What Does CE Approved AAA Mean?

A guide explaining how protective motorcycle clothing is tested, the science behind the 17-092 Standard and what ‘CE Approved AAA’ means.

For protective motorcycle clothing to be sold in the UK + EU, it must first be tested and certified by an independent laboratory - this helps to maintain the highest levels of quality and guard against false marketing claims.

The most widely used method of testing is set out in the ‘17-092’ Standard. This splits the human body into zones and, based on the amount and type of protection needed, outlines the performance requirements that the design, construction and materials must meet. The results from abrasion resistance, seam strength and tear strength tests are used to determine and catagorise garments based on the level of protection they provide - ranging from the lowest ‘Level C’ up to the highest ‘AAA’ Rating.

NOT ALL 'A's ARE EQUAL:

When looking at the science behind the 17-092 Standard, you can see that the difference between Level A + AA is slight. The step-up to the AAA rating is far greater, making it that much harder to achieve. To put this in context, a 12N/m force is the equivalent of a 1” strip of fabric holding a 30kg weight. That’s thirty bags of sugar... this arguably the hardest test to pass.

When we started work on the Eversholt Jacket MkII we set our sights high - aiming to create the world’s most protective waxed cotton motorcycle jacket. To do this, we knew that we would have to go through a meticulous testing process and pass the 17-092 Standard’s highest AAA rating.

THE WORLD’S MOST PROTECTIVE WAXED COTTON MOTORCYCLE JACKET:

When we started work on the design of the Eversholt MkII, no other motorcycle clothing manufacturer had developed a textile jacket with the AAA level of protection. For an independent label such as ours, this was no small undertaking.

This meant going back to the drawing board. Using the latest innovations in materials technology - fibres more commonly incorporated into bulletproof vests and anti-ballistic vehicle armour - we worked closely with specialist manufacturers to develop a new abrasive-resistant fabric and construction techniques far stronger than anything previously seen.

After eighteen months of development, we had achieved what we set out to do. At the time of its launch in 2021, the Eversholt Jacket MkII was the world’s most protective wax cotton motorcycle jacket. Today, it still is... something that we’re very proud of.

What Does CE Approved AAA Mean?

A guide explaining how protective motorcycle clothing is tested, the science behind the 17-092 Standard and what ‘CE Approved AAA’ means.

For protective motorcycle clothing to be sold in the UK + EU, it must first be tested and certified by an independent laboratory - this helps to maintain the highest levels of quality and guard against false marketing claims.

The most widely used method of testing is set out in the ‘17-092’ Standard. This splits the human body into zones and, based on the amount and type of protection needed, outlines the performance requirements that the design, construction and materials must meet. The results from abrasion resistance, seam strength and tear strength tests are used to determine and catagorise garments based on the level of protection they provide - ranging from the lowest ‘Level C’ up to the highest ‘AAA’ Rating.

NOT ALL 'A's ARE EQUAL:

When looking at the science behind the 17-092 Standard, you can see that the difference between Level A + AA is slight. The step-up to the AAA rating is far greater, making it that much harder to achieve. To put this in context, a 12N/m force is the equivalent of a 1” strip of fabric holding a 30kg weight. That’s thirty bags of sugar... this arguably the hardest test to pass.

When we started work on the Eversholt Jacket MkII we set our sights high - aiming to create the world’s most protective waxed cotton motorcycle jacket. To do this, we knew that we would have to go through a meticulous testing process and pass the 17-092 Standard’s highest AAA rating.

THE WORLD’S MOST PROTECTIVE WAXED COTTON MOTORCYCLE JACKET:

When we started work on the design of the Eversholt MkII, no other motorcycle clothing manufacturer had developed a textile jacket with the AAA level of protection. For an independent label such as ours, this was no small undertaking.

This meant going back to the drawing board. Using the latest innovations in materials technology - fibres more commonly incorporated into bulletproof vests and anti-ballistic vehicle armour - we worked closely with specialist manufacturers to develop a new abrasive-resistant fabric and construction techniques far stronger than anything previously seen.

After eighteen months of development, we had achieved what we set out to do. At the time of its launch in 2021, the Eversholt Jacket MkII was the world’s most protective wax cotton motorcycle jacket. Today, it still is... something that we’re very proud of.