What CE AAA Means

Every Bikers Apparel armoured hoodie is CE certified to class AAA, the highest protection class in the motorcycle clothing standard. Plenty of armoured hoodies look the same on a hanger. The difference shows when you come off. Here's what the ratings mean, so you can compare properly before you buy.

What do AAA, AA and A mean?

Protective motorcycle clothing in the UK and Europe is certified to EN 17092, the standard introduced in 2020. Each garment gets a class, based on how it performs in lab tests for abrasion resistance (how long it lasts sliding on the road), seam strength (whether it holds together in a slide) and tear resistance.

  • AAA (EN 17092-2): the highest class. Tested to the toughest abrasion, seam and tear requirements in the standard, with impact armour included.
  • AA (EN 17092-3): the middle class. Good protection, but tested to lower requirements than AAA.
  • A (EN 17092-4): the entry class, meant for lighter, lower-risk riding.
  • B and C: B garments resist abrasion but have no impact armour. C garments are just carriers for armour, with no abrasion protection of their own.

Put simply: more A's means the garment held up longer in testing. Many armoured hoodies are rated AA or A. Ours are AAA.

Why is AAA hard to achieve in a hoodie?

Hoodies are made to be comfortable, and comfortable fabrics wear through fast on tarmac. To reach AAA without making a hoodie feel like a leather jacket, we line the whole garment in DuPont Kevlar®, sew it with Kevlar stitching so the seams hold in a slide, and fit CE Level 2 armour in the shoulders, elbows and back.

What does the armour rating mean?

The clothing class (AAA) is separate from the armour rating. Armour is tested on its own, to EN 1621-1 for shoulders and elbows and EN 1621-2 for the back. Armour comes in Level 1 and Level 2, and Level 2 lets less force through to your body. Every armoured hoodie we sell comes with Level 2 armour.

How to check any armoured hoodie before you buy

  • Look for the class (AAA, AA or A) and the standard EN 17092 on the label or listing. "CE approved" on its own doesn't tell you the class.
  • Check the armour level (Level 1 or 2) and whether it covers the back as well as the shoulders and elbows.
  • Ask for the Declaration of Conformity. Any brand selling certified kit should be able to show it.
  • Make sure it fits snugly. Armour only protects if it stays in place, which is why we recommend sizing down if you're between sizes (see our size guide).

Shop CE AAA armoured hoodies

Every design in our armoured range is CE AAA rated, fully Kevlar lined and fitted with Level 2 armour, with free next-day UK delivery. Questions about the certification? Get in touch and we'll send over the details.