A good motorcycle glove carries CE certification to EN 13594:2015, the right protection level, impact and abrasion defense, and a wrist closure that will not pull off in a crash.
Skin hits asphalt at highway speed before your brain registers the slide. Gloves are the one piece of gear your hands never get a second chance on, and the difference between a decent pair and a decorative pair comes down to a certification label most riders never read. The features below are the ones that decide whether a glove protects your hands or just looks like it might.
The Certification Label Is The Starting Point
EN 13594:2015 is the European standard for protective gloves for motorcycle on-road use, and it is the single most useful filter when comparing gloves. The standard’s scope covers sizing, ergonomics, innocuousness, mechanical properties, impact protection, marking, and user information, according to the British Standards Institution and NEN listings for the standard.
That matters because the label tells you a glove passed laboratory testing rather than a marketing department. The 2015 revision applies to both professional and non-professional riders, so it is relevant whether you commute daily or ride weekends.
Look for four things on the glove or its packaging:
- A CE mark, showing the product meets the applicable regulation.
- A motorcycle pictogram, identifying it as rider-specific protection.
- The protection level, printed as 1 or 2.
- The standard reference, EN 13594:2015.
If a glove claims “armor” or “reinforced” without any of those, you are buying a fashion accessory with padding.
Level 1 vs Level 2: What You Give Up For More Protection
The standard splits gloves into Level 1 and Level 2, and the trade is protection against dexterity. Level 1 emphasizes protection with a lower ergonomic penalty, while Level 2 raises the protection requirements and can cost you feel on the levers, add weight, and restrict movement. Level 2 gloves also require impact testing, and knuckle protection testing is tied to Level 2 and to gloves designed to attenuate impact energy.
Several measurable thresholds separate the two.
Fitting And Features That Decide Real-World Performance
Protection only works if the glove stays on your hand and lets you work the controls. The standard covers ergonomics for exactly this reason, and the same properties that raise protection — thicker leather, larger hard shells — can reduce dexterity. Fit your gloves so the fingers reach the ends without bunching and the palm does not shift when you grip the bar.
A loose glove is a failing glove. The restraint test exists because a glove that can be pulled off in a slide offers nothing at the moment that counts, and a cuff that slides back exposes the wrist.
Materials and construction decide the rest:
- Abrasion resistance, tested as impact abrasion under the standard.
- Tear strength, seam strength, and cut resistance, all covered by EN 13594 testing.
- Innocuousness, which includes checks such as pH value and chrome VI content in leather, plus limits on hazardous hard inclusions.
- Impact protection at the knuckles where present, marked KP when a glove meets that requirement.
- Weather features such as waterproof, breathable, lightweight, or insulating materials, with touchscreen-compatible fingertips on many models.
| Feature | What To Check | Why It Counts |
|---|---|---|
| Certification | CE mark and EN 13594:2015 on the label | Confirms the glove passed laboratory testing |
| Protection level | Number 1 or 2 | Level 2 raises protection, Level 1 favors dexterity |
| Knuckle impact | KP marking, impact testing | Required for Level 2 and impact-attenuating designs |
| Wrist restraint | Adjustable closure, 25 N or 50 N restraint | Keeps the glove from pulling off in a crash |
| Cuff length | 15 mm (Level 1) or 50 mm (Level 2) past the wrist line | Guards the wrist bone and lower forearm |
| Durability | Tear, seam, cut, impact abrasion testing | Determines how the glove survives a slide |
| Material safety | pH and chrome VI limits in leather | Keeps skin contact within safe limits |
| Ergonomics | Fingers reach the ends, no palm shift | Protection is wasted if you cannot control the bike |
One caveat on convenience: touchscreen-friendly fingertips make phone use easier but are not a safety substitute and do not replace protection certification. If you want a certified pair without paying flagship prices, our tested picks for cheap motorcycle gloves cover options that still carry proper certification.
Mistakes That Quietly Undo Good Gear
Most bad glove purchases fail for predictable reasons. Buying on style, warmth, or touchscreen appeal before checking CE and EN 13594 certification is the first one. Choosing a loose fit is the second — if the glove shifts or comes off, the protection is gone. Assuming any hard knuckle shell is enough is the third, because impact protection only counts when the glove’s overall construction and certification support it. And prioritizing maximum flexibility over retention, abrasion resistance, and seam strength is the fourth.
The fix is to treat the label as non-negotiable, then pick the level that matches your riding. Held, a manufacturer that publishes its CE certification documentation, is one example of a brand that states its compliance openly, which makes the standard easy to verify on a real product. Certified gear also meets the standard’s innocuousness requirements on leather materials. Whatever pair you choose, the certification label — not the logo — is what stands between your hands and the road.
FAQs
Is EN 13594:2015 certification mandatory in the United States?
No US federal rule requires it, so certification is voluntary on American shelves. That makes the label a useful filter rather than a guarantee of local legality. A CE mark with EN 13594:2015 means the glove passed recognized testing for abrasion, tear, seam strength, and impact where applicable, which is more than most unlabeled riding gloves can show.
Should I pick Level 1 or Level 2 gloves?
Match the level to your riding and your hands. Level 2 raises protection and requires impact testing, but it can reduce dexterity and add weight. Riders who want maximum feel on the controls often prefer Level 1, which keeps more of the ergonomic penalty down. Try both on before deciding, since fit changes how much dexterity you actually lose.
Do hard knuckle shells mean a glove is protective?
Not by themselves. A hard shell is only meaningful when the glove’s overall construction and certification support it, and knuckle protection testing is tied to Level 2 and impact-attenuating designs. An uncertified glove with a plastic knuckle cap can still fail on abrasion, seam strength, and restraint — the properties that keep it together during a slide.
References & Sources
- NEN. “NEN-EN 13594:2015 en — Protective gloves for motorcycle riders.” Confirms the standard’s designation, year, and on-road motorcycle scope.
- BSI. “Protective gloves for motorcycle riders — Requirements and test methods.” Source for the standard’s coverage of sizing, ergonomics, impact protection, and mechanical properties.
- Held. “CE Certification.” Manufacturer documentation showing how CE compliance is stated on real motorcycle gloves.