Rukka Nivala 3.0 jacket review

Описание: 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.

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