My endura knee pads have started rubbing my knee raw so looking for a new set. These have been fine for months and months now but it seems they’ve reached their limit. Not looking for full on protection more that I can wear every single ride and will cover me for a tumble rather than resist breaking a bone. Rapha seem to get good reviews for comfort but they seem to have the coverage of a trouser rather than just covering the knee. No budget restrictions.
What’s everybody using these days?
I have the 7idp Sam Hills. Had them for best part of year and really like them. Stay in place, not too hot, can be worn under trousers. Not needed to use them in anger so can't comment on protection. Only slight issue is the mesh back which has a couple of holes probably due to catching on pedals but to be fair the holes have never gotten any bigger so it doesn't worry me.
IXS Flow Evo+ (IIRC) are my go-to easy-kneesy protectors.
Got about 4 pairs, one of them went a bit scratchy (not sure why) but the others were trouble free for years.
P.S. When I get a scratchy kneepad, I pop a buff between it and my skin. And I chamois cream my knees before most rides as well.
I'm really fussy with knee pads and seem to be between sizes in most brands. I've succumbed to Rapha for my trail knee pads, they do cover a lot almost all of my legs so feel over the top when putting them on and pretty much join up with normal length socks. But they are very cool to pedal in and I've had no issues with rub.
Only complain is they don't protect the sides of your knees much but that probably helps with comfort to pedal in.
I think they size on the tighter size and ended up going for large after first ordering medium.
I've been wearing G Form for as long as I can remember. Loads of tumbles and seem to work.
IXS Flow Evo+ (IIRC) are my go-to easy-kneesy protectors.
Got about 4 pairs, one of them went a bit scratchy (not sure why) but the others were trouble free for years.
P.S. When I get a scratchy kneepad, I pop a buff between it and my skin. And I chamois cream my knees before most rides as well.
Those have been my go-to for years too. Very comfy for me for pedalling all day in after trying many out (back in the day of free returns to CRC...). Got a couple of spare pairs stashed for future use. Saved me in some decent crashes.
Re scratchy feeling. I used to chuck mine through the washing machine as required and found they sometimes irritated my kneecap skin afterwards. Stopped doing that and now handwash them with 'delicates' liquid stuff (Tesco own brand I think), giving the fabric that contacts the kneecap an extra scrub - could it be a build up of dead skin? I don't know. Anyway, zero issues since.
I’ve some alpinestar paragon lite. I don’t notice I’m wearing them.
The rapha trail ones, gone up in price a lot since I bought mine though. Not sure I would pay that much now
@a11y I thought similar about needing to wash them and I never machine wash these as I'm not sure it's good for the d30 so I took them in the shower with me and cleaned them off really well. Which made the irritation just move slightly.
Refuse to have to wear things and cream under them when up to now they've been perfect, I think perhaps the stitching has just had it.
I have also had good results with IXS Flow.
Seth if berm peak fame recently spoke highly of some new Fix offerings with a rubberised koroyd system in them than looked interesting. His main comment was that he no longer felt the need to push them around his ankles while climbing
I've just bought some of the new Fox ones mention by Onzadog for more xc riding and when it's really warm. They fit me nicely but are reasonably lengthy and I've not actually ridden in them yet due to injury. I'll still default to my Fox Launch pads for most riding.
I tried the Rapha ones a year or two back and they didn't fit me well at all.
@GolfChick I think you're right about machine washing and d30, it was pure laziness on my part. I swapped to handwashing partway through my previous pair and current pair been handwashing only. Turning them inside out and scrubbing/poking at the inner lycra-style fabric lining the kneecap area... I was appalled at the colour of the water afterwards 🤮
Yeah I won't admit to how vile they were when I finally checked the inside!
The Rapha pads are so comfortable that I forget I'm wearing them. Unlike other pads, they also stay in place without the need for constant adjustment. I've only had a minor off when they were called into action and they held up well.
I find IXS flow move about too much, I've had success with the lightweight Knee Guards Sweet Protection, but I think they're discontinued now? So it's probs Rapha for me as well next time around
Rapha here too. Very comfortable indeed, but quite fragile if you crash in them.
The plastic bit comes out so you can wash them easily enough.
I like the Fasthouse ones which I've had for just over a year. Replaced gen 1 Dakine Slayers.
The Fasthouse are a bit more comfy but I think they will get a bit baggy well before the Dakine did. Having tried 5 or 6 pairs on before settling on these though it's a compromise I'll grudgingly accept as none of the other fitter me very well.
+1 for the 7idp Sam Hill pads, just replaced a 5 yr old pair with another pair, genuinely forget I'm wearing them sometimes and decent protection level compared to some I've looked at recently
It's hard to do now, but imo the best pedalling kneepad isn't a minimalist lightweight one, it's a big cushioney one, your classic Kyle Strait or similiar. Big and soft means effortlessly flexible and compliant, they don't fight you as a lot of the thinner, stiffer ones can, and they naturally want to stay in place so don't need to be tight to avoid moving in a crash.
They don't even have to be warm, since the size and easy flexibility and substance means they can have a big old hole in the back, which "knee warmer" style minimals often struggle for. I've tried a few and other than for wearing under trousers I always end up back on the old school pads.
But, this sort of thing is now hard to buy 🙁
7IDP Sam Hill pads are great…the Sam Hill Lites, not so. They are a lighter weight and more minimal version, but the pad is not shaped. After a couple of months of riding, they crease in a way that causes sharp edges of the interlocking nodules on the back to dig and rub against the skin. The OG Sam Hills are really comfy but I would argue they are at the longer, warmer and slightly burlier end of the ‘trail’ pad spectrum if that matters
@fathomer is that the launch elite pads or the enduro pro? I had a set of the older original enduro and they stayed comfy for years and years.
@GolfChick it's these that I've gone for. I like the big upper cuff, works really well on the Launches.
https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Fox-Clothing-Enduro-Pro-MTB-Mountain-Bike-Knee-Guards_273301.htm
G Form for me. The IXS ones are good too.
Troy Lee Designs Speed D30 Knee Sleeves are great for trail riding, are pretty breathable and don't slip 👌
I've had them for years and wash them on a wool wash after several rides when I think they really need it.
I bought some Leatt Reaflex Pros after a rock decided to spoil my fun (and my knee). They're super comfy and while it's sounds like a cliche, I honestly forget I'm wearing them. 30-40 miles off road and I get no rubbing or discomfort at all.
They even (kind of) breathe a bit thought the mesh stuff.
I think a big part of it though is down to the size and shape of your legs vs the size and shape of the pads. Bit like helmets, not every brand fits every head so you need to find a brand or model that fits.
+1 for the Sam Hill ones. They did the job recently when I had a bit of an incident popping out of a rock garden. Elbows didn't come off so well, so I ordered some of the elbow pads too.
G-form for me if going to a bike park but I'm a wuss so mostly stay on the xc side of things anyway so need something comfortable to pedal in. I noticed the new Fox enduro pro knee pads with koroyd in them are getting good reviews, they're quite spendy though https://foxracing.co.uk/product/enduro-pro-knee-guards/32122.html?dwvar_32122_color=001&cgid=new
this sort of thing is now hard to buy
I found some of my old Fox Launch Pro pads in a box the other week, been meaning to give them a run out again.
Some sort of lycra/mesh sleeve with a D30 or similar insert with a tough fabric over the top of the pad.
Just find a brand that suits the shape of your leg, particularly the ratio between calf and thigh girth.
To be honest their much of muchness and what is comfy for me might be awful slippy, tight on calf yet baggy on thigh mess for thee.
Bonus points if they have a elastic strap just above the calf (not on the thigh) and are long enough so the very top goes under your inner shorts.
Currently very happy with my 661 Recons (V2 version) but have used Race Face and IXS amongst others.
+1 on the TLD Knee Sleeves - like them a lot. Not sure I want to have a hugey in the them but great for trail riding and brambles.
I would happily trade any pair of kneepads I’ve worn in the last 10 years for another pair of 661 Kyle Straits. Nothing I’ve worn has come close to the comfort of them (Fox, RaceFace, Leatt, 662 D3O, TLD), I like my current Nukeproof knee pads but they’re still not as nice as the Old Kyle Straits pads (I’ve had 3 sets).
I did like the fact than my RaceFace pads undid so you could remove them while keeping your shoes on though.
My brother loves his 7IDP Sam Hill pads, he has very skinny legs
Well I've gone for some fox enduro pro knee pads so lets see if tredz now take 5 months to send them.
I have POC Joint VPD knee pads which were popular five years ago when I bought them, but you never see them around these days.
the decathlon ones are worth a look. they have removable d30 pads for washing. finally some of the designers are sticking to the datasheet's recommendations... 🙄 🤣
Endura singletrack lite for me. Had them years, loads of use. No special care needed, just hurl them in the machine on a normal wash.
Rapha here. Not the most protective, but super comfortable, which means I actually wear them rather than leaving them festering at the bottom of the wardrobe. I don't have a huge range of experience with alternatives, but much comfier than the Fox, RF ones I've used in the past. I'd probably go for something tougher if I were riding loads of gnar and crashing routinely.
I would happily trade any pair of kneepads I’ve worn in the last 10 years for another pair of 661 Kyle Straits. Nothing I’ve worn has come close to the comfort of them (Fox, RaceFace, Leatt, 662 D3O, TLD), I like my current Nukeproof knee pads but they’re still not as nice as the Old Kyle Straits pads (I’ve had 3 sets).
We are as brothers, you and I!
I think I finally killed all my kyle straits but they did a Rage as the replacement which was nearly identical and I've still got a few of those (and then another Rage which was different, just to make it hard to google). I was stockpiling old stock and even people's used ones for a long time. Then there was a Scott Grenade that was very, very similiar, definitely seemed like a "same factory" job. And I think the last ones you could really buy were the Bliss Teams, which are a bit stiffer and heavier duty feeling but still the same sort of thing. You can still find these occasionally in the shops and on ebay but the sizing is weird, go up a size for sure
There will come a day when I can't wear basically the same kneepads I wore in 2008. BUT IT IS NOT THIS DAY!
I’ve some alpinestar paragon lite. I don’t notice I’m wearing them.
Same here, although mine have started to slide down my legs mid ride like Nora Batty's stockings. Probably should have bought a size down.