Rukka Air Karvik jacket in black
(RUK2117)
£499.99
Finance available with Omni Capital Retail Finance from £ per month
More Info
Alternative Views
Rukka Air Karvik jacket in black
x
If any UK retailer is selling anything at a price that is lower than ours, we will beat that price by a full 10%.For terms and conditions, click here.
(RUK2117)
£499.99
Finance available with Omni Capital Retail Finance from £ per month
More Info
Rukka Air Karvik jacket in black Product Information
This is Rukka's attempt at a Klim Marrakesh. In concept, it is very similar. In execution, it differs in a number of respects, such that one might suggest that, in some ways it's actually better than the Marrakesh, whilst in others it falls short.
Anyway, let's take a closer look at the Rukka Air Karvik, and how it's put together.
Like the Marrakesh the Air Karvik is a jacket that flows air through every panel, but it's probably too early to tell whether it flows more air or less than the Klim. It certainly won't flow as much air as its predecessor the Rukka Forsair. And that's because the Forsair was constructed from a knitted fabric known as AFT Cordura. The Air Karvik is made from a more traditional, woven fabric . This still means the jacket will flow air through every panel, but as it only features AFT Cordura under the arms it will not be as effective in this respect as its predecessor.
Where the Air Karvik betters the Forsair is in the stretch built into the outer material. The Forsair didn't have this. You could layer beneath it, but really only because it had quite a baggy fit. The new Rukka jacket is much more like the Marrakesh, although it's still not quite as stretchy, in our view.
Like the Marrakesh the Air Karvik is AA rated for abrasion resistance. This having been said, the Rukka starts with a stretch-infused 500 denier Cordura, whereas the Klim is built around a stretch-infused 1000 denier Cordura. And so even they are both AA rated, we would suggest that the Klim's outer fabric is almost certainly stronger.
But where the Rukka betters the Marrakesh is that it comes with the huge bespoke D3O Level 2 armour in the elbows and shoulders; and this will undoubtedly make the Air Karvik the more protective garment overall if you do end up going down the road. The jacket does not come with a back protector as standard. For us, the only sensible option would be the new Rheon level 2 protector, because it's the most breathable, Level 2 protector out there. The cost would be £49.99.
The main respect in which the Rukka bests the Klim, though, is in its breadth of sizing. The Klim comes in just six sizes; sizes that run from eight-stone weakling right up to Giant Haystacks. And frankly that's nowhere near enough sizes. It leads to a situation here in the shop where at least once a day the customer will be too big for one size, and way too small for the next one up. Six sizes, as we have repeatedly told Klim, is just insufficient.
Well the Air Karvik comes in no less than 11 sizes, meaning that there will be very few people who cannot be accommodated in one. The Air Karvik is going to better fit more people. It's that simple.
So what else does the Air Karvik offer?
Well, it's equipped to take a two-part, D3O chest protector, an option you don't get with the Klim.
It comes with a connecting zip to enable you to connect to the matching Air Karvik pant as well as, in theory, any Rukka pant. Luckily, as Halvarssons and Rukka use the same zips the jacket can also be used with Halvarssons' Waist Zip, allowing you to connect the jacket to any pair of jeans, or indeed any motorcycle pants equipped with belt loops. Now we can fit a Rukka/Halvarssons zip to the Marrakesh, but that's an extra cost.
You get two external pockets with the Air Karvik, one of which comes with an attached, waterproof pouch. You also get some reflective banding, as indeed you do with the Marrakesh. There are zips at the ends of the sleeves; again like the Klim.
The Air Karvik has a crotch strap for when you can't zip in. You don't get one with the Klim.
With the Marrakesh you get a useful drawstring in the waist. On the Rukka you get a couple of Velcro straps. Same purpose, different approach.
The Air Karvik is impressive, and we like it. We would suspect that in terms of airflow there won't be that much between how the two jackets perform. That may only become clear over time.
With its much larger, Level 2 armour the Rukka is going to be the more protective of the two. And particularly so once you add in a Rheon Level 2 back protector. But the downside is going to be that the Rukka jacket will not be in the same league when it comes to wearability and comfort. There's simply no way that the Rukka's Level 2 protectors can compete with the wearability afforded by the Level 1 Ghost in the Klim.
But where the Rukka lets itself down is in its look, and in its colourways. Now such considerations, one imagines, should not form part of the decision-making process, but of course they do.
The Air Karvik is all black. It looks exactly like what it is: a motorcycle jacket. Go into a restaurant, a bar or a café, and you'll look like a biker. The Marrakesh, by contrast is much more subtle; much more stylish.
There's another thing. We reckon that high air flow jackets like this are perfect for wearing in hot weather. For riding in the South of France, Spain or Italy. For crossing deserts. And jungles. Or traversing the African or Indian continents. And when the sun is shining in places like this the last thing you want to be wearing is a heat-absorbing black jacket.
Actually, Rukka does the jacket in white, although the UK importer is not bringing it in. But white is also wrong, albeit for different reasons. As we have often said, Rukka is at its best when working in a pretty monochromatic palette. They are not so good when it comes to colours. All this may sound like a minor consideration, but it's not. Black is simply the wrong colour for a jacket of this ilk.
Of course, when it comes to layering, the Air Karvik will work almost as well as the Marrakesh. Okay, so it's less stretchy, but the chances are that with the Rukka it will be easier to find a more appropriate size as a starting point.
Rukka, though, doesn't offer a windproof to wear inside the jacket. So if you want to take the chill out of a cooler day you will need Klim's Zephyr. For insulation you could wear any old fleece. But a down jacket like Klim's Maverick or Rukka's own Down-X 2 would be the warmest solution.
Rukka on its website recommends their own waterproof outer jacket to be worn over the Air Karvik, but even if the importer brought it in it would set you back well over £400. And what that means is that the Scott jacket would be the go-to. It wouldn't make sense to go for the Rukka one, even though it's made with a Gore-Tex fabric.
Now even though the Marrakesh and the Air Karvik are similar in many respects, they are also very different. And so we don't think that price will be the deciding factor. You will either be swayed by the Rukka's protective qualities. Or by the Marrakesh's style and comfort.
Nevertheless, let's talk money.
The Marrakesh costs £430. You can upgrade the standard D3O armour to D3O's Level 2 Diablo for £70, but the Rukka's much larger armour will still make it the more protective of the two. You cannot add a chest protector to the Marrakesh. Well, we have done it for one person, but the cost was in excess of £150. If you want to add a connecting belt to the Marrakesh like the one you get in the Air Karvik, you will be in for another £70.
The Rukka jacket costs £500. If protection is important to you, you'll want to pay an extra £50 for a back protector. There are pockets for a two-part chest protector. You'd be in for another £50 for the protectors themselves, however.
So that's it. Some people are going to be more aligned with the Rukka brand. Some with the Klim brand. And ultimately we think the choice may come down to something as simple as that!
The truth is that both jackets do the same job. You're just going to have to choose.
Specification
- Made from a 500 denier stretch-infused fabric
- More breathable AFT Cordura panels underneath the arms
- Two external pockets; one with inner waterproof pouch
- Supplied with Rukka's huge, Level 2, Air XTR armour in elbows and shoulders
- Pocket for back protector
- Pockets for two-part chest protector
- Velcro adjusters at hem
- Crotch strap for when not zipping in
- Zips at ends of sleeves
- Connecting zip
Warranty
Rukka jackets have a five year warranty, extendable to six years if you register within 30 days of purchase
Product Reviews
Leave us your review
Finance Options
Deposit Amount: £
Monthly Payments: £
Loan Amount: £
Payment Term: months
Total Amount Payable: £
