CE Armor Ratings Explained: Level 1 vs Level 2

Almost every piece of protective riding gear makes a claim about armor, and almost none of those claims are explained. “CE approved,” “CE Level 2,” “CE-certified protectors” — these mean quite different things, and one of them means very little at all. Here is what the standard actually measures.

What the CE mark on armor means

CE armor is tested under the EN 1621 family of European standards. The test is straightforward in principle: the protector is placed over a force sensor, a defined mass is dropped onto it from a defined height, and the force that gets through to the sensor is measured. Lower transmitted force is better protection. The level assigned depends on how much force the protector let through.

The important thing to understand is that this is a laboratory measurement, not an opinion. An uncertified foam pad has no number. A CE Level 1 protector has a measured number below a published threshold. That is the entire difference, and it is a real one.

The four standards, and what each covers

These are separate standards with separate protocols, which is why a “CE certified” claim without a standard number tells you almost nothing. Certified to which one? A chest protector certified to EN 14021 (roost deflection, for dirt) is not an impact protector, and we cover that specific trap on our chest protectors page. Limb armor is the category where makers are most consistent about naming the standard: every guard on our elbow guard roundup publishes a specific EN 1621-1 level, which is not something we can say about gloves or budget armor sets.

Level 1 vs Level 2

Level 2 allows roughly half the force through. That is a substantial difference and, all else equal, Level 2 is the better protector.

But all else is rarely equal

This is the part most guides skip. A Level 2 protector is thicker and stiffer, which means:

• It may not sit flat in a jacket designed around Level 1 armor.
• It retains more heat, which matters in summer.
• It restricts movement slightly more.
• It is more likely to be the thing you take out of the jacket in July and never put back.

The armor that protects you is the armor you’re wearing.A Level 1 back insert that lives in your jacket permanently is worth more than a Level 2 insert in a drawer. Buy the highest level you’ll genuinely tolerate, and prioritize getting something certified into an empty pocket over optimizing between the two levels.

The foam pad problem

Open the back pocket of most jackets under about $400 and you’ll find a soft foam rectangle with no markings. That is not armor. It has passed no test and carries no rating; it exists to fill the pocket and add a little comfort against the seat.

Replacing it with a CE-rated back insert costs $40–80 and is the single best protection-per-dollar purchase available to most riders. Our armor inserts roundup covers what to buy and how to measure the pocket so it actually fits.

How to read an armor claim on a listing

A trustworthy claim states three things: the standard, the level, and the body part. “CE EN 1621-2 Level 2 back protector” is a complete claim. Here is what the weaker versions actually tell you:

• “CE approved armor”— incomplete. Approved to which standard, at which level?
• “CE Level 2 armor included”— usually means the shoulder and elbow protectors. Check the back separately; it is very often a foam pad.
• “Armor pockets”— the jacket has no armor at all. Budget for inserts.
• “Impact protection”with no CE reference — a marketing phrase, not a certification.

Also worth weighing: wherethe claim comes from. A certification published in a manufacturer’s own documentation is stronger evidence than a level stated only in a marketplace product description. Both may be accurate; they are not equally verifiable, and on this site we mark listing-only claims as such.

EN 17092: the garment standard

Separate from armor entirely, EN 17092 grades the garmenton abrasion resistance, seam strength and tear strength, in classes from AAA down to C. A jacket can have excellent armor and no garment rating, or a high garment class with no armor at all — they measure different things. Very little gear sold into the US market publishes an EN 17092 class, which is why our spec tables so often say “Check current listing.”

Replace armor after an impact

Impact armor absorbs energy by deforming, and like a helmet’s EPS liner it does not fully recover. A protector that has taken a genuine hit will not perform the same way twice, even if it looks undamaged. If you go down, replace the armor. It costs a fraction of the jacket and a vanishing fraction of the injury.