Rukka Voyage-R Trousers In Black

The Voyage-R pant has been designed to match the Voyage-R jacket, as the name suggests. The suit is basically a Nivala with stretch. The downside is that this pant is not as comfortable as the Nivala pant, but by removing the stretch from the fabric, and re-enforcing the knees and the hips with overlays of 1500 denier Cordura, Rukka has been able to accredit them to the higher AA level under EN170902. The Nivala is single-A rated. And so, even though both pants are the same in terms of impact protection, the Voyage-R pants are more abrasion resistant.

 

For waterproofing the Voyage-R pant is constructed with a 3-layer, Gore-Tex, laminated membrane. This, of course, is the last word in waterproofing and breathability. They come fitted with Rukka’s huge, level 2, D3O armour in the knees and hips.

 

A lot of the other stuff is what you’d expect. Ventilation openings on the thigh. Two external pockets. Connection zip. Adjustable leg bottoms with zips and Velcro flaps. Fittings for Rukka braces. Waist closure with double tightening. You also get Rukka’s AirCushion and Antiglide systems in the seat. The former enhances comfort and breathability. The later uses Keprotec to prevent sliding on the saddle. The pants also have stretch behind the knees, above the knees in the crotch, and below the waistband at the back.

 

The Voyage-R pants are less expensive than the Nivalas, but the Nivalas have stretch throughout, and come with a duck-down inner liner and braces. On a pari-pasu basis, the price differential is less than £10. And so, in essence, this comes down to a straight trade off between comfort and abrasion resistance.