The invention relates to a reinforcing material formed from bulked fibres that are combined in the form of a mat or a nonwoven. The bulked fibres differ as regards the material or degree of bulking. Alternatively or in addition, unbulked fibres are used. In the process for the production of the reinforcing material, the endless elementary threads having a high modulus of elasticity arranged parallel to one another in a roving, yarn or slightly twisted yarn are forced apart or separated from one another with an aqueous binder-containing suspension of particles of the unblown precursor of the hollow plastics spheres of particle size ranging from 5 to 10 nullm and the resultant interstices are largely filled with the particles, and the material thus obtained is subjected for the necessary time to the temperature required for the blowing process of the particles of the precursor, and this is processed further to form a mat using rovings, yarns or slightly twisted yarns that have been variously blown or not blown, and/or using rovings, yarns or slightly twisted yarns that consist of other materials. The reinforcing material is used for the production of lightweight laminates of thermosets. Compared to the prior art lightweight laminates with an excellent loading capacity can be produced.