Helstons Sonny Mesh Jacket Product Review: Three Month Update

The not so good bits

It's heavy

The Helstons is all about style, quality and protection. But, the downside to the latter two is weight. So, unlike most mesh jackets, the Sonny feels heavy to carry around. Thankfully, once worn, it's manageable. It has a nice fit too.

Button vs velcro

The other downside to the Sonny is the button closure for the wrist. Unlike velcro which gives you a more precise fit, the preset button fit can cause the jacket sleeve to ride up your arm. It also doesn't feel comfortable under a full gauntlet glove. But, of course, the buttons look way cooler than velcro. Just saying.

The good bits

It looks great

And it feels great too. Like the expensive thing that it is. The race stripes add a hint of nostalgia to the jacket and though we have one in black, we'd recommend the blue. It just looks better, 'nothing says chic like black', notwithstanding.

It rides cool

The mesh on the Sonny is fine but extremely effective. Whether you are riding in stop and go city traffic or covering long miles on a hot, sultry day, the air-flow on the Helstons rarely leaves you stifled or hot. It doesn't wick the sweat off too well, so choose your inner wear accordingly.

Ticks the right safety boxes

Mesh jackets in general aren't good against abrasion. And it is especially true for the all-mesh variety. The Sonny is an all-mesh jacket, and though we haven't crash-tested it yet, thankfully, the jacket material does give us confidence. It might not work wonders in a 100 miles per hour crash, but at 100kmph, or even 120kmph, there's no doubt the Sonny will hold. And it will hold well.

Then there's the armour

For most jackets one has to purchase the armour separately. And even when it comes as standard, it's rarely CE Level 2. The Helstons gets a CE level 2 armour as standard. And it's the memory foam type. So, it's soft and malleable, which makes it easy to wear and live with. But, it hardens on impact, giving the right impact-protection needed to cut the probability of breaking bones.

It's a quality item

We mentioned in our first report that everything from the zippers to the buttons to the material on the Helstons feels top notch. That hasn't changed after constant use over the months. No stitching has come loose, no fabrics have frayed, zipper function is still smooth, the buttons clip into place with the just the right resistance, and the jacket hasn't lost colour even after a couple of good washes.

Would I buy one?

I think if I were riding any of the Triumph classic range, or one of the Ducati Scramblers, not to mention any one of the Harleys, I'd buy the Helstons without batting an eyelid. It fits right in.

Yes, the jacket is expensive, but it will last. And the longer it lasts, the more you will love it. It's just one of those items.

Product Details

Seller: MotoPoto LLP

Make: Helstons

Model: Sonny Mesh

Price: Rs 15,990

Photography by Kapil Angane