Updated September 2026 · 14 products compared
By Stef Zeps · The Gear Post · How we choose and rank gear
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 judge 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.
Our top picks
Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 2 real product photos on file.
$249.95
Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file.
$1449.99
Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file.
$79.95
The ranking, 1 to 10
- 1
Held Air n Dry Gore-Tex GlovesBest overallHeld
Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 2 real product photos on file.
Two gloves in one: a vented chamber for dry days, a waterproof one for rain.
See prices$249.95
- 2
Klim Badlands Pro A3 JacketBest premiumKlim
Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file.
The reference adventure jacket: Gore-Tex Pro, D3O armour, built to outlast the bike.
See prices$1449.99
- 3
Klim
Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 2 real product photos on file.
Hot-weather mesh riding pants with D3O armour where it matters.
See prices$329.99
- 4
Alpinestars
Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file.
A CE Level 2 back insert that fits most jacket back pockets.
See prices$79.95
- 5
Gerbing
Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 2 real product photos on file.
Bike-powered heated liner that turns a three-season jacket into a winter one.
See prices$219
- 6
Scorpion EXO
Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 2 real product photos on file.
Adventure-style shell with a removable liner and huge vent panels.
See prices$269.95
- 7
REV'IT
Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file.
Simple leather short gloves that break in fast and last for years.
See prices$89.99
- 8
REV'IT
Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file.
Single-layer PWR|Denim jeans that look like Levi's and slide like armour.
See prices$219.99
- 9
Alpinestars
Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file.
A ventilated sport-touring shell with CE Level 2 armour at the shoulders and elbows.
See prices$269.95
- 10
REV'IT
Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track.
Mesh everywhere, priced like a beginner jacket, armoured like a serious one.
See prices$179.99
Side by side
- Held Air n Dry Gore-Tex GlovesPrice varies
- Best for
- Best overall
- Protection
- Gauntlet
- Verdict
- Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 2 real product photos on file.
- Klim Badlands Pro A3 JacketPrice varies
- Best for
- Best premium
- Protection
- Gore-Tex Pro 3L
- Verdict
- Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file.
- Klim Induction Pro PantPrice varies
- Protection
- Karbonite mesh
- Verdict
- Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 2 real product photos on file.
- Alpinestars Nucleon KR-Cell Back ProtectorPrice varies
- Best for
- Best value
- Protection
- Insert
- Verdict
- Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file.
- Gerbing 12V Heated Jacket LinerPrice varies
- Protection
- 12 V bike
- Verdict
- Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 2 real product photos on file.
- Scorpion EXO Yosemite JacketPrice varies
- Protection
- Touring
- Verdict
- Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 2 real product photos on file.
- REV'IT Monster 3 GlovesPrice varies
- Protection
- Short
- Verdict
- Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file.
- REV'IT Lombard 3 Riding JeansPrice varies
- Protection
- Regular
- Verdict
- Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file.
- Alpinestars T-SP5 Rideknit JacketPrice varies
- Protection
- Sport
- Verdict
- Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file.
- REV'IT Eclipse 2 JacketPrice varies
- Protection
- Regular
- Verdict
- Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track.
| Product | Best for | Protection | Our verdict | Reference price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Held Air n Dry Gore-Tex Gloves | Best overall | Gauntlet | Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 2 real product photos on file. | Price varies | See details |
| Klim Badlands Pro A3 Jacket | Best premium | Gore-Tex Pro 3L | Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file. | Price varies | See details |
| Klim Induction Pro Pant | — | Karbonite mesh | Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 2 real product photos on file. | Price varies | See details |
| Alpinestars Nucleon KR-Cell Back Protector | Best value | Insert | Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file. | Price varies | See details |
| Gerbing 12V Heated Jacket Liner | — | 12 V bike | Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 2 real product photos on file. | Price varies | See details |
| Scorpion EXO Yosemite Jacket | — | Touring | Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 2 real product photos on file. | Price varies | See details |
| REV'IT Monster 3 Gloves | — | Short | Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file. | Price varies | See details |
| REV'IT Lombard 3 Riding Jeans | — | Regular | Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file. | Price varies | See details |
| Alpinestars T-SP5 Rideknit Jacket | — | Sport | Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track, 1 real product photo on file. | Price varies | See details |
| REV'IT Eclipse 2 Jacket | — | Regular | Strong owner feedback across the retailers we track. | Price varies | See details |
Held Air n Dry Gore-Tex Gloves
Our top-ranked pick right now. Prices move constantly — check the live listing.
How we rank
Positions are ordered from the data we hold, recalculated every time this page loads: the latest recorded price against its own recent history, how many North American retailers we can confirm stock the item, nightly link health checks and whether we hold real product photography. Broken listings drop out automatically. We do not publish an overall numeric score — read the full editorial methodology for what that means.
CE rating first
EN 1621 Level 2 is the stricter of the two impact classes for shoulder, elbow, knee and back pads; Level 1 is the lower threshold. Garment classes under EN 17092 (C through AAA) grade the shell itself. Both are lab tests, not crash predictions, and fit decides whether either helps.
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 ranks 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
Owner feedback gathered across retailers catches the failures certification misses — seams that fail, zips that jam, sizing two numbers off. We read it; we do not turn it into a number.
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.
Related riding gear guides
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