What are you wearing on your elbows?

WestCoastHucker · Jun 9, 2014

like you've stated, i've never had any elbow pads that actually stayed in place if they weren't part of a jacket...

'size · Jun 9, 2014

the old roach/race face rally elbow/forearms are the only pads that ever stayed in place for me.

mykel · Jun 9, 2014

Original 661 Evo (3do) elbows.
They work quite well when they stay up and I have benefited from such, but more often, a bit of sweat (ok a lot) and some rough trail, and they end up forearm guards.

Huck Banzai · Jun 9, 2014

I use the TLD 5550 Elbows (& 5450 Knees) and they stay put - tight fit even though I'm thin (Large size, large me); they stay put for me. Once you sweat they really stay put. (as in a beyotch to get off.)

If you need burly protection, hockey elbows are the trick....

EDIT: how in the world would an elbow pad do anything to protect an acromioclavicular joint? Maybe a titanium exo-skeleton, but no pad is ever going to be able to do anything about that. Lots of gym time - sure, but no pad evarr.

slyfink · Jun 9, 2014

Scabs

vinny4130 · Jun 10, 2014

Weinis scars... and sometimes scabs.

All elbow pads I have ever tried are scaredy pads.

jackalope · Jun 10, 2014

Usually, I wear special elbow pouches filled with uranium so that my arms sag below the bars, which makes me look really tired and slow on the bike.

Actually, I just got some RF Charges, which I suppose are technically "enduro" pads, so I'm not sure how they will fair in DH. Hopefully they will crossover like Martin Maes. But I do like the fact they are tight enough to give my upper arm a muffin top.

Bikael Molton · Jun 10, 2014

Can't do it. they don't stay in place or are extremely uncomfortable, contributing to arm pump for me.

big-ted · Jun 10, 2014

The first version of POC VPD elbow pads. I know it's not cool to wear elbow pads, but stitches/infections/chipped bones are way less cool imo. I had one crazy high speed crash where I slid and did manage to move the pad a bit, but the damage to my elbow would have been a thousand times worse without pads. Otherwise mine stay in place pretty well. Way better than the old 661 D3O pads I used to use.

Josef · Jun 10, 2014

Alpinestars Moabs. They work fine. They fit funny when your straighten your arms but when you are riding they are good. I hate elbow pads but I got a hairline fracture in my elbow so I am wearing this for the time being.

rav400 · Jun 10, 2014

POC bone elbow guards. Hard plastic shells and seem to stay in place pretty well when I tighten them down. They don't use Velcro, just a sleeve and two adjustable straps. That said, I don't wear them that often. Pretty much only wear them if I'm riding somewhere exceptionally rocky and technical.

kickstand · Jun 10, 2014

I have the arms of a 13 year old girl. Anything I have ever tried has slid off of me. I have not tried some of the suggestions in this thread, but I would like something for the elbow's, it only makes sense.

kazlx · Jun 10, 2014

The TLDs are good and preventing the superficial stuff and they are relatively comfortable.

LOOnatic · Jun 10, 2014

I'm using the d3o 661 pads and they so work quite well. Since you liked the dainese stuff definitely check out the ones with the BOA closure system. Been using the knee pad versions and they do stay put more than any other pad ive used and thats alot over the years (im a hack and crash alot so thats counts for something)

Tmeyer · Jun 11, 2014

The new 661 Rage pads are pretty dialed. I gave up on Elbow pads a few years ago but wore these for a Whistler trip last year. I barely noticed that I was wearing them all day and they never slipped once. They offer a hard and soft version but after seeing both in person I opt for the hard version. Also pretty affordable at $50 or $60.

frorider · Jun 11, 2014

never used them, but if you're interested in the boa system Dainese pads at half price and you have skinny arms: http://www.xsportsprotective.com/dainese-oak-pro-elbow-guard.html

btw that BOA knob on the dainese pads seems to stick out where it might get torn off by a rock. IMO

kidwoo · Mar 16, 2015

I did a search and was going to start a new thread but this is inside a year......

So bump and all that.

Does anyone have those 7idp ellblows?

They only have one strap in what looks like the downslope of my massive bicep, and hence, will not stay up. I'm going to buy those or some IXS ones unless anyone shouts fire. I'm badly in need of life experiences. Please share yours.

Nick · Mar 16, 2015

Huck Banzai said:
I use the TLD 5550 Elbows (& 5450 Knees) and they stay put - tight fit even though I'm thin (Large size, large me); they stay put for me. Once you sweat they really stay put. (as in a beyotch to get off.)

If you need burly protection, hockey elbows are the trick....

EDIT: how in the world would an elbow pad do anything to protect an acromioclavicular joint? Maybe a titanium exo-skeleton, but no pad is ever going to be able to do anything about that. Lots of gym time - sure, but no pad evarr.

I too have these TLD pads, as well as Dainese hard shell pads.
I've never had an elbow pad stay in place during a crash. Both the above have trade offs; the Dainese really take an impact, but may move, the Dainese do NOT move, but really only protect against abrasions and whatnot.

frango · Mar 17, 2015

Scars and glory

tomasis7 · Mar 17, 2015

i wear leatt jacket as i find separate elbows just annoying. i dont mind legs but arms need free movement as possible.

norbar · Mar 17, 2015

frango said:
Scars and glory

There is no glory in crashing because your shaulder popped and smacked you in the face

Though it makes for great go pro vids. I think someone still has that ADH vid.

@Tomasis - POC elbows are surprisingly comfortable.

frango · Mar 17, 2015

norbar said:
There is no glory in crashing because your shaulder popped and smacked you in the face Though it makes for great go pro vids. I think someone still has that ADH vid.

@Tomasis - POC elbows are surprisingly comfortable.

Elbow is not the same as arm, which pops out, indeed

These two don't happen together ;P

Westy · Mar 17, 2015

A nice shea butter moisturizer.

jonKranked · Mar 17, 2015

big-ted said:
The first version of POC VPD elbow pads. I know it's not cool to wear elbow pads, but stitches/infections/chipped bones are way less cool imo. I had one crazy high speed crash where I slid and did manage to move the pad a bit, but the damage to my elbow would have been a thousand times worse without pads. Otherwise mine stay in place pretty well. Way better than the old 661 D3O pads I used to use.

i've got first gen POC vpd as well.

Trasselkalle · Mar 17, 2015

Dainese Oak Hard Evo elbow guards. I tried the IXS ones I believe you mean, and they were fine except a size smaller than I needed and I didn't want to wait for the large, so I went Dainese instead. Feels great and the lower arm protection is nice for me. I seem to need that bit of protection more than the elbow for some reason.

johnbryanpeters · Mar 17, 2015

I wear well worn pasties from crack whore strippers.

supercow · Mar 18, 2015

Raceface ambush...but my guns are getting bigger so need to change to XL.

Damn you gym gainz

Norther · Mar 18, 2015

I have this for light protection, the elbow pads are similar than Safety jacket pads. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/fi/en/dainese-hybrid-shirt-2015/rp-prod118465

EVIL JN · Mar 19, 2015

Do people really hurt the actual elbow? Personally I just get cuts on the forearms.

I've been thinking of going with something that looks like alpine forearm guards like they use in GS, seems to way more useful than the standard elbow pad that dont even stay in place anyway.

ustemuf · Mar 19, 2015

i've almost tried every brand possible... in the end, i wear nothing.

elbow pads always resulted in three problems

1. did nothing in a real crash
2. slipped off and provided no protection in a crash
3. caused arm pump

for that reason, no elbows is the way to go for me. the fatigue from arm pump out weighs any protection offered.

if you find the magical pad let me know..(its not from fox, 661, dainese, tld, nukeproof, gform, raceface, or poc afaik)

kidwoo · Mar 19, 2015

Norther said:
I have this for light protection, the elbow pads are similar than Safety jacket pads. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/fi/en/dainese-hybrid-shirt-2015/rp-prod118465

I've ripped open an elbow to the bone, requiring >12 stitches twice in the last 6 years. The last time was 800 bucks being out of country. That's why I asked. The IXS and 7idp pads look like they might actually do something besides just get out of the way.

Half the reason is that the woodward park here requires them to practice stuff in the foam pit too. Because you know........foam and elbows can be gnarly.

kidwoo · Mar 19, 2015

ChrisRobin said:
I don't seem to crash on my elbows often.

I don't think anyone does. But I just want some for when my health insurance company is an asshole and I'm in another country.

TrumbullHucker · Mar 19, 2015

nada :/

inb4...

Trasselkalle · Mar 20, 2015

The winds of this thread seems to be blowing towards elbow armor being in the way and doesn't work. To each their own, but seeing that the OP as well as Woo's bump of the thread was about elbow armor that ppl seem to get along with, maybe that's what the topic should be also? Wearing or not wearing pads shouldn't affect your manliness. If it does, you've been wearing the pads on the wrong limb.

In terms of staying put during a crash, I personally find the low profile hard-shell ones tend to stay put better on me than thicker soft ones. The thicker soft ones just spin away for me (repeat: for me). I also like the slightly longer contact surface ones in general, as that means less pressure on a smaller part of my arm.

Mo(n)arch · Mar 20, 2015

Back in the days I wore a jacket from 661 which made me look like a robot. And it was hot as fvck. But the elbow pads safed me a lot of times during my first years of DHing. I went away from sliding over the ground on my forearms completely unscathed.
But still, that damn jacket was way too hot.
So I started riding with a back protector (hardshell, cut out for a Leatt brace) and some sh!tty hardshell elbow pads. It sill does the trick during a slide out, it doesn't get too hot anymore during summer and I don't look like robo cop anymore.
The only downside is, that the elbow pads need to fit really tight, which isn't that comfortable, but I think it's worth it, especially when you wash out in off camber sections or flat corners.
Ask the Bulldog:

What are you wearing on your elbows?

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