these extremes and more, but did the Dane jacket live up to the demands?
On the whole, it did the job I wanted but from it. As you might expect, though, the full story takes a little longer to relate.
In Patagonia’s answer to the Lake District I experienced three full days of torrential rain and temperatures that sank as low as 2°C.
On the first of these three days some water got into the jacket and ran all the way down into my boots. This sounds bad, though to me it was relatively minor as the conditions were some of the worst I have ever ridden a bike in.
At the start of each of the next two days I took the time to ensure everything was fastened properly and that the jacket inner was properly overlapping the trouser liner. This seemed to solve the problem, which meant no more wet patches for the next two days.
It’s hard to describe how bad the weather was over these three days – continuous torrential rain throughout. Most of my riding companions got wet, so it was a good result for Dane that I stayed mostly dry.
I did find it a problem, however, that the waterproof liner can only be worn on the inside. The option to wear it on the outside, offered by the Held Carese 2 I reviewed in 2017, would be useful.
Having the waterproofing on the outside means rain is repelled at first contact. If it’s inside the suit, the outer saturates and means you’re wearing wet clothing, which reduces body temperature.
My other criticism is that the jacket collar sits far too low on the neck for my liking.
Even while wearing a necktube and sitting behind the large screen on my BMW R1200GS Adventure I didn’t like the draught around my neck.
The removable Gore-Tex liner has a higher collar, although still not as high as I would like. Comfort improved with the liner in place, though it was too hot to ride with it fitted on the warmer days on my trip, so I still had to put up with the draught.
In hot conditions the suit has excellent ventilation, with a number of vents with variable opening sizes giving the option to regulate the amount of air coming in.
It has two zipped vents at the rear and a second pair on each arm – one on each upper and lower arm. In addition there are two large ventilation panels at the front, which are secured by zip and velcro, so they can open wide to let in plenty of air.
These large vents can be a bit fiddly, in particular when reconnecting the two ends of the zips to close them.
As with most well-vented adventure bike jackets I needed to add layers to keep warm in the lower temperatures. As always, my trusted heated jacket was there to comfort me when needed.
Overall, I felt this jacket was a good choice for my adventure in Patagonia, where it had to cope with very variable and at times harsh conditions.
I would just like the designers at Dane to consider two improvements if they’re creating a Limfjord 3 – increase the height of the collar and make the waterproof liner able to fit either inside or outside the jacket.
Fit & Comfort
A comfortable well tailored jacket, that has plenty of adjustment for a personalised fit. I have marked it down in this category because the collar is too low for my liking. Take care when selecting a size – practically every jacket I own is a medium, however in this jacket size small was the right one for me.
Protection
There’s CE Level 2 armour at shoulders, elbows and back – the higher of the two grades within the standard. The armour feels large enough to cover the vulnerable areas without being obtrusive. It always remained comfortable and in place.
Waterproofing
The weather I experienced in Patagonia proves the Gore-Tex lining provides a good waterproof layer. The waterproof pockets work, too. I kept a small camera in one of the outer pockets, which remained dry even after three days of torrential rain. I have marked the jacket down in this category because the liner only fits in the inside of the jacket, which means the outer jacket gets wet and as a result you lose body heat.
Build quality
The jacket feels well made and it’s constructed using quality materials.
Features
The jacket has many features for use in a variety of riding conditions. It is not a suit that will be warm enough in cold conditions for most people. Be prepared to wear warm clothes beneath the suit in cold conditions.