Motorcycle gloves are the most frequently replaced piece of protective gear — and one of the most important. In a crash, the hands instinctively reach out to break the fall before any other part of the body makes contact with the road. Yet glove certification is poorly understood by many brands, partly because gloves follow a separate standard from the rest of the garment range.

This guide explains EN 13594 — the European standard for protective gloves for motorcycle riders — covering the two protection levels, what the tests measure, how the standard differs from EN 17092, and what brands need from their manufacturing partner to certify correctly.

EN 13594: The Glove Standard

EN 13594:2015 (updated 2023) is the applicable standard for motorcycle protective gloves sold in the EU and UK. It is a completely separate standard from EN 17092, which covers jackets, suits, and trousers. A brand that manufactures both jackets and gloves must navigate two different certification frameworks.

The standard covers gloves designed for use as personal protective equipment by motorcyclists. It defines performance requirements for two protection levels (Level 1 and Level 2) and specifies test methods for abrasion resistance, impact cut resistance, impact protection, and palm impact protection.

Level 1 vs Level 2

Level 1 — General Purpose

Level 1 is the baseline certification for motorcycle gloves. Gloves at this level must pass abrasion resistance testing, impact cut resistance, and basic seam strength requirements. They are suitable for general riding including urban commuting, casual riding, and moderate road use.

Most textile and perforated leather summer gloves in the £50–£120 retail range are certified to Level 1. The performance requirements at Level 1 are achievable with a good quality 0.7–0.9mm goatskin palm combined with standard armour at the knuckle.

Level 2 — Higher Protection

Level 2 requires higher performance across all test categories and adds a mandatory palm impact protection requirement. A palm protector — typically a moulded EVA or TPU component inside the palm — must meet a defined force transmission limit. This is the key distinction between Level 1 and Level 2.

Level 2 gloves are appropriate for sport and touring riding where higher impact speeds are involved. Most quality leather and textile touring gloves at the £120–£250 retail price point aim for Level 2. Racing gloves, adventure gloves, and any glove sold as suitable for motorway or track use should meet Level 2.

What Gets Tested Under EN 13594

Abrasion Resistance

The abrasion test for gloves is conducted on the palm area — the primary contact zone in a fall. The test method uses a rotating drum and measures time to breakthrough in seconds. Level 2 requires a longer time to breakthrough than Level 1.

For leather gloves, the palm material is the primary determinant of abrasion performance. Goatskin at 0.8–1.0mm thickness performs reliably at both Level 1 and Level 2 with appropriate tanning and finishing. Cowhide at 0.8–1.0mm achieves similar results.

For textile gloves, achieving the palm abrasion requirements at Level 2 typically requires a leather reinforcement palm or a high-tenacity synthetic such as Clarino. Plain polyester or nylon at any practical weight will not achieve Level 2 abrasion on the palm.

Impact Cut Resistance

The impact cut test simulates the glove sliding across a sharp edge. A blade is dropped from a defined height onto the material, and the depth of cut is measured. Both levels require the material to resist the cut within defined limits.

Knuckle Impact Protection

Gloves must incorporate armour at the knuckles. The knuckle protector must meet the requirements of EN 13594 when tested at both ambient and cold temperatures — cold temperature testing is important because glove armour stiffens in cold conditions and may transmit more force to the hand.

The standard does not specify what type of knuckle protector must be used, but the protector must be fixed in position during use and must not move during the abrasion test. Velcro-attached knuckle protectors that can be removed are generally not acceptable for certified gloves.

Palm Impact Protection (Level 2 Only)

The palm impact test is unique to Level 2. A palm protector inside the glove must reduce transmitted force to within defined limits when struck with a defined impactor. This test rules out gloves that rely solely on the palm leather for impact protection — a separate, fitted palm protector is required for Level 2 certification.

At AJSAMCO, we use moulded TPU palm inserts for our Level 2 glove range. The TPU insert is pre-formed to the palm profile and sits in a dedicated pocket in the glove lining. It is not removable during use, which satisfies the fixation requirement.

Seam Strength

Seams in the palm zone must withstand a defined burst load. This affects stitch type, thread specification, and seam orientation. In high-abrasion zones, exposed seams with good thread specification are preferable to covered seams that may have hidden weakness points.

Glove Construction for CE Compliance

The construction of a CE-compliant glove differs in important ways from a non-certified glove of comparable appearance.

Palm material: Must achieve the abrasion requirement for the target level. For Level 2, a leather palm of 0.8–1.0mm minimum or equivalent certified synthetic.

Knuckle armour: Must be fixed and correctly positioned. Our pattern specifications include a precise armour pocket position that cannot migrate during wear or the abrasion test.

Palm protector (Level 2): Moulded insert, non-removable, positioned to cover the palm impact zone as defined in the standard.

Cuff: The standard requires the glove cuff to have a retention system — typically a wrist strap or fastening — that prevents the glove from being pulled off during a fall.

Seams: Palm seams must meet the burst strength requirement. We use a consistent seam specification for all certified gloves and test seam samples inline during production.

Labelling Requirements for Certified Gloves

CE-ready motorcycle gloves must carry a label showing the CE mark, the EN 13594 standard number, and the protection level (1 or 2). The pictogram for each protection level is specified in the standard. Labels must include the size, the manufacturer's name, and care instructions.

Size marking is important — motorcycle glove sizes must conform to the hand measurement system defined in the standard (circumference in cm), not generic S/M/L sizing. Brands launching in Europe should ensure their size range covers the appropriate circumference range for their target demographic.

Working with AJSAMCO on Certified Gloves

AJSAMCO produces motorcycle gloves in leather, textile, and leather-textile combinations at both EN 13594 Level 1 and Level 2 certification. Our glove manufacturing team handles all glove categories — summer perforated, year-round touring, adventure, winter, and racing.

MOQ for certified gloves is 100 pairs per style. We offer sampling before production commitment and can supply material data and construction specifications to support your certification Technical File. Request our product catalogue to see our current glove range with materials, levels, and MOQ detail.