Is CE Level 2 armour worth the extra money?

Yes, at the elbows, shoulders and knees. Level 2 transmits roughly half the impact force of Level 1 in the standard test. It is slightly thicker and warmer, which is the trade you are making.

Do I need a back protector if my jacket has a foam insert?

Most stock inserts are comfort padding, not certified protection. Check for a CE marking on the insert itself; if it is absent, a certified back protector is the highest-value upgrade in your kit.

Textile or leather for everyday riding?

Modern textile with AA-rated fabric is the practical choice for commuting and touring — waterproof options, better ventilation, easier to live with. Leather still leads on abrasion resistance for sport riding.

How should riding gear fit?

Snug enough that armour stays over the joint when you reach for the bars, loose enough for a base layer underneath. Sit on your own bike in the riding position before deciding — standing fit is misleading.

The Gear Post

Updated August 2026 · 0 products compared

Best riding gear for bikers

Riding gear is the only product category on this site where getting it wrong has a physical cost. So the ranking leans on certification and abrasion performance before it looks at styling.

Fit is the variable we cannot score for you: armour that floats away from the joint protects nothing. Treat this list as the shortlist, then buy from a retailer with a return window and try it on over your usual layers.

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Our recommendations are editorially independent.

We're re-scoring this category right now — check back shortly, or browse the full collection.

How we rank

Positions are scored from live data every time this page loads: rider ratings, the current price against its own recent history, how many North American retailers stock the item, nightly link health checks and whether we hold real product photography. Broken listings drop out automatically.

CE rating first

Level 1 armour is the floor; Level 2 absorbs meaningfully more impact energy at the shoulder, elbow and knee. Garment-level AA or AAA ratings tell you how the shell itself handles a slide.

Armour placement and adjustment

Pockets that let the pad shift are close to useless. Gear that keeps armour anchored over the joint through a full riding position scores higher than gear with more pads placed badly.

Ventilation that works at a stop

Anything you stop wearing in July protects you zero percent of the time. Through-vents with exhaust panels beat a mesh liner and a marketing claim.

Real rider feedback over lab numbers alone

Aggregate rider ratings across retailers catch the failures certification misses — seams that fail, zips that jam, sizing two numbers off.

Frequently asked questions

Is CE Level 2 armour worth the extra money?: Yes, at the elbows, shoulders and knees. Level 2 transmits roughly half the impact force of Level 1 in the standard test. It is slightly thicker and warmer, which is the trade you are making.
Do I need a back protector if my jacket has a foam insert?: Most stock inserts are comfort padding, not certified protection. Check for a CE marking on the insert itself; if it is absent, a certified back protector is the highest-value upgrade in your kit.
Textile or leather for everyday riding?: Modern textile with AA-rated fabric is the practical choice for commuting and touring — waterproof options, better ventilation, easier to live with. Leather still leads on abrasion resistance for sport riding.
How should riding gear fit?: Snug enough that armour stays over the joint when you reach for the bars, loose enough for a base layer underneath. Sit on your own bike in the riding position before deciding — standing fit is misleading.

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