MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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Had an off at the weekend, skinning my knee and cracking the head of my fibula. Nothing too bad, but it's started me worrying about 'what if…'. I've been mountain biking since the late 80s and save for a helmet for the majority of those 30+ years have never worn any body protection.
My ST subscription isn't letting me view reviews at the moment for some reason, so does anyone have thoughts on suitable knee protection for me? I ride XC, nothing too gnarly (Garburn Pass is perhaps my most extreme regular ride), and aim to keep my wheels on the ground, so don't think I need anything overly robocop-like but then is anything lightweight enough for 'all day comfort' not worth the limited protection it might offer?
I only have one pair of knee pads but they're at the pedally end - Dainese Trailskins 2
I've spent 3 days bikepacking in them so they're perfectly comfortable. There's a newer PRO version now too
What’s the adjustability like on the fit for those, benp1? Looking at their size guide I’m a large above the knee but beyond extra large at the calf.
Bliss ARG minimalist for me. After a couple of minutes you forget you're wearing them.
Due to a badly broken knee cap several years back, I need heavy duty knee protection. Scott Grenade Evo are very comfy and the best I've used. I have Ion K Pact & POC VPD 2.0 too which are are pretty good.
Ion traze are awesome.loved the old Scott grenades. But ion pads are rad
Thanks all. Plenty to go on there.
Minimalist pads are good for keeping knees warm, and mibbe bramble scratches.
Get something decent instead.
I've got a pair of Trailskins going cheap here.
https://revtothelimit.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=3021
The best knee protection is the one that you're wearing when you crash. My Trailskins are as much a part of my riding kit as shoes and shorts, so they will be on my knees when I crash. Sure if I was doing bigger gnarlier more enduro riding I might need something burlier but that's not my every day riding, so they're not my every day pads.
Theres more than ST for trustworthy reviews, Leatt are my go to, they just seem tailor made for me compared to others, but my skinnier legged mate doesn't get on with them, I can wear my airflex pros for hours. Whatever makes your short list just google them adding review on the end and see what pinkbike, vitalmtb bikeradar, loam wolf, enduro mtb, bike perfect etc think of them. That's what I do.
My ‘trailskins2’ knee pads were very comfy and I’d love to wear them on every ride.... however they tore very easily where the rubber section meets the neoprene? bit after just 2 rides, so if you have large legs, like me, be aware the pull apart just pulling them on.
Enough recommendations above although I'd add G-Form to the mix. Also, just a small point of order in that from the photo it looks like you're wearing lycra. Obviously lycra and pads may make for an "interesting" look and may also require the addition of something a little baggier....
XC rider here. Bliss minimal ones here. You forget you're wearing them, don't seem to slip. Just be careful as the lycra can get caught on pedals.
Fit is everything. If you dislike pedalling them you won't wear them, and they won't be on your knees when you need them.
I've had Dainese trail skins 2 for a few months now, they're comfy, but they're a bit fragile and I have my doubts about the level of protection. For standard trail riding they're certainly going to mitigate some of the impact.
The bliss minimalist stuff I have experience of on the Borrowdale bash when I came off on that slatey section on the decent to Rosthwaite. Very impressed considering how thin they appear to be. But why do they have to be bright blue?! I'm not a beetle.
Fit is everything.
Makes sense. As a first time-buyer, I think I'll pay a trip to a couple of LBSs to try some for size and get a better idea of their heft too.
Fox D30 here. Great for all days in the hills and plenty of protection when things go south.
very recently been through this without the blood! so heres my experience, I've had raceface charge ones for a while which i use as kneewarmers more than protection, have had alpinestars paragons for a while but they've started to slip down so started looking around.
i tried the fox enduro d30 sleeve ones, d30 launch and dakine slayer pro's. i wanted a little more protection but not DH standards. i thought the launch ones would be for me but the dakine ones had similar protection, maybe not as well made but fitted so much better and £15 cheaper! If i had the cash i'd also buy the d30 enduro ones for general riding as well super comfy and minimal and will probably get these at some point as well.
so as others have said try a few and get the ones you feel comfortable with in terms of fit and protection.
I bought a pair of these after a favorable review on here.
https://www.oneal.com/flow-knee-guard/
worn on a few 30km+ spins and have been perfectly comfortable and not moved about at all. Sizing on the website was 100%. Seem to be the perfect balance between weight\protection for longer days. Would want something beefier for significantly more crash prone days.
So far I’ve tried a few pairs;
Scott Grenade Evo - probably chunkier than you want. You can pedal them all day but it’s hot and after a year they started slipping down a bit. I save these for uplift days now - the protection level is very good.
661 Recons - these are very lightweight and good for pedalling but I had a weird crash at speed on the blue trail at FOD and I still managed to cut my knee - effectively the left one didn’t stay out after impact and got dragged down. Thought I needed stitches but just about avoided it. Do not recommend.
Currently using Fox Launch D30 - not the pro version with the hard kneecap. They are somewhere between the 2 above - I pedal them everywhere on my mtb and they’re warm but not hot. You don’t notice them too much - started to rip a bit on the back but they’ve had a lot of use - so I think I’ll replace with exactly the same ones again.
You can probably rule out Ion K Pact Zips based on your comment about needing the x large calf but smaller thigh. I’ve got a similar ratio and if I got a pair big enough for my calves they were way too loose on the thigh. Shame as they were really nicely made and seemed like a quality product.
I see lot of good reviews of POC knee pads and a few mates use them and rate them. Might be worth trying some of those for size.
@weeksy, if the OP doesn’t want those trailskin’s, I’ll have them to replace my old set.
Have a set of RF ambush for more protection
XC rider here. Bliss minimal ones here
Not a criticism of you, it's your knees, more a point for anyone looking to buy pads. If an XC rider comes off on a fire road at 20 odd mph, or someone riding rocky tech at half that speed fines off, I'm not convinced the gnar rider is gonna come off worst.
Just sayin.
Comes, not fines!
I use RF Charge's. As others have pointed out they're not hugely heavy duty pads but have stopped many bloodied knees whilst still allowing me to pedal uphill comfortably.
However I'm under no illusion as to if I came off at 20mph in a rock garden they wouldn't be very good... However I'm too cowardly to try to ride through a rock garden at 20mph.
I ride in the lakes by the way so it is reasonably rocky.
another trailskin type fan here
As said, they only work if you're wearing them so unobtrusive and comfortable for most of what I do, and then some stormtrooper ones for trailcentre days
My 'worst' accident was why I always wear them, leading a beginner trail ride at Swinley and not going fast and not paying attention I had a front wheel washout and a slow crash on to the compacted yellow. It looked like someone had hit my knee with baseball bat, and then run a cheese grater over it. Infection, swelling, 8 weeks off the bike and a few days of drawing around the infection with pen and the docs saying if it spread much further it'd be hospital and IV antibiotics. For the minor inconvenience of hot knees.... but it was only a beginner ride!
Anyone seen or tried a pair of leatt airflex hybrids? They look good - like the usual d30 ghost sleeve but with a small sliding plate.
Just bought some enduras but tempted to order them as well and see what I prefer. I have a thing about pads not coming high enough to meet and stay tucked under (or over) bib short lowers and they look a bit short.
I have IXS Flow Zips (also available without zip), comfortable all day so no reason not to wear them, and a useful level of protection. I use them for anything involving much pedalling. They size small, I'm a slim guy but have the XL.
Scott Grenade Evo Zip are a small step up, more than you need. I returned mine because they didn't stay up - no sticky ring inside either end and only a strap at the top.
ION K-Pact Zip are a bigger step up again, the next certification level up. Still comfy, but I need a reason to take these on a ride over the flows.
I think I’ll pay a trip to a couple of LBSs to try some for size and get a better idea of their heft too.
I too was unsure about the heft aspect when buying, hard to judge on the marketing speak, photos and weight (if they publish it) alone.
Using Sam Hill signature model Seven iDP pads at the minute and can't fault them in any way ( possibly on price), the actual pad moulds to the shape of your knee when it warms up when riding so after 10 mins u can't tell they're there. They also do a lightweight version with less padding
IXS Flow Evo+ - extremely comfortable, good protection and unobtrusive. The best I've tried.
Glad this thread is still going. So I ordered a pair of Endura's new "revolutionary" D30 Ghost knee pads, the Mt500 Ghost ( https://www.endurasport.com/mt500-d3o-ghost-knee-pads-black/12928334.html).
These were to replace a pair of endura singletrack lite knee sleeves ( https://www.vitalmtb.com/product/guide/Knee-Shin-Pads,56/Endura/Singletrack-Lite,25886). My issue with these is that I had a few 'offs' in the lakes and it hurt!
Firstly, the D30 ghost material is very flexible. Like - as flexible as the material underneath.
It's also bloody useless as a protective material. I've no idea how they got the impact certification. I put one of the old (cheap pu pad) pads on my left knee, the new D30 pad on the right knee, and hit myself a few times. Literally felt every single hit on the d30 pads. The old pu ones? about 1/3 of the impact came through.
Airy and light, but totally useless. Back to the shop!
Been using Bliss Minimalists for 5+ yrs since this-
Been good for me.
I've got more substantial pads for rides that justify them, but I use the Minimalists for the vast majority of rides.
Ixs flow for me too. Love them hardly notice they’re on yet can take a biggish hit.
Can recommend POC Joint VPD Air Knee Pads, after 2 minutes they’ve warmed up and moulded and you just forget they are there 👌
For proper gnarl, RF Ambush.