order a bunch, try the lot and send the rest back. total waste of money if you buy a pair blind, then only wear them once because they hurt.
I ordered 7 pairs to be delivered to an Evans (pre-Ashley) near me, tried them on, kept some Ions. Guys in the shop were non-plussed – people do it all the time with pads – they totally understood why people need to. The Ions are hardshell and get used for uplift days.
Since reading a bunch about how good the Rapha ones are, I jumped on them at £60 in a sale and I have to say they’re very comfy. Genuinely all day comfy. put them on at 7amlast Sunday, 6 stages of practice, 5 stages of race bunch of pedalling and walking. didn’t take them off until after a beer at the finish.
A good daub of chammy cream around the knees is recommended for any pads!