Rukka Nivala 3.0 jacket in black
(RUK2141)
£1499.99
Finance available with Omni Capital Retail Finance from £ per month
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Rukka Nivala 3.0 jacket in black
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(RUK2141)
£1499.99
Finance available with Omni Capital Retail Finance from £ per month
More Info
Rukka Nivala 3.0 jacket in black Product Information
The Nivala 3 suit comes about as a result of Gore introducing new, more environmentally-friendly fabrics and membranes.
Being such a significant name in the outdoor pursuits arena, Gore is keen to be seen as a brand that cares about the environment. Which is why they are determined to get ahead of the curve when it comes to the use of what are known as 'forever chemicals'. Now Teflon is just such a chemical. It has historically been used in all waterproof membranes, but Gore has developed new membranes that are just as waterproof as the old ones, but that don’t incorporate Teflon.
A new set of outer fabrics and materials, however, means that a garment has to be re-tested under EN 17092; and so Rukka decided to take this opportunity to make a few changes to the Nivala.
EN17092 and the real meaning of protection - the elephant in the room?
The Nivala has always been A-rated for abrasion resistance under EN17092. If the new Nivala had been delivered with an AA rating, but with no trade-off in terms of comfort, it would have become be easier to sell. But Rukka clearly came to the view that they could not deliver the level of comfort one associates with the Nivala if they reinforced the outer shell in the places necessary to pass at the AA level. And let's be clear; it is the Nivala's comfort that makes it such a great suit.
What needs to be appreciated is that EN17092 is not a safety standard; rather it’s a simple test of a fabric’s abrasion and tear resistance. That’s all it is.
The abrasion resistance of a fabric is not unimportant, but far more important in terms of protecting a rider is the armour that’s fitted into a jacket or pant. It’s when we hit something and come to an abrupt halt that we break bones and suffer internal injuries. Sliding down the road, by contrast, does not tend to have such serious implications, especially given that, on modern roads, the likelihood is that you won’t slide very far.
Well, the Nivala may only be rated A for abrasion resistance, but it comes with probably the most impressive suite of armour of any motorcycle suit on the market. The first thing to say is that it all meets the higher Level 2 standard. And that’s important because Level 2 armour absorbs twice as much energy as level 1 armour. But the other thing to say about the Nivala’s armour is that it’s absolutely huge.
First, and self evidently, the larger the surface area of the armour the greater are the chances that when you collide with something that object will impact the armour rather than an unprotected part of the body.
But there's a second part to this story. And it’s that the higher the rating of the armour, and the larger it is, the more it will add to a garment’s abrasion resistance.
(Despite the crucial importance of armour in protecting riders in both these ways, EN17092 has almost nothing to say about the role it plays).
In summary, the only jackets currently available in the UK that might be considered notionally more protective than the Nivala are probably Rukka's, AA-rated jackets. You will get the same, huge, Level 2 armour as the Nivala, but with an outer chassis that is technically more abrasion resistant.
But the Nivala jacket, we have to tell you, is still a lot more comfortable than all Rukka’s other jackets.
The Nivala jacket's outer chassis is what is known as 3-layer. A stretchy, outer fabric. Then a membrane that is laminated to the outer fabric. Then a protective lining. Gore's 3-layer, Pro-shell construction constitutes Gore's premier membrane. It's their most waterproof. It's their most robust. And it’s their most breathable
We have already discussed the new Teflon-free membrane, but suffice it to say that you still get Gore’s lifetime warranty on waterproofing. And this is the most solid and dependable warranty in the motorcycle, clothing world. If you think a Gore-Tex product leaks, Gore will have it tested. If the independent Gore-approved laboratory says it does, Gore will send you a replacement. It’s that simple.
There are quite a few, other detail changes between the 2 and the 3.
One significant one relates to venting. The 2 had two vents in the shoulders, two in the biceps, two up the flanks and two across the back. In addition, the 3 has two vents on the chest, and outgoing in addition to the incoming vents on the bicep. So yes it is better vented. Now nobody buys a Rukka jacket because of the venting. As a brand, Rukka is about the cold and the wet, rather than the warm and the dry. But extra vents are extra vents, so no arguments from us here.
Some years ago Rukka got hacked off with people asking for replacements for lost storm collars, which they could never supply, so they came up with the brilliant idea of sewing them permanently into the jacket's neck. But this was a mistake as it had a tendency to make the collar itself too tight around the rider's neck. Well, now the storm collar can be zipped on and off; and this time round Rukka can supply replacements.
The 3 loses the Armacor panels that were on the shoulders and elbows of the previous version. Armacor is an impressive material. It is very tear resistant, it is very abrasion resistant and it's very light. On the new jacket, the Armacor has been replaced with a combination of two different fabrics. We think it looks a little less neat and less premium. Clearly, though, it’s up to the job.
What you do now get on the biceps and forearms are poppered adjusters. The old Nivala didn't have them. Not quite sure why Rukka felt a need to add them. What we would say is that the ones on the biceps can also be used to hold the vents open.
In terms of pockets, it’s a game of swings and roundabouts. The old jacket had two external, zipped, hand pockets, one internal one and a stuff pocket on the back. The new jacket has two external, zipped, hand pockets, no pocket on the back, but potentially two on the inside, unless you opt for the two-part chest protector. You also get a credit card pocket at the bottom of the left sleeve.
The Nivala 3 comes, as standard, with a Level 2, one-piece, chest protector. It also comes, as alluded to, with the very largest, D30, Level 2 armour in the shoulders, elbows and back.
As with its predecessor, the Nivala 3 comes with Gore-Tex cuffs. Other things that remain unchanged are zips and velcro flaps at the ends of the sleeves. A connecting zip. A crotch strap. And loads of hi-vis, reflective detailing.
What has found its way back on to the back of the jacket is a largish Rukka ‘R’ logo. We have mixed feelings, as over the years we have spent too many hours arguing with customers over whether the ‘R’ rubbing off is a warranty issue or a ‘wear and tear’ issue. If this happens after the first six months, by the way, it's wear and tear!
The jacket comes equipped with a separately-worn, down inner jacket. Called the DownRide-R, we do think that it looks a bit nicer off the bike than the old one did. The men’s version comes in two colours. And if you want the gold one rather than the standard, black one, we’ll happily swap it over. Equally, if you don’t want the DownRide-R at all, we’ll buy it back from you, knocking £200 off the price of the jacket.
In summary, we consider the Rukka Nivala jacket to be the best touring and commuting jacket that money can buy. But you need to accept what it is. It may be expensive, but that doesn't mean that it does everything. It is about the wet and the cold far more than it is about the warm and the dry. Go touring in Spain, Italy or even France and you will find that the Nivala is simply too hot and sweaty.
But for what it does it's the best. It's far more comfortable than a jacket of this ilk has a right to be. It's guaranteed to be waterproof for life. And it's more protective than 99% of the jackets out there. As a Rukka jacket it also comes with a five year warranty that is extendable to six.
The Nivala jacket is not inexpensive, but for what it does, for what you get, and for the assurances it provides, we could make the case that it represents excellent value for money.
Specification
- Gore-Tex 3-layer Pro Shell outer with built-in stretch
- Guaranteed by Gore to be waterproof for life
- Reinforced at elbows and shoulders for added abrasion resistance
- CE-approved at single-A level under EN17092
- Rukka's bespoke, D3O XTR, Level 2 protectors in shoulders, elbows and back
- D3O Level 2, one-piece, chest protector
- Neoprene-lined collar for comfort and to catch rain
- Detachable storm collar
- Two water resistant, zipped, hand-warmer pockets
- Card pocket at bottom of left sleeve
- Two internal, waterproof, Napoleon pockets unless 2-part, chest protector fitted
- Vents up flanks, on chest, in shoulders, on biceps and in back
- GTX cuffs, zips and Velcro flaps at end of sleeves
- Volume adjusters at waist
- Reflective Rukka branding at front and back of jacket.
- Central Aquaseal zip protected by double storm flap with rain gutter
- Supplied with DownRide-R, down filled, inner thermal jacket. Worn separately
- Crotch strap and zip for attaching to any Rukka trouser
- Available in sizes 46 (UK 36" chest) up to 66 (UK 56" chest)
Warranty
Rukka jackets have a five year warranty, extendable to six years if registered within 28 days
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