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So yesterday I had an off at fairly high speed at FOD (shamefully on the blue - which I was finding a little dull so turned the speed up a bit too much and ran out of talent), fair to say my 661 recons didn’t do a great job. 3 hours in minor injuries later having had x rays and all the bits picked out of my knee I’m quite sore all over - but especially my left knee which is very swollen.
I have a hard shell shin/knee combo which I use for uplift but aren’t practical for trail riding. Any ideas on something that will actually work for knees but is pedallable as well?
POC VPD Air is the standard answer, assuming they fit you well.
How much protection have they got in there - is there a hard shell at all? Wondering if some kind of hard outer shell might slide better in a crash without the pad getting dragged down my leg?
ixs flow. Or carve.
fox launch, always well reviewed, i've found them to be quite hot though..
i'd have rated the G-Form but I managed to put an 4cm,1/2cm deep cut down my knee with the pads still in place, so a similiar offering to the 661.
i like my dainese trail skins for bigger enduro days as they slide down easily for the transitions.
Dainese trail skins
Fox Launch Pro give good protection and last for years.
Fine for pedaling in spite of looking bulky.
Get the L/XL unless you have sparrow legs.
Wondering if some kind of hard outer shell might slide better in a crash
You`re crashing wrong, drop and roll, drop and roll.
Lost my front wheel at speed just after landing off a lip, no chance to even think about landing - was basically straight down face first although luckily I didn’t hit my head / face. Got left hand side of my chest, both forearms and elbows and left knee / left hip. Bent a crank and snapped off a light bracket. Right hand shifter / brake lever combo luckily seem to have twisted round with no real damage.
Handlebar has scratches at one point - wonder whether I should change them - although I haven’t had time to really check them / the rest of the bike over yet.
Thinking a slightly warmer knee pad is a compromise I’m willing to take - that’s twice now my left knee has taken a really hard impact and it’s not appreciating it.
Will check out the ixs / dainese/ fox options next. The poc from what I can see would offer a bit more protection the recons I have, but not a game hanging amount more.
My POC VPD air have saved my knees quit a few times and are fit and forget comfortable and don't move when riding but I could see them moving in a big slidy off, they haven't but I have had dirt under them in a crash. When I want more protection it's my old worn discontinued 661 Kyle Strait's or the Fox Launch Pro which are pretty similar and fine for pedalling in after a few rides, they are warmer than the POC's but I can't seem them moving in a crash. I'd also look at TLD, POC VPD 2, in fact there's loads of choice and much comes down to how they fit your legs.
Slight hijack I’ve s pair of ixs flow knee pads in the classifieds
+1 for Dainese trail skins
Tld raid for more, if slightly bulky, protection. Tld Trail sleeves for less bulk but slightly less beefy. Both d3o and pretty light
Some review/opinions here might be helpful:
https://enduro-mtb.com/en/best-lightweight-knee-pads-can-buy/
all the bits picked out of my knee
Did the kneepads slip in the crash and then your knees got cut? I've seen/had this happen with both soft and hard knee pads. If you do them up tight enough for them not to slip they arent comfortable, run them looser and this happens.
One point - you don't want the kind of pads that get featured in "lightweight" pad group tests.
You want bigger ones with side protection that still pedal well.
The knee pads I have don’t have adjustable do up settings - they’re like tight sleeves you slide on. Clearly not tight enough!
That’s a fair point about going for a heavier knee pad that pedals on rather than picking a lightweight one overall. I’m defo prioritising protection this time around.
Both knee pads slid in the crash yes - hence the left knee being a mess. But it also had too big an impact on it as it’s all bruised and swollen. I’m not sure the knee pads really did much at all. In that Enduro test featured above they didn’t do well at all - wish I’d read that before buying!
So reading the Enduro magazine recent knee pad test (which was separated into lightweight and heavier weight pads - I’m interested in the latter), he best 2 seem to be the Ion k-pact zip and the Fox Launch pro d30.
Has anyone had either of the above 2 pads?
I still need to find some to look at in person and the TLD raids / dainese trail skins mentioned above.
I’m especially keen to get most protection having now got another knee infection. Second one this year having never previously had one. Luckily I think I got strong antibiotics just in the nick of time and it seems to be slowly receding. Fingers crossed this course kills it off properly - got seven days worth of 2x500mg tablets 4 times a day (flucloxacillin).
@ Joebristol
I've had the ion k Pact, excellent protection, very comfy and stay in place really well (Can't stress how important this is after have numerous pads slipping about).
But:
They do run very hot
They come up very small and the sizing of the lower half of the pad compared to the upper is a bit odd (for my legs anyhow)
Main issue for me was the raised material around the knee hollow created by the stiching between the pad mesh section. On longer rides this rubbed and left friction burns which stung like hell after.
It's interesting that Enduro mag didn't pick up on this as they did for other brands.
Sold them recently due to the above and currently on IXS carve which I'm also going to get rid of as they don't stay in place.
What are you really looking for? I ask because, imo, all these minimal/lightweight pads are absolute horseshit. A good, old fashioned, bulky pad like the good old 661 Kyle Strait offers miles more protection and is no less pedallable, in fact because they're bulky they can be less stiff and less tight. I reckon just about everyone would be better served with a bigger, standard-issue kneepad.
Given the state of my knee right now I need really good protection against impact and friction cuts etc that I can pedal still. Nothing lightweight that is going to slip / rip / pass on loads of the impact to my knee. Tried the lightweight route and it hasn’t worked.
Indo have some 661 hardshell lads thstbfrrl substantial bit that I haven’t come off in yet properly - but they have built in shin pads too and they run very very hot as a result.
So what would you recommend that I could actually buy new now?
So I ordered ion kpact zips. In medium I couldn’t do the zip up round my calf. Now got large and they just do up over my calf but I’m not convince on the baggyness if the upper leg. Need to try them on again properly on the weekend. If I’m not convinced they’re going back as £90 is a lot.
Windering what else to try / the ion feels very padded / protective and I want something similar but probably with a better fit.
The launch pro d30 review suggested it lacked side protection and they’re like £100 or just over - so not keen on those.
Has anyone tried / got Scott Grenade pro 2’s or grenade Evo’s? I wish some shops would have some pads in stock but I’m failing to find any!
Hey Joe, I see sportspursuit have amazing deals on Ion pads atm, k pacts for like 29 quids, but only in limited sizes. My mate wears em and loves em. I've just picked up a pair of the new 7idp Sam Hill pads and they feel awesome, very comfy and pedal friendly, but a good amount of extra protection compared to the Transition pad. The dakine pads are also good, I had the Slayers, which are at the more solid end of the lightweight spectrum, but they do heavier hitting versions too. 2yr warranty too.
Thanks for the suggestions. I bought both medium and large ion k-pacts but I’ve sent the medium back and I’m not convinced on the fit of the large. I think my calves are too big in relation to my upper leg for the fit. So medium fitted nicely at the top but I couldn’t get the zip done up over my calf. The large just do up on my calf but feel baggy / uncomfortable at the top. I think they’ll have to go back.
In the meantime I’ve ordered medium and large Scott Grenade Evos - they get good reviews as well.
If they don’t fit then I’ll look at 7idp and the heavier saline pads you mentioned. Hopefully I haven’t just got the weirdest legs in the world.
Medium Scott Grenade Evo’s it is. Way more comfy than the k-pacts for my legs. Think it’s the zip on them that doesn’t help the fit.