Body Armor & Protection

Body armor is where a little knowledge saves you from wasting money, so this hub leads with the one thing that actually decides how much a piece of armor protects you: its CE rating.The brand name and the marketing photos tell you almost nothing. The little EN 1621 label tells you everything.

Here is the rating system in plain English. EN 1621-1 covers limb armor (shoulders, elbows, hips, knees). EN 1621-2 covers back protectors. EN 1621-3 covers chest protectors against impact. Within each, there are two levels: Level 1 passes the impact test transmitting no more than a set amount of force, and Level 2transmits roughly half that — meaningfully more protection, usually for a little more bulk. When we call a back protector “Level 2,” that is a tested, certified figure from the maker, not our opinion. Where a maker doesn’t publish a rating, we say “check the listing” rather than guess.

There is one trap worth calling out up front, and it lives in the chest category. A lot of products sold as “chest protectors” are actually roost deflectors certified only to EN 14021— a stone-shield standard that stops flying dirt and debris off-road but is not an impact rating. A roost deflector is the right tool for motocross; it is not a substitute for an EN 1621-3 impact protector on the street. Our chest protectors pagesorts the two out honestly so you don’t buy roost protection thinking it’s impact armor.

The pages split by what you’re protecting. Back protectorsare the single best upgrade most riders can make — the majority of jackets ship with an empty back-pad pocket, and a CE Level 2 insert drops right in. Chest protectors add impact coverage over the sternum, which matters more than most riders realize. And armored jeansput CE armor at the knees and hips inside denim that passes as everyday wear — the practical way off riding in unprotected jeans.

Armor is also the most cost-effective safety spend after a helmet: a back protector costs less than a tank of premium fuel every couple of weeks over a season, and it protects the part of you that doesn’t heal on its own. Every tile below shows a top pick with a live price and its published certification. If you’re assembling a full kit, our beginner gear guide shows where armor fits alongside your jacket, helmet and boots.