The K-Pact Amp HD is the top-tier knee pad of ION. The SAS Tec pad is extended lower down onto the shop and the Power_slide caps on the knee enhance durability. The angular cut and pre-shaped ergonomic fit enhance comfort. On top, the strategically placed Ergo_Strap Velcro above the calf muscle allows you to find the perfect fit. Price: EUR 169...
The Dainese Rival family of protectors is designed to offer maximum resistance and protection, and the unique freedom to ride without constraints. The Dainese Rival Pro knee guards bring extra protection in the shape of a steel plated knee cap protector. This, combined with the flexibility and breathability of Pro-Shape 2.0 technology guarantees excellent freedom of movement and a lot...
The K-Lite zip knee pads are a slim fitting, enduro oriented pad with a side zipper making it easy to put on or take off. Price: 119,90 EUR The product The K-Lite zip is the brother of the original K-Pact pads. Unlike the K-Pacts, the Lite version has no hard shell inside the kneecap area. This makes it a lot...
Bluegrass has been on the market for quite some time now, and with their Skinny pads line ventured into the ‘hard to do right’ side of protectors. The skinny is available in both regular and D30 versions. We tried out the budget friendly regular pads. They are available in XS, S, M, L and XL sizes, with an accurate size...
Leatt is synonymous with the Neck Brace. So much so that it's easy to forget they make a wealth of other mountain bike and motorbike products. With few companies making them, Leatt is certainly at the top of their game and their kit can be found around the necks of plenty of high profile downhill racers. The neck brace's popularity...
Designed as a minimalist protection pad, the Recon aims to offer enough padding to be worth wearing whilst also being comfortable and flexible. Built to be worn all day, they should be a fit-and-forget piece of kit. The protection comes in the form of Poron XRD foam which has an open cell structure that gives a flexible material able to...
Bluegrass have recently launched a new swathe of protection and the knee and shin options are now many and varied. These are the Skinny D3O, but they are available without D3O and there are more substantial versions in the line up as well. The main padding is the D3O material which hardens on impact and this is curved into the...
The ARG Minimalist pad is essentially a lycra sleeve with a perforated flexible pad attached. The lycra allows for a comfortable fit and the ARG pads are attached in the appropriate places for maximum knee protection. The shape is supposedly achieved from body scans to achieve the best range of movement. The ARG material is bonded directly onto the fabric...
Dainese know their stuff about high-speed sports, hailing from the heyday of motobike racing in Italy. Their mountain bike kit has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, and the second generation of the Trail Skins knee pads are an impressive piece of kit to look at. Based on a geometric pattern of predominantly triangle shapes, the curved outer...
These are a brand new version of ION's lightweight knee protectors. They use featherweight memory foam which is perforated with a lot of holes to allow air flow. They are a slide-on style pad constructed of a stretchy mesh sleeve designed to be worn for long periods of time and go relatively unnoticed. If you do want to take them...
The K_Lite R is an evolution of last years K_Lite model, the addition of the letter R denoting the input of one Richie Rude! With full control over the development of these pads, he has created a high performing and lightweight enduro knee pad. Foregoing the hard shell cap, the new versions have only a closed cell foam insert to...
The Anthem is Dakine's latest pad and combines plenty of protection with the ability to remove the pads while keeping your shoes on. This easy on-and-off system aims to allow riders more choice, and for those with long climbs, the ability to stash the pads in a pack until needed. Big protection pads are always an issue on long rides,...
The Launch Enduro pads from Fox are their most lightweight knee pad, aiming to be exceptionally comfortable and pedal friendly. The design is elegantly simple, a pull on neoprene sock that is kept in place by the elastic nature of the fabric and silicon gripper strips. Comparable more to a substantial set of knee warmers, they are low profile, low weight,...
O'Neal has been in the MX game since the ’60s, but it wasn’t until the late ’80s when it entered the mountain bike market. Jim O'Neal was an MX rider during the birth and the initial growth of the sport. Driven by a need to help himself and his fellow riders to progress in the sport, Jim started to design...
The K Lite pads from ION are a lightweight pad claiming to offer breathability and pedal friendly levels of comfort. They use SAS-TEC padding with a hard cap to keep your knees in one piece and neoprene to keep everything comfortable. This is combined with silicone ribbons on the top and bottom of the pad to remove the need for velcro...
Seven Protection, over the past 5 years, have amassed an incredible list of sponsored riders covering all aspects of gravity mountain biking. The large selection of knee pads in their range cover all levels of protection and these, the Flex Knee, are their budget pads which claim to be value for money whilst retaining some of their best features. They...
The Flex Knee Pads from Kenny Racing uses some tried and tested materials to create a pad with serious impact protection. They feature a plastic fixed shell over the knee cap and a very stiff but flexible upper shin protector, all held in place by a comfy stretch neoprene fabric with two velcro closures. On The Trail Front on protection...
The IXS Carve knee pad returns in an updated form for 2016 as the Carve Evo. The knee guards retain their lightweight structure without hard shell, meaning a very flexible and comfy fit for a gravity oriented pad. Changes from the 2015 model include additional padding above the main knee pad, plus sewn-in Velcro straps that double up on themselves so they...
Leatt, based out of Cape Town, South Africa are headed up by Dr Leatt himself and this is evident in the detailing and production that goes into their products. The Airflex Pro is no exception to the rule. Don’t be fooled by its slim stripped back appearance - still scoring a 15 on the Leatt protection rating system, the ultra...
The first feature that sets the Singletrack pads apart from the crowd is the full wrap-round fastening system which allows the pads to be removed without taking your shoes off. This handy feature means they can be easily stashed in a bag on long ascents before being quickly strapped on for when you need them. This closure system is achieved with...
'Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, make sure you send it!' these are the words which greet you on the inside of the new rage pads from 661, so make of that what you will. We have two sets of the Rage from 661, one with a hard plastic shell, the other soft and flexible. On The Trail...
As knee pads become nearly as common as helmets for mountain bikers, the range of options grows ever more extensive. From O'Neal, we have their AMX Zipper pads, which do offer something slightly different from the norm. The clue is in the name, and the zip up the side allows the pads to be fitted without taking shoes off, making...
Italian company Dainese have a mission to 'deliver safety to people exposed to traumatic injuries in dynamic sports'. Now I, like most others I suspect, have no desire to get involved in any traumatic injuries so choose to ride with a bit of protection, knee pads being one of them. I do, however, like my knee pads on the softer...
The Sinner knee guard from O’Neal is a high tech piece of kit. Unlike some other pads it uses a SaS-Tec Memory foam insert, which is vented and cut to provide excellent flexibility and cooling properties. The foam is pliable and relatively soft, but when it hits something it hardens in a relative manner to the force of the impact....
With a long history of manufacturing technical protective gear for the motorbike and motocross worlds, Alpinestars know a thing or two about making kneepads. The Morzine Knee Guard is a lightweight soft protector ideal for the summer months, or everyday riding when you don’t want anything too chunky, but want some protection should you find yourself getting intimate with the...
The Super Bobcat's are essentially an extension of the popular Bobcat kneepads. Fed up of having sore shins at the end of a days riding? Step forward the Super Bobcat. The extra padding sits just above the sock line so will soak up all big hits, even from the sharpest of pedals. The padding in the Super Bobcat comes courtesy...
The clue's in the name with this one with d3o padding used to protect the back and shoulders. This super flexible material is perfect for body armour as it bends along the spine, following the natural curve of the body. The spine protector on the Grizzly is split into three segments for even better flexibility and is far longer than...
Padded shorts aren’t just for XC riders you know! Multi panelled and anatomically correct inserts where you need it most will help keep you from turning black on blue on the toughest of tracks. The lightweight Lycra construction and large mesh panels stop things from getting too hot, while silicone grippers on the legs prevent them from riding up. Sizing...
The Magnetic Protector Vest is designed as a lightweight vest with some heavy-duty back protection. It’s the perfect bit of kit for the rider looking for armour to cover the most important part of your body, but not wanting a full jacket with the associated heat issues. The vest features a belt, which can be removed to make it even...
The protector shorts from O'Neal feature body fitted padding on all the key areas; thigh, hips and coccyx as well as a large padded chamois. The fit is slightly more relaxed, although the bi-elastic Lycra works to keep everything in place. Not as much ventilation on these, although there is more of a generous fit. Very comfortable to wear and...
Well this looks a bit different doesn't it! In fact I was a bit dubious at first, but the moment I tried it on I was a convert. The Stealth features Sas-Tec padding on the spine, elbows and shoulders, with additional bio-form padding on the chest, shoulder blades and ribs. For those who wear a neck brace the front chest...
The Rally FR Knee and Shin Guards from Race Face certainly look the part. Don’t worry you can get a much more mellow colour-way should you desire, but lets face it, they’ll all be brown soon enough! The pads are beautifully made with plenty of attention to detail, the padding behind the plastic armour is quite thick compared to some...
The Rally FR Elbow Pads from Race Face for 2012 have been trimmed down a little at the top of the guard over last years model. Like the matching knee and shin guards the workmanship is sublime and the pads ooze quality. There is plenty of padding behind the plastic armour and this ensures a very comfortable pad. Three Velcro...
The Race Knee and Shin from 661 is their most solid knee protection on offer. The plastic armour covers a large area of the knee and shin and ensures you stay free of cuts and injuries even in the most severe of crashes. They feature a slip on design, meaning the whole knee is enclosed in a neoprene sleeve that...
There is a phrase in life that goes something like “you get what you pay for” and that is certainly the case here, the Battle Jacket from IXS isn’t cheap, £259 RRP. But it is stacked with features and stands head and shoulders above the rest. The jacket features armoured protection for the elbows shoulders and back. The breastplates on...
IXS make some seriously techy equipment, and at first glance these knee pads seem simple enough. Take a closer look though and you’ll notice there is more than meets the eye here. These pads are designed for light use, aimed at the rider who wants a comfortable level of protection that they can wear all day long. The KnockOut™ shock...
