Rukka Suki Ladies Suit
Jacket £799.99, trousers £649.99
YOU MAY wince at the price, but this is undeniably a top-end suit. Put it into perspective and you really are getting value for money.
The Suki is the latest in Rukka’s range designed especially for ladies. It’s cut for the female figure, which is important not only for style but more importantly safety – no matter how many safety features are put in a suit, if it doesn’t fit correctly then the armour will be in the wrong place.
The suit is made from a combination of Kevlar and Cordura, waterproofing comes from a three-layer Gore-tex Pro laminate, and armour is D3O which means it’s soft and flexible enough to be comfortable.
There are so many great features to this suit, but among my favourites are the double-layer cuffs. Some suits can be a real pain trying to get the cuffs over or under gloves, but this solves the whole problem. Slide the inner layer inside the glove, then fasten the outer over the top with the help of the long zip.
The suit should also take me through all seasons. Its thermal lining, which uses temperature-regulating Outlast, can be removed for warmer months. The sides of the jacket have full-length vents running from the armpit to the waist, and the trousers have similar panels on the sides of the thighs. I’ve not had the chance to wear it in warm weather yet, but for the wet and cold rides so far I’ve taken full advantage of the storm collar, which has helped keep the nasty draughts out around the neck area.
The Suki comes in three different colour schemes, but I really like the black and pink combo I’ve got. I’ve never been an advocate of pink on women’s riding gear in the past but this, for me at least, strikes just the right balance. Pink pinstriping gives the hint that I’m a female rider but also draws the eye, helping make me stand out just enough.
I’ve managed to get it really dirty already by riding on our salty, muddy and soaking wet roads, but once I’ve got home and the crud’s had a chance to dry out I’ve been able to just brush the worst of it off with a damp cloth – and it comes up as new.
The suit felt rather stiff when I first put it on but I think it’ll give a bit as I wear it more. It’s still early days with it, and I’m not fully used to it yet in so far as knowing where all the zips and pockets are – though its six waterproof pockets give me bags of room for all my essentials. At least I won’t be paying for my fuel with soggy banknotes.
While £1450 is an almighty amount to pay for a textile suit, I already feel
this isn’t ever going to let me down on a ride whatever the conditions. It feels so substantial that I’m sure that it’s going to last and be my
go-to for years. I can’t wait to have it accompany me through loads of miles in 2017. CAROLINE BARRETT