What are the worlds best knee pads?

eaterofdog · May 26, 2014

MMike · May 26, 2014

I'm still using my Dainese knee-shins that I bought in 2000.

slyfink · May 26, 2014

http://nsmb.com/race-face-flank-leg-pads-reviewed/

I have the Race Face Ambush and like the well enough. Though I have to say, I don't understand the hate for hard armour. I have the Fox Launch knee and shin armour. It stays put even while pedalling, is far cooler than any of those knee guards, and offers better poking protection that the foam knee pads. But whatevs, fashion is fashion I guess.

binary visions · May 26, 2014

Next, on the Ask a Porn Star segment of Jerry Springer.

Pesqueeb · May 26, 2014

Looking for a promotion are you?

HAB · May 26, 2014

POC. /thread

Da Peach · May 26, 2014

HAB said:
POC. /thread

The DH 2.0 have the hard plastic cap. Even POC acknowledges that their pads move when you hit the ground at speed without a plastic cap...

I have the RF dig with a plastic cap covered in fabric. They work a treat. Nice and snug and don't budge. The fancy ones with the 3DO are probably right up your alley.

Da Peach · May 26, 2014

pnj said:
Just for clarification , I don't mind plastic inside the pads. In fact I like the extra protection.

I just don't like the plastic outside of the fabric. Nothing to do with fashion, just my preference after riding Rector pads for 10 plus years.

well, I think they've discontinued these, but they're what I have, and are great. Plastic cap under the fabribc...

http://www.raceface.com/guards/legs/dig-knee/

hmm, I guess they're not discontinued... good news.

Nick · May 26, 2014

My old pads were Dainese knee/shin which offered great protection but didn't stay in place very well.
I have the 661 d30 pads, which fit great and work fine.

That said I like the look of these new Dainese...

Nothing like hard shell plastic when hitting the ground.

mykel · May 26, 2014

Running Nukeproof Knee-Shin for the second year now.
They have been extensively tested. :busted:

So far so good, a small cut on the knee fabric of one and a couple of the holes in the perforated foam have ripped (very minimal considering the testing regimen)

The Good.
Full length.
Hard exposed shin.
Under-fabric hard knee cap.
Stay in place when testing the trail surface
Sock style with elastic velcro
VERY comfortable
Decent ventilation for perforated foam
Cheap

The Bad.
Full length.
Sock style - must remove shoes.
Fabric / foam can be a bit weak - care required putting on / taking off.
Hard shell knee is fabric coated.

AngryMetalsmith · May 26, 2014

I've knee punched a few rocks with the 661 Kyle Straits, and can tell what a difference that plastic cup makes. They're good for that occasional fall when riding rough trail that requires pedaling, but not what I'd want for DH. Hit the ground hard enough to invert the plastic cup on some old Azonic/generic pads, and didn't feel a thing.

allsk8sno · May 26, 2014

http://www.jensonusa.com/Leg-Armor/Race-Face-Flank-LW-Leg-Guard-2012

currently running these flank LW, with the D3O, they stay in place good, but can't say much on crashing...i don't do alot of that, but they are comfortable and offer some shin, unlike just knee pads, my wife just got the fox launch knee and loves them for comfort/pedal ability, both are slip on (ie take off your shoe) which seems to make them stay in place better compared to the other open back pads i've tried without chaffing from straps

Samoto · May 27, 2014

Running Scott Grenade II.

Best kneepads! Flexy enough and holds well.

POC and Dainese are other options for me.

norbar · May 27, 2014

Samoto said:
Running Scott Grenade II.

Best kneepads! Flexy enough and holds well.

POC and Dainese are other options for me.

I've heard great stuff about them.

I'd also think about ION. Their stuff is of great quality.

ICEBALL585 · May 27, 2014

I've got the 661 evo knee pads but don't really wear them much anymore. They're comfortable and do a decent job of staying in place. Mainly just learned how to crash land without landing on my knees.

When riding DH, I always use pads with hard plastic. I've got the 661 race knee/shin pads. They fit my skinny chicken legs well and have saved my shins more than once. I ride with flats and once missed a pedal on landing and slammed a pedel into my shin. Hit so hard that the pins on pedal stuck into the hard plastic. Had to stop completely and remove my pedal from my shin guard. I'm guessing that would have been a broken shin but barely felt a thing when it happened.

Samoto · May 27, 2014

norbar said:
I've heard great stuff about them.

I'd also think about ION. Their stuff is of great quality.

Ion looks good, I checked through the catalog and i want buy some pieces. Crash shorts look good as complement to my Leat 3d chest suit.

6thElement · May 27, 2014

For anyone else not biased against plastic, the POC 2.0 DH longs are great.

firemandivi · May 28, 2014

I don't wear them often but when I do the Fox Launch Knee/Shin Pads works for me and have saved my knees from some very painful crashes. Of course you need to find the pair that feel comfortable to you and stay in place and that is the real trick. A little reminder if the pads do start to rub or chaff a little mole hair works wonders.

norbar · May 31, 2014

6thElement said:
For anyone else not biased against plastic, the POC 2.0 DH longs are great.

The soft ones are great too, though they run small. My gf runs a medium and she is tiny.

yd35 · May 31, 2014

The Scott Grenade knee pads look and sound great, but they're not readily available in the US. My LBS doesn't carry Scott, and I haven't found any US based e-retailers that stock them.

fro biker · Jun 3, 2014

Nick said:
My old pads were Dainese knee/shin which offered great protection but didn't stay in place very well.
I have the 661 d30 pads, which fit great and work fine.

That said I like the look of these new Dainese...

Nothing like hard shell plastic when hitting the ground.

On the "to buy" list.

mandown · Jun 6, 2014

I've been out of the armor game for a while, but I loved my POC knee/shin VPD. In my crash, my knees came through just fine.

Leppah · Jun 27, 2014

I'm riding some old skool 661 knee pads. Comfy. Hardly even notice them. I've only ridden in them twice though, so I don't know how they'd be while taking a digger. Shouldn't be too bad since they're pretty thick.

ButtersNZ · Jul 8, 2014

Bluegrass Eagle Bobcat for me. Excellent pads. No slippage and good impact adsorption.

Kiwintas · Nov 7, 2018

So my old Troy lee KGS 5400 knee guards are starting to cause pressure points on my knees when riding, They are a few year old and could do with replacing.
So What is out there that has good protection but And can be pedalled all day in?

jonKranked · Nov 7, 2018

Kiwintas said:
So What is out there that has good protection but And can be pedalled all day in?

can you be more specific? more Dh oriented? more enduro oriented? more trail oriented?

Kiwintas · Nov 8, 2018

Trail/ Enduro riding, I’m not sure of the difference between the 2? They both just seem like riding bikes to me

DaveW · Nov 8, 2018

The best pads are the ones that fit right and that's going to vary from person to person as everyone's leg proportions are different.
For me the Leatt 3DF 5.0's are an awesome fit, IXS Carves don't fit neither do the Raceface Indy's or ambush.
They've taken quite a beating and keep on going.
Another fella I know, the Raceface Ambush are the only ones on the market he's ever found that fit his legs.
*shrugs* Best I can say is go for a non Newtonian gel padding and a velco strap (2 is slightly better) with a lightwight super breathable mesh up the back to help keep the heat down, and go try a heap of different brands on at the best local bike shop.

Nick · Nov 8, 2018

Kiwintas said:
Trail/ Enduro riding, I’m not sure of the difference between the 2? They both just seem like riding bikes to me

What size? I have 661 d30s 4 sale.
edit: I just remembered you're on the other size of the world. no sale, I'm sure.

I've used the 661, now wear the RF Ambush. Prefer the latter due to removable without taking off shoes. I'd want this same pad with a hard plastic shell, as I don't climb in pads.

StiHacka · Nov 8, 2018

DaveW said:
Another fella I know, the Raceface Ambush are the only ones on the market he's ever found that fit his legs

I like the Ambushes. They wrap around the knees so no need to remove shoes when putting them on.

6thElement · Nov 8, 2018

StiHacka said:
I like the Ambushes. They wrap around the knees so no need to remove shoes when putting them on.

Same, they're my favoured ones for trail riding.

jonKranked · Nov 8, 2018

Kiwintas said:
Trail/ Enduro riding, I’m not sure of the difference between the 2? They both just seem like riding bikes to me

it's what falls in between DH and XC. trail is closer to XC, enduro is closer to DH.

Personally I'm eyeing up a set of the Dainese Trail Skin 2 knee pads.

Da Peach · Nov 8, 2018

Nick said:
What size? I have 661 d30s 4 sale.
edit: I just remembered you're on the other size of the world. no sale, I'm sure.

I've used the 661, now wear the RF Ambush. Prefer the latter due to removable without taking off shoes. I'd want this same pad with a hard plastic shell, as I don't climb in pads.

The RF Dig have a hard shell, but covered with nylon for extra tearability

4xBoy · Nov 8, 2018

Your mom's.

Sorry I had to hit that softball.

rockofullr · Nov 8, 2018

Soft protection - 7idp Sam Hill

Hard protection (removable) - Fox Launch Pro D3O

djjohnr · Nov 9, 2018

Pad fit is completely personal. Every time I need new pads I order one of everything in my size, try them all on, keep the set that fits/feels best and return the rest. I'd rather spend $10 on return shipping and have the best fitting pads I can find then go a few seasons with pads I'm not really happy with. Currently I'm using 7idp Transitions for trail and Dainese Aroform for dh.

Nick · Nov 9, 2018

rockofullr said:
Hard protection (removable) - Fox Launch Pro D3O

damn those look almost perfect. if they weren't slip on they could take my money right now.
I might have to try 'em anyway.

What are the worlds best knee pads?

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