Rukka Review - the boys really put these to the test!!

I was asked to review the rainwear made by Finnish company Rukka thanks to Sunproof. Little did they know at this point that it really would be tested to the limit. My chief testers were Sam (aged 6) and Harry (aged 3) and they wear waterproofs most days at school / Nursery. Sam and Harry attend a school which is owned by a Forest School practitioner and one of their clear expectations is that the children go outside daily come rain or shine, both for the traditional playtime, but they use their outside area as a ‘classroom’. My boys LOVE it but I have to know that they will be warm and dry of course. They are actively encouraged to get wet and get muddy - what could be better for two little boys?

Rukka rainwear has been brought to the UK thanks to Sunproof. It is very popular in Finland and is becoming more well-known here in the UK. We were asked to test and review the dungarees and the Rain jackets. Sam picked navy whilst Harry picked yellow (apparently it looks like Fireman Sam….or is it a lifeboat man?). You can also buy over trousers, sou’wester hats as well as adult rainwear too.

The parcel arrived within 24 hours of ordering, and the new ‘gear’ was promptly tested for size - phew Mummy was spot on with her sizing. As many of you will know, if the children are enthusiastic to wear something then it can make life much easier….Harry in particular falls in to this category! I had promised Sunproof that these outfits would get a ‘tough’ testing….it wouldn’t just be jumping in muddy puddles that was for sure. My boys attend a school which carries out ‘Forest Schools’ and both do at least one ‘out doors’ Forest Schools activity each week. The school, is owned by a Forest School practitioner so this ethos drips down in to everything they do - they wear waterproofs on a daily basis and scramble though their mini forest…on a daily basis. Even in the Baby Room, children wear their waterproofs on a daily basis generally.

So - how did we test out the Rukka rainwear I hear you ask….it’s had a three-month trial and has been used at least 4 times a week (more over the last month or so), clambering over rocks at the beach, ‘surfing’ down sand dunes, paddling in the sea in November (beach covered in snow), orienteering through a forest, climbing trees, absailing down a mountain (well, that was how Sam described it but it was actually a mound and the ropes they used were vines…very Bear Ghrylls), sledging down the ‘steepest hill in the world’ (Harry’s words, not mine) with and without a sledge as well as the inevitable ‘slashing in muddy puddles’ Peppa-Pig style!!!

I love the fact that these are dungarees rather than an all in one now that my boys are a little older - I also think that it gives them a longer ‘wearing life’ as you can change the length of the shoulder strap. They come higher than their waist, giving them ‘chill-prevention’ as well as keeping jumpers safely tucked in. Another small but important addition is the reflective strips as a precautionary safety measure. (see photo below!)

 

We have used the Rukka outfits considerably during the snow and Sam preferred this to his ski sallopettes. I asked him why and he said that they were easier to get on. I was concerned that they might be a little cold but the Rukka jacket is actually quite thick and they have ample room to put a warm coat on underneath. In fact Harry did and although he looked a little like the Michelin Man around his bottom he had plenty of room - I have often struggled to zip up an all-in-one once the children are layered up to be honest. Neither boys complained despite sub-zero temperatures (of course they were well wrapped up with plenty of layers).

These really have been put to the test - we took the boys sledging at the weekend and Harry decided to sledge down the hill on his bottom (and side, and front). I was a little concerned that they might rip but they didn’t - the material is very strong indeed.

So - the burning question is, would I buy these outfits with my hard-earned cash myself? The answer is easy…yes! Why? I love the way they look, the quality and durability plus how long they will last them due to the fact that these are separates rather than an all in one. At £47.50 a set (dungarees and coat), they are not the cheapest waterproofs on the planet but when you consider that you don’t have to buy another Mac or raincoat, the price seems more acceptable to me. We have tried various brands and these are by far my favourite.

The best way to show you what Rukka Rainwear can do is via a few photos - so take a look below!