Rukka Kingsley trousers in black

The Rukka Kingsley pants are, in many respects, similar to the Kingsley jacket; both in terms of construction and features. They are Gore-Tex, 3-layer Pro Shell laminated and have Keprotec and Armacor on the knees and hips. But unlike the Nivala, the Kingsley pant has vents on the front and back of the thighs. 
 
There’s an adjustable belt at the waist, and stretch panels at the crotch, in the knees and in the back yoke for comfort. You get two zip pockets. And lots of hi-viz strips for better night-time visibility. There’s a connecting zip for joining the pants to the jacket, but the pants also come with Rukka’s sturdy braces. Almost any boot will fit inside the leg of the Kingsley pant; anything with perhaps the exception of a full-on, plastic, off-road boot.  You also get an AirCushion system in the seat and leather patches that run up the inside of the legs into the seat area to prevent sliding, and to protect against hot exhausts.
 
D3O XTR comes in the knees and hips. For thermal insulation, just like the jacket, the pants are permanently lined with Outlast but, of course, the pants are also equipped with the separately-worn Down-Y thermal layer that you get with the Nivala pants.
 
At this end of the market, we would always expect a trousers to come in multiple leg lengths. And of course the Kingsley does. There’s a regular, a short and a long leg length. For us, it’s vital to get the right trouser leg for you and your bike. The right length of pant will see the hem of the pant sit at the middle of the ankle bone when you’re in the riding position. If it sits higher than this, there’s a good chance that the rain will be able to come up the leg and over the shaft of your boot; especially if you’re wearing shorter boots. If the hem sits lower than your ankle bone, there’s a good chance that the trouser will drag along the floor when you’re off the bike.

Where we get to on the Rukka Kingsley pant is where we get to on the Kingsley jacket, and therefore where we get to to on the suit as a whole. In our view, the Nivala pant will be more comfortable because the material on the Nivala has stretch woven into it. The Kingsley pant will be a little more protective. It will be warmer in the cold and a little cooler in the summer. And that’s down to the fixed Outlast liner and better venting. You also get more hi-viz reflectors. It is a case of you pays your money......Comfort is the Nivala suit; and indeed the Nivala is extraordinarily comfortable; especially for a Gore-Tex Pro garment. But on most of the other functional criteria, the Kingsley probably edges it. In truth, at these prices, you don’t want to get it wrong. You need to try them both on.

Read our Rukka Kingsley suit review.