The Held Zorro textile trousers are designed for use when touring and commuting from spring to autumn, however I wore these trousers through a thoroughly wet English winter on a BMW R1250RT. Over 1000 miles in total, including 450 miles in heavy rain, made sure these trousers faced a thorough test.
Held's positioning of these trousers as touring kit makes sense. They’re versatile enough for commuting and general road riding, though less suited to high-mobility adventure riding in hotter climates.
I wore the trousers in combination with the Held Zorro ST jacket, which I have also reviewed.
Fit & comfort
I wore a size medium with a short leg, which is my usual size when a short-leg option is available. Overall fit through the hips and legs is good, though the waist is slightly generous. Even with the adjusters pulled in, I still had some slack.
On the bike that wasn’t a major issue, especially when zipped to the matching jacket. Off the bike, though, the waistband didn’t always stay put and occasionally needed hitching up. The upside is that the extra room allows easy accommodation of winter base layers.
Comfort-wise, I’ve no real complaints. These trousers are easy to live with, comfortable in the saddle and are perfectly fine when walking around - aside from that slightly loose waist.
Something that's worth noting: the size range is extensive, with a wide range of waist sizes and three leg lengths available. This is something you don’t always see in this price bracket.
Cold & wet weather performance
These trousers use a drop-liner waterproof membrane and a removable thermal liner, though the thermal layer is very thin.
Photography: Jose Mas
In temperatures down to 1°C I never felt genuinely cold, just slightly chilled at times, though I put this down to looking after my core temperature by wearing good layers around my torso. Also, the substantial fairing of a BMW R1250RT and occasional use of the heated seat undoubtedly helped. I don't feel the thermal liner adds a huge amount of insulation, so in deeper winter it'll be a matter of relying on layering and overall body warmth rather than the trousers themselves.
Where these trousers impressed me was in the wet.
Over 450 miles of rain - much of it torrential, including storm conditions - the trousers didn’t let in a single drop. Roads were flooded, and I rode in persistent heavy rain for long stretches, including trips from Lincolnshire to Barnsley for the Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bike Service (LEBBS). These trousers passed with flying colours.
Despite the outer and membrane not being laminated together, the outer didn’t become waterlogged or heavy. After hanging them up indoors, these trousers were dry within a couple of hours and ready to go again.
Warm weather performance
Ventilation is limited to two small vents - one on each leg, just below the pockets. They’re better than nothing, but they won’t transform these trousers into summer kit.
I didn’t test these trousers above 9°C, but based on construction and airflow, I’d see them as better suited to the cooler climates of Northern Europe than serious heat. For high-temperature touring or off-road work in hot conditions, there are more breathable options available.
Protection
These trousers carry an overall AA CE rating, with CE Level 1 D3O armour at the hips and knees.
The armour sat correctly for me straight out of the box and remained comfortable on 200-mile rides. D3O has a good reputation for being unobtrusive, and that’s certainly my experience here.
The protection package compares well with trousers costing considerably more.
Pockets
You get two zipped front thigh pockets, both of which proved waterproof over hundreds of miles of heavy rain - a solid result.
Personally, I’d welcome additional cargo-style pockets higher up the thigh for easier access to phones or bulkier items. As they stand, the main pockets can feel a little restrictive if you’re carrying larger objects.
Durability
After 1000 winter miles - much of it in grim conditions - these trousers still look good. No broken fasteners, no wear issues, no failures.
They’ve handled harsh weather without complaint and show no signs of premature ageing.
Final thoughts
These trousers aren’t the warmest I’ve worn, and the thermal liner is thin. But warmth can be managed with sensible layering - leaks can’t. And these trousers simply didn’t leak.
As budget-friendly touring trousers, they offer impressive waterproofing, a strong AA safety rating and solid everyday comfort. Paired with the matching jacket, which I've reviewed here, they form a genuinely versatile and economical suit capable of handling some truly awful British weather.
For riders working to a sensible budget who want dependable, all-season touring trousers, they’re very good value indeed.
