Having fairly bashed up an elbow in a rock garden spill last summer, then pranged both again yesterday on ice slips, I'm contemplating elbow guards. Most riding is straight XC with little technical bits so I don't want to wear something too intrusive when the spills are rare, but on the other hand is useless when the time comes.
Do the soft 661 chicken wings/veggie style provide decent abrasion and bash reistance, or do folks like a bit of ABS in their elbow guards?
The chicken wings are excellent for protection and are one of the few pads that actually stay in place during the ride. Sizing is very important. The have a hole cut in the neoprene at the front of the elbow joint to prevent chaffing and pinching. If you get the wrong size, this will be a pain and will start to get uncomfortable. I use 661 knee and elbow pads in the Alps. My only criticism is that they do seem to be fairly sacrificial. I have had two big crashes, one on a fire road in the alps which tore open the elbow guard and one in the forest of dean which again tore open the pad.
To be fair, the spill in the alps was a 30 mph off on rocks the size of melons, very sharp. I think it would have been an airlift and a trip to the hospital without them.
Thoroughly reccomended. Hope that helps!!
I've been using some POC knee pads following a knee injury and they seem fairly light/flexibile so I guess the elbow ones will be the same.
they do get warm though (even in this weather).
I use some fairly cheap Fox Racing ones with hard plasticky bits on. They fasten with 3 velcro straps and come a fair way down my forearm too, but aren't intrusive when riding & don't get stupidly hot.
I generally only wear them when I feel like i am doing something I am not too sure of, or if there are lots of pointy, rocky bits about.
Chicken Wings are pretty poor... They've tried to make them too small, so they're quite inflexible and very enclosed, making them hot and sweaty. The protection is good where it is, though, and they do stay put but they're just a bad concept, bigger pads are more comfortable as well as more protective.
The POC Bones are phenomenal... They're huge, elbow + forearm but because of that, and their articulation, they need only 2 light straps and a minimal sock to keep them on. So, they're barely restrictive at all, and much less sweaty than Chicken Wings, despite being much bigger and more protective. Downside is that they're very obvious- bright white, and big- so they look a bit silly.
I;m using borrowed 661s to protect an elbow broken last year. TBH don't find them the most comfortable, but don't know if thats me or the pads.
Sorry to hijack thread, but any other neoprene/non-rigid guards anyone would recommend?
I occasionally use a pair of Roach elbow and forearm guards.
I use 661's for the knees and the elbows, after a very short while you forget you are wearing them. Two criticisms, one they tend to make you warm in the localised area (great for this time of year) and the elbow pads do tend to slip down on continuous rocky sections. I consider them a small insurance policy when you have to pay the mortgage every month!!!
I bought some brand X elbow/forearm pads a few years ago for a trip to Morzine. They were only £18 (i think) and they are SO comfortable that I've been wearing them more and more recently...they aren't too hot, they don't move and they might prevent me from getting another bad injury that stops me picking my kids up or going to work.
Best £less-than-20-but-can't-remember-exactly that I've spent.
You soon forget your wearing them - untill you come off that is! I had some fella taking the p#ss out of me wearing some at Kirroughtree in the summer, next time i saw him he had blood running down his arm from a slight interaction with the ground! Karma is a funny thing!
Do 661 do an equivalent elbow pad to the Kyle Strait knee pad? The chicken wings don't look the same and the Evos (I think that's what they're called) are well expensive.
I use the 661 evo elbow and knee pads, very expensive I know but so comfortable. I have not crashed while wearing them so can't comment on how protective they are.
Don't do what I did, I bought cheap elbow and knee pads and found they where shite so ended up buying the evos. My advice would be don't get cheap ones go with 661s
I use the 661 evo elbow and knee pads, very expensive I know but so comfortable. I have not crashed while wearing them so can't comment on how protective they are.
Don't do what I did, I bought cheap elbow and knee pads and found they where shite so ended up buying the evos. My advice would be don't get cheap ones go with 661s
I use Forcefield "Limb Tubes" on elbows and knees and would recommend. They are very comfortable, can be worn under clothing and it's easy to remove the pads from the washable lycra tubes. They aren't designed for scraping over rocks but have great impact resistance as I discovered when I slipped on ice a year ago onto a rocky surface!
planet knox make very good protection worth a look at
Camster, do you not find the Forcefield stuff a bit sweaty? Their motorbike kit is superb but the mtb kit all seems a bit enclosed.
fuse pads
these are excellent, 661 2x4
if you can find a pair (got mine off ebay, not sure they still make them tho)
so comfortable, stay in place but not restrictive at all,
feel like arm warmers
same as a couple people above i bought cheap ones
pair of hardknox ones and they weren't very nice to use,
you gotta go and try 'em on to be honest
I'd be interested to know how people have got on with the 661 Evos in proper impacts, few people wearing them and they are apparently comfy, but interested to know what the actual performance is like.
I've got the evo shorts and the impact protection seems very good, I've taken a couple of solid falls on my bad leg and though it bloody hurts- the bolt heads see to that- it's not done any damage 
I wear the 661 Veggie elbow pads quite a bit, are they the same as Chicken Wings?
Anyway I find them pretty unobtrustive. I forget I have them on and they don't overheat.
Have done a good job of protecting my elbows when I've clattered into trees with them on.
Northwind, yes the kneepads are very warm even on cold winter night rides but are very comfortable. I barely notice the arm pads though.
I use 661 Kyle straits for my knees and 661 veggies for my arms , both very good . I had cheap plastic ones from LIDL's 
and they saved my elbows from a fast crash at Glentress making me relise the importance of pads. The 661 knee pads are really warm so dont know how ill fare with them in the Scorching scottish summer. 
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