The Knox Tor is the latest in a long line of utility-style armoured shirts from Knox, tracing its roots back to the Urbane Pro Utility launched in 2020.
Like that original utility shirt, the Tor is designed around ventilation, flexibility and storage. It can be worn on its own in warm weather, or used as the protective base layer beneath waterproof or insulating outer layers when conditions change.
That makes it a very different proposition from a traditional motorcycle jacket. The Tor takes care of impact and abrasion protection, while the rider chooses what to add over the top for warmth or rain protection.
Knox offer their own compatible over-layers, including the Knox Tor Waterproof Shell, but the system also works with your own waterproofs or casual layers. It’s a modular approach to motorcycle kit, and one Knox has helped pioneer.
Fit & comfort
The Tor uses a combination of open mesh fabric and stretchy high-tenacity nylon. The mesh runs down the front of the body, inside the upper and lower sleeves, and across most of the back. The stretch material makes up the rest of the shirt.
That stretch is important because the Tor is meant to fit close to the body. It keeps the armour in position without making the shirt feel restrictive.
The collar is simple and low, with no extra fasteners, which works well for summer riding. The main zip runs up the front, and the zip puller sits neatly in a small retainer at the top to stop it flapping around.
Photography: Helen Meeds
The cuffs use Knox’s strap-style retainers, with three rivets offering different levels of adjustment. They work best with gloves worn over the top, as this helps keep the strap in place and stops the fabric working its way loose.
Storage is one of the Tor’s defining features. There are four cargo-style pockets on the front, with an extra stash pocket and visor-cleaning cloth inside the upper-left pocket. The two lower pockets also have zipped pockets over the front, and there is another pocket on the lower back that can be reached while wearing the shirt.
Inside, there are four more pockets, including a small one marked as ideal for earplugs. The internal pockets are not the easiest to access, but the external storage is so useful that they feel less important.
Sizing is generous, at least in the smaller sizes. A size small worked well on my 40-inch chest, giving me a close fit around the body without feeling uncomfortable. The arms were slightly looser than ideal, but still much closer than a conventional jacket and good enough to keep the armour properly positioned.
Knox list the men’s Tor from small to 5XL, covering chest sizes from 35in to 54in. There is also a Knox Ladies Tor Armoured Shirt, which is available in sizes from 8 to 20. Men get three colour choices - sage green, light grey and black - while the women’s version is available only in light grey.
Our returns data suggests the sizing is intuitive, with just over 96% of customers keeping the first size they ordered.
Hot weather performance
The Tor is at its best in warm weather.
The large mesh zones are effective, allowing plenty of air to pass through to the body. On hot riding days just under 30°C, the shirt delivered a good level of cooling airflow.
Because so much of the surface area is mesh, the effect is obvious when moving. Air reaches the front and sleeves, and escapes via the back, making the Tor feel well suited to summer riding.
This is the benefit of Knox’s armoured-shirt approach. Rather than wearing a traditional jacket with vents, the Tor allows airflow through much larger sections of the garment. In hot conditions, that makes a significant difference to comfort and concentration.
Cold and wet weather performance
The Tor itself is not designed to keep you warm or dry. It is best thought of as the protective, ventilated base of a layering system.
When the weather turns cooler or wetter, extra layers are needed. Knox offer several compatible options, with the most obvious pairing being the Tor Waterproof Shell. This is a lightweight waterproof pullover with a drawstring neck, available separately for £129.99 at the time of review.
Riders who know they want the waterproof shell should consider the Knox Tor Duo armoured shirt instead. That bundles the armoured shirt and waterproof shell for £399.99, which is £60 cheaper than buying both separately.
The system does not require Knox outer layers, though. A breathable waterproof jacket over the top, or a fleece when it gets chilly, would also work.
Protection
The shirt comes with Knox Micro-Lock armour at the shoulders, elbows and back. It is soft, flexible and comfortable, but still meets the higher Level 2 standard for CE impact protection.
The armour is also Type B, meaning it covers more of the body than regular Type A protectors. That helps the Tor feel more substantial as a protective garment.
A Velcro panel inside the main zip allows a Knox chest protector insert to be fitted as an optional extra. At the time of review, that chest protector costs £39.99.
Photography: Helen Meeds
The Tor has an overall CE rating of AA, which supports the idea of using the Tor as the protective layer beneath whatever weather protection you need.
Knox’s security loops are also included to connect the shirt to riding jeans. Feeding a belt through the loops on both the jeans and the shirt keeps them linked together and helps stop the Tor riding up.
It is a little fiddly, and removing the shirt means taking the belt off, but it is an effective way of keeping jacket and trousers connected.
Final thoughts
The Knox Tor is clever, comfortable and highly practical.
It delivers strong airflow in hot weather, has enough stretch to stay comfortable, carries proper Level 2 armour and offers plenty of storage through its cargo-style pocket layout.
The cuffs could be neater and the internal pockets could be easier to access, but these are minor criticisms. The external pockets, close fit, airflow and flexible protection are more important.
It is easy to see why customer feedback has been so positive. Knox have helped create a new way of thinking about motorcycle clothing, and the Tor shows why that approach works.
For riders who like the idea of starting with a summer-friendly protective layer and adding warmth or waterproofing only when needed, the Knox Tor is a very strong option.
