Is textile as safe as leather?
A textile garment and a leather garment with the same EN 17092 class passed the same tests. The class on the label is the comparison that holds up, and this guide explains what that class measures.
Updated
What the standard tests
EN 17092 is the European standard for protective motorcycle garments. Part 1 describes the test methods and parts 2 to 6 define the classes. A garment is tested as a whole: impact abrasion on a Darmstadt machine, which drops a sample onto a moving abrasive surface at a set speed, seam strength, tear strength, and the fit and coverage of the impact protectors.
Each zone of the garment has its own requirement. The shoulders, elbows, hips and knees must survive longer than the back of a sleeve, which is why a jacket that uses a lighter fabric on the torso can still reach a high class.
The classes
AAA, defined in EN 17092-2, is the highest abrasion class and the one race suits and the toughest road gear are built to. AA, in EN 17092-3, is the middle class and the one most street jackets and pants target. A, in EN 17092-4, is the lightest class with impact protectors. B in part 5 is abrasion only with no protectors, and C in part 6 covers protector-holding garments such as armored base layers.
A leather jacket can be A and a textile jacket can be AAA. The class is printed on the inside label with the part number, for example EN 17092-3 class AA.
Where each material tends to win
Leather slides well on tarmac and stays stable at the speeds seen on a race track, which is why track suits remain mostly leather and why the vegan racing suit list is short. Textile shells are lighter, carry waterproof membranes and ventilation, and usually leave more room for armor coverage. On the street, where most crashes happen below highway speed, the armor and the fit do more of the work than the shell.
Neither material protects without the impact protectors. EN 1621-1 rates limb armor and EN 1621-2 rates back protectors, each at Level 1 or Level 2. Level 2 passes less force through to the body: 20 kN against 35 kN at the limbs and 9 kN against 18 kN at the back, averaged over the test strikes.
How to compare two garments
Read the EN 17092 class first and ignore the fabric name. Then check which armor is included, at which level, and whether the back protector pocket is filled or sold empty. Finally, check the fit: armor that moves off the joint protects nothing.
A rating is a test result, not a guarantee. It tells you how the garment behaved on a machine, under defined conditions, and that is the fairest comparison available to a rider in a shop.
Common questions
Can a textile jacket be AAA?
- Yes. AAA is a test result under EN 17092-2, and several textile and microfiber garments carry it. Leather is not required by the standard.
What is the difference between AA and A?
- Both include impact protectors. AA requires more abrasion time and higher seam and tear strength than A in each zone. AA is the usual target for street jackets and pants.
Do I still need armor in a AAA garment?
- AAA, AA and A all require impact protectors to pass. The class covers abrasion and seams; EN 1621 armor handles impact. Check both the class and the armor level.