Safety vests for riders — EN 1621-2 Level 2 Explained

By Erik Lidén, Co-founder YELM Protection · Reading time: 7 minutes

Quick answer:

EN 1621-2 Level 2 is a European safety standard for impact protectors covering the back. A Level 2 riding vest must reduce the transmitted force from a 50-joule impact to no more than 9 kilonewtons on average, with no single value above 12 kN. This is roughly twice the protection of a Level 1 vest, and it is the standard most experienced riders and trainers recommend.

If you have ever stood in a saddlery looking at safety vests and wondered why one costs SEK 1,500 and another costs SEK 4,000, the answer almost always comes down to certification, materials, and fit. The cheapest vests usually meet only Level 1; the better ones reach Level 2. The best ones do that while still being light and flexible enough that you actually want to wear them.

In this guide, I will walk through what Level 2 protection actually means, the differences between Level 1 and Level 2, the EN 13158 standard you may also see referenced for eventing, and how to size a vest correctly. I will also cover the question I get more often than any other: do I really need a vest if I am only riding casually?

In this article:

• What does EN 1621-2 Level 2 mean?
• Level 1 versus Level 2 — what is the difference?
• EN 13158 and the eventing standard
• What a riding vest actually protects
• How to size a riding vest correctly
• How vest protection complements MIPS in the helmet
• Do you need a vest if you ride casually?
• Frequently asked questions
  

What does EN 1621-2 Level 2 mean?

EN 1621-2 is the European standard for back protectors. It was originally developed for motorcycle riders but has been widely adopted across action sports including snowboarding, mountain biking, and equestrian. The standard specifies how much impact force the protector must absorb in a controlled drop test. The full standard is published through European standards bodies including CEN and national bodies such as Sweden's SIS.

In the test, a 5 kg striker is dropped onto the protector with an impact energy of 50 joules. Sensors measure how much of that force is transmitted through the protector to the test surface beneath. Level 1 protection requires the average transmitted force to be 18 kN or less. Level 2 requires 9 kN or less — half the transmitted force. No single measurement on a Level 2 protector may exceed 12 kN.

Translated into plain language: a Level 2 vest reduces the impact reaching your spine by roughly twice as much as a Level 1 vest. The difference is not subtle. It is the difference between bruising and a more serious spinal injury.

Level 1 versus Level 2 — what is the difference?

If you are choosing between two riding vests at similar price points, the certification level should be the deciding factor. Level 2 is meaningfully more protective than Level 1, and the weight and flexibility difference is usually small. Modern Level 2 vests use multi-density foams or articulated panels that conform to the body without the bulk of older designs.

Level 1 vests still have a place — they are typically thinner, lighter, and cheaper, and they exceed the protection of no vest at all. For a child first learning to ride at walk and trot, a Level 1 vest may be a reasonable starting point. For anyone jumping, riding cross-country, working with young horses, or riding outside arena conditions, Level 2 is the standard I would recommend without hesitation.

EN 13158 and the eventing standard

If you compete in eventing, you may also encounter EN 13158, a separate standard specifically for equestrian body protectors. EN 13158 has three levels — 1 (blue), 2 (black), and 3 (purple). Level 3 is the standard required by most eventing federations for cross-country competition.

EN 13158 Level 3 and EN 1621-2 Level 2 are not directly comparable — they test different impact profiles and have different pass criteria. A vest certified to EN 1621-2 Level 2 provides excellent general riding protection, but if you compete in eventing at any level that requires EN 13158 Level 3, you will need a vest specifically certified to that standard.

For the majority of riders — dressage, showjumping, hacking, leisure riding, young horse work — EN 1621-2 Level 2 is the relevant standard. Our Helium Vest 1.0 is certified to EN 1621-2 Level 2.

How to size a riding vest correctly

A vest that does not fit properly does not protect properly. The two most common sizing mistakes I see are vests that are too short in the back (leaving the lower spine exposed) and vests that are too loose around the chest (allowing the vest to shift during a fall).

To size correctly, you need three measurements: chest circumference at the widest point, waist circumference, and back length from the base of the neck to the top of the pelvis. Compare these against the manufacturer's size chart — not against general clothing sizes. Riding vests run differently from regular tops.

Once the vest is on, check three things: the bottom of the vest should sit at or just above the waistband of your breeches, not above the hip bone. The vest should be snug around the chest without pinching. You should be able to ride in your normal forward seat without the vest digging into your thighs or riding up at the back.

If you are between sizes, size up rather than down. A slightly larger vest with the side panels properly tightened protects better than a slightly small vest that compresses your ribs.

How vest protection complements MIPS in the helmet

A common question I get is whether the vest and the helmet need to be from the same brand. The honest answer is no — they protect different areas, and any properly certified helmet works with any properly certified vest. If you want to read about why MIPS matters specifically in the helmet, I have written a separate guide on MIPS riding helmets.

That said, when we designed the Helium Vest 1.0, we deliberately matched it to the Hybrid Helmet 2.0 in three ways. First, the aesthetic: both products use the same Scandinavian minimalist design language, so they look correct together rather than clashing. Second, the bundle pricing: buying the helmet and vest together costs less than buying them separately, and includes a lens for the helmet. Third, and most importantly, the protection philosophy: the helmet handles rotational head injury, the vest handles spinal injury, and together they cover the two areas where most serious riding injuries actually happen.

Do you need a vest if you ride casually?

This is the question I am asked most often, and my honest answer has shifted over the years. Five years ago, I would have said a vest was essential for jumping and optional for flatwork. Today, I think Level 2 back protection vests have become light and comfortable enough that there is no good reason not to wear one for any riding.

The data is clear that the majority of serious riding injuries do not happen during high-risk activities. They happen in the moments riders consider routine — a young horse spooks, a familiar horse trips, a stirrup leather breaks, a green horse refuses a small fence. None of these scenarios are predictable, and all of them happen frequently enough that protective equipment matters.

If you ride at all, wear a vest. If you have not worn one before, try a modern Level 2 back protection vest before you decide it is uncomfortable — the design has changed enormously in the last ten years. The vest you tried in 2016 is not the vest available in 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is EN 1621-2 Level 2 enough for jumping?

For showjumping at most levels, yes. Level 2 protection is suitable for arena jumping, dressage, hacking, and leisure riding. Some countries, as Sweden, demands the EN 13158 Level 3 vest for riders under 18 years in all disciplines. For eventing cross-country, the relevant standard is EN 13158 Level 3, which is a different (higher) protection level and coverage area, required by most eventing federations. 

Can I wash a riding vest?

Most modern vests have a removable outer cover that can be machine washed at low temperature. The protective foam panels themselves should not be washed — they should be wiped clean with a damp cloth and air-dried. Always check the manufacturer's care instructions before washing.

How long does a riding vest last?

With normal use and proper storage, a riding vest typically lasts five years. After any significant fall, the foam panels should be inspected and the vest replaced if there is visible compression, cracking, or loss of recovery. Heat, moisture, and ultraviolet light all accelerate aging.

Are airbag vests better than impact vests?

They are different. Airbag vests can offer additional protection by inflating around the spine and ribs at the moment of a fall, but they require a tether or sensor to activate, are significantly more expensive, and some models are designed to be worn over an underlying impact vest rather than as a replacement. For most riders, a quality EN 1621-2 Level 2 impact vest provides the best combination of protection, daily usability, and cost.

Can children wear adult vests?

No. Children's vests are sized to fit smaller torsos correctly. An adult vest on a child will be too long in the back, too wide in the shoulders, and will not protect properly. Always buy a vest sized specifically for a child.

Why does the Y/ELM+ Helium Vest 1.0 cost more than some Level 2 alternatives?

The price reflects three things. The first is the protective foam itself — we use a special polymer compound system that meets EN 1621-2 Level 2 while being noticeably lighter and more flexible than older designs. The second is the construction: Scandinavian design, durable outer fabric, and a fit that works for a wide range of body shapes. The third is the integration with our helmet — buying both as a bundle includes a lens and reduces the total price compared to buying separately.

A note from the founder

When Alexandra had a fall, she was wearing a vest. It was not a fashionable vest — she had bought it because her trainer told her to — and she would honestly tell you she did not love wearing it. The vest did its job, but the experience of recovering convinced both of us that protection equipment had to be something riders wanted to wear, not something they tolerated.

That is the philosophy behind the Helium Vest 1.0. Genuine Level 2 back protection in a vest you forget you are wearing. Scandinavian design that pairs with your riding clothes rather than fighting them. And a price that reflects what the vest actually does, not what marketing says it does.

Ride safe, ride free.

— Erik Lidén

About the author

Erik Lidén is the co-founder of Y/ELM+ Protection. Before starting Y/ELM+ in 2021 with Alexandra Berhe, Erik spent two decades in the ski protection industry, including senior product roles building head and body protection equipment used by world-class athletes. He lives in Stockholm.

Explore the YELM Helium Vest 1.0 — EN 1621-2 Level 2 certified, Scandinavian design, available standalone or in a bundle with the Hybrid Helmet 2.0. Browse the full vest collection. From 3,500 SEK with free shipping and 30-day returns.