Body Armour for XC?

I do and i don't... depends how you quantify XC

Local trails, bridleways, paths, etc... No.

FoD, Swinley even, Surrey Hills, then yes...

I have 661 jacket and old Fox knee pads. Both are comfortable, if a little warm at times.

I use lightweight kneepads for the majority of my riding. IME they're the bit that usually gets battered by minor offs, even if that's just getting smacked by the frame. I don't need enduro levels of protection for what I do, but a kneepad that lets me get up and carry on riding is worth it.

Depends on the severity of the ride, but over time my perception of that has changed. FoD rides always used to be knee and elbow pads, with body armour added if I was doing any of the DH tracks. Now it's just knee pads, even the steep tech there, except...

In Feb I had an off that tore my rotator cuff and ruptured a bicep tendon. I have no idea if armour would have helped, given the nature of the crash but I now wear lightweight armour at all times. Apart from the day I fell over 2m onto the damaged shoulder...🤦‍♂️ That hurt more than the original injury and put me off the bike for 6 weeks so now it's body armour or no ride.

I don’t need enduro levels of protection for what I do, but a kneepad that lets me get up and carry on riding is worth it.

This is what I’m thinking, something light like the Scott Mission or Rapha pads. My reasoning is I’m trying to push my technical boundary’s a bit, and of course it just got slipperier.

To Weeksy’s point, I think if I was pushing hard on a rocky trail I’d wear the bluegrass ones I have, although I don’t want to keep 2 pairs.

i wear knee pads for 99% of my rides. Be they local XC bimbles or BPW/FoD/Surrey Hills/off-piste/whatever gnar.

I have fairly lightweight 7IDP ones that I can pedal in all day, so its no issue wearing them.

Plus even a small fall can damage knees... and that can quite easily stop you riding for some time.

I dont wear any other armour mind. Find too much restrictive and touch wood, i havent damaged much else of my body (other than the odd cut or bruise) in the falls i have had.

I wear knee and elbow pads for all MTB riding (95% of which is Surrey & South East), except fire road/tow path bimbling.
POC VPD Air are great.

I wear G-Form kneepads for all my riding apart from road or uplift. I ride very hot so nearly always use shorts, but liked to use fleece kneewarmers to keep my aging knees warm and unstrained.
Looked around a bit, and after a false start with shit Fox ones, I found these G-Form ones which are basically kneewarmers with some reasonable padding.

So I use them almost always.

Then if the ride involves some proper tech (big Lakes hill or Gingerbread Ghyll) them I'll put elbow pads on too.

I only wear knee pads, and then only when in full-gnar mode - the rest of the time just a helmet but always wear gloves, whatever the weather/ride. Rocky & rooty here.

BUT, wear what you want.

I use g-form D30 pads for a lot of riding as well- they're really unobtrusive, and at my age I don't heal quickly. Use them for most stuff except uplifts and local bridleway bimbles.

Since lightweight kneepads have been available I've worn them, previously G-form, now Trail skins for general riding, and some better RF ones for more gnarr rides. Much like wearing a helmet, it seems stupid not

depends entirely on where I'm riding TBH, for places like Calderdale or Peaks I wear some lightweight ones, for park riding  I've a heavier pair, for Chilterns XC or along the TPT, not so much

I’m exactly the same as @v7fmp - always wear knee pads, whether trail centre or XC bimble.

A few years ago I came off going very fast on a simple Surrey Hills fire trail and smacked my knee on a rock hard enough to fear I had broken it. Luckily I hadn’t, but it was a lesson to me. Now I feel naked riding XC without knee pads, just like a helmet.

I work backwards on this... what's my reason NOT to wear full face/full hard+D3O on each ride.
I most often don't .. but at least I've justified that to myself.

I've had a couple of crashes where I put on body armour as an extra layer just to keep warm (as it was in the van) and its done its job and the crash wasn't on anything gnarly.

2 I remember .. one was P-Plate at Rogate.. I had just towed in a friend and she was going again to go first.. cleared the ladder and gap and stopped.. I just went round her and next I was on the floor 15'-20' down from where I'd OTB'd lying on my back. (anyone knows it basically landed down by the pushup)

I was totally fine but NO IDEA why ... despite my back landing full on on a log so straightened up the bars and brakes got on the bike to keep riding and found out WHY... I'd just blown a tyre off and when I'd tried to turn I'd been catapulted...

So P-Plate is arguably gnarly ...(but not compared to much of Surrey Hills) but I didn't crash on the gnarly stuff. Without the body armour I very much doubt I'd have continued riding (having pumped the tyre back up) and possibly worse.

The other time I remember was also at Rogate... not doing anything gnarly at all... I just tried doing the skinny too quickly and refused to accept I'd screwed it up... front wheel came off the skinny and I landed full on my chest and chin on the Tunnel Vision skinny (arm either side). Wrote off the FF and winded from hitting my chest through the armour but again not where I'd have expected on just about the least gnarly trail that's certainly less gnarly than most of the stuff I ride at Surrey Hills.

Don't get me wrong... I've crashed loads with only knee pads and helmet and been fine but what sticks in my mind is these 2 I wouldn't have been.

As to no kneepads .. I'm on the second set of hard covers on my Fox Launch Pro one was totally punctured by a sharp rock... I didn't even feel and the material is ripped and torn all over (from other crashes I didn't feel) .. the way they fit my legs they are as comfy as ineffective crap so why not wear something actually protects them?

My most used combo is actually just knee pads and open face... I just make a decision knowing I did... usually temperature being my reason. Night ride tonight and decision will be made based on how hot it is.

My local riding which is mostly xc - no.
Further afield bigger, more technical, more remote ventures - yes.

My riding is very much on ground xc; Swinley, Surrey hills type stuff on the Mtb I’ll wear a helmet but no armour on the Cx bike, sometimes on the same trails I don’t bother with that.

Mostly I wear 100% teratec (i think) kneepads and an open face helmet. I have had a lot of small crashes onto my knees, so the pads are well worth it. Comfy too. For Rogate then it's the full face. I did try some hip protecting under shorts, but couldn't move well in them.

Its a hard question to answer, because everyone's definition of XC is different (hell, based on this thread, even the definition of Surrey Hills varies), not to mention everyones various level of risk acceptance and skillset.

I would use XC and Trail as different terms (and XC race as a third category which involves racing on trails - typing this I realise how silly my interpretation of the definitions are, and I havent even used the term downcountry yet).

XC: no pads
trail: knee pads - it depends, partly on geology (rocks vs roots) and partly on difficulty.
XC race - no, for temperature and efficiency reasons, and accepting its a compromise/risk

And can we talk about the weird issue (for the fashion conscious at least) why is visible kneepads totally normal and acceptable, whereas visible elbow pads are for dorks?

Elbows and knees unless I'm just riding in to town. It's not even something I think about. Ride enough and you'll crash.

Lightweight kneepads are standard attire for all MTB ride for me: just general MTBing, nothing specific. Currently favouring IXS Flow EVO+ as they're comfy and I don't notice them even on pedally rides. Its only gravel-type rides or commuting etc where I don't bother.

I add in lightweight elbow pads and an 'enduro' FF helmet for the likes of Golfie etc.

And if uplifting at somewhere like Inners its hardshell knee/shin guards, and either hardshell elbow/forearm guards plus DH FF helmet, or 661 old-style pressure suit with the hardshell protection inc spine.

I dont wear any other armour mind. Find too much restrictive and touch wood

Maybe your shorts need more room?

Funny how you evolve out of the habit of protection though, or at least I seem to.
Years back, doing a Dragon Downhill uplift day or something I'd be in full 661 body armour with massive hinged knee pads (after breaking my Tibial plateau at Gethin Woods) full face helmet and padded shorts.

Now, I basically wear pretty much the same riding xc as I do at Revs or somewhere (except maybe the ff helmet)
Evoc back protector pack and G-form knees and that's about it.

Never learn. 🙄

I did once see someone at one of the NPS XC races in full body armour, unsurprisingly he was last by some distance...

I wouldn't for say a marathon race, or a long Yorkshire Dales ride on bridleyway doubletrack etc.

However, if my ride involves more technical stuff, playing on rocks, drops, pushing it on descents etc, then i wear endura singletrack lite knee pads.

I bought them because three crashes in quick succession landed on my right knee and it was getting totally spannered. i was sceptical, but i have done 40+ mile days without any slippage or discomfort. They really are excellent for long pedally days.

(I suppose in modern language, i mean that i wear knee pads for trail riding, it's just that i do it on a little xc hardtail)

we all have different attitudes to risk, helmet 100% of time, gloves 70-80% of time, kneepads similiar.
elbow pads for uplifts and bad weather enduro events.

i ripped a big hole in my knee on a local west yorkshire xc 4-5 years ago, a 75 gallon cleanout in theatre that evening, which a good quality knee pad would have prevented.

the 'bluegrass solid' suggests to me hardshell, so maybe a little too much for my regular riding.

i tend to wear fox enduro sleeve for regular rides, and fox enduro d30 / d30 pro for proper riding, both fit like a comfy glove, although i wore the bulkier fox launch d30 for revs last week. not very comfy to me peddle wise and far bulkier.

on gravel bike were i ride the same trails, i really ought to wear knee pads, glad its winter and my knees are covered by trousers.

Thanks for the feedback. I certainly wouldnt race XC/Marathin in them - this is very much for the 150mm bike / playtime trail use.

I've ordered the Scott Mission EVO which won't be here for the weekend so I no can't try the Bluegrass pads out in case they are going back, but hey ho. With regard to the comments above I think a lightweight pad for general decking about would be perfect to help avoid derailing training & racing.

Nopes, the time I'm most likely to stack it is when racing XC and I won't be wearing pads for that. I ride within myself 99.9% of the time, sure there's the odd occasion when I think "Christ I'd be a mess if i stacked it here" to more often than not that occurs on the road.

I wear knees and elbows one every ride.

Im 49 now and started wearing them for big stuff when my kids were little - a busy life has little space for convalescence.

Slowly as of about 2013 I consciously made the decision to ride all the time with elbows and knees after seeing a couple of broken elbows and losing scarce riding time to a few occasions of knee damage.

Sure, they're a bit sweaty and slightly uncomfortable, but if you make the effort to find something that works decently well, it's easy enough to grow accustomed and then forget about it.

*Waits for someone to say they always ride within their limits*

I wear shin pads for a long high speed doubletrack descent on my local XC loop>. My wife got fed up of me coming home dripping in blood because my front wheel was kicking up rocks from the washed out surface that would take lumps out of my shins

+1 for G-Form. I ride on my own most of the time and use elbow, knee and if I venture over to the Peak District a G-Form Compression top with padding. Very rarely use it local unless we are going a bit gnar!!. Very light and works well. I’ve had a couple of decent off’s in Dfyi Forest and pads seem to do their job.

this is very much for the 150mm bike / playtime trail use.

Yes, wear kneepads then.

I was wearing them for almost every MTB ride. The one time I didn't a few weeks ago, the front wheel washed and I bashed my knee on the stem.

It still really bloody hurts whenever I kneel on it.

Now I'm wearing them for every MTB ride.

😀

and I bashed my knee on the stem.

Funnily enough, a step up in my riding c.2013 saw me start using my knees on and much nearer the top tube with regularity and its the main reason for permanent knee pad use. Bloody painful getting ones knees clattered cornering and such.

I ride with knees all the time. I still have a scar from when I came off in the local park. I was bu%%ering about a fair amount, but no matter what happens, it is normally the knees that hit the ground first.

For days out in the Surrey Hills it is light weight body armour (Dianese Trail Skins Tee), knees and trail helmet.

If I got to a bike park it's elbows and full face. But I am c**p and more likely to injure myself from lack of skill than doing anything big.

I ride with knee pads on all the time. At this time of year I'd probably put them on just for the warmth of them, even if I wasn't going to want the protection. My fox Enduro Pro sleeve things are great for this. There's not much protection but they are a nice fit and nearly cover all the way from shorts to top of socks. They barely feel any different from wearing winter tights on the road.

My riding isn't what you'd traditionally call xc, but on the odd occasion I do that I still put them on out of habit.

Inexplicably, though, I'm only in the habit of wearing elbow pads when I go somewhere unusually steep or with uplifts. This makes no sense - I think it's a hangover from never having any I was happy with until quite recently.

Nope not for xc.

Lightweight D30 Fox knee pads on pretty much every MTB ride. Fox body armour jacket for uplift stuff, cos why not?

I always find it ironic that for big xc spins and racing neither myself or anyone else wear any pads given the race courses (and spins) tend to be on tracks that are every bit as technical as most Enduro tracks, the only difference being that the bikes are less capable and the descent speeds are (slightly) slower. The crashes are as big and the cosmetic damage greater due to less protection. I think it’s mainly fashion / what’s the norm (pads do look ridiculous with Lycra) and part you don’t want anything stopping body heat escaping when you’re already sweating through your eyeballs with effort.

I always find it ironic that for big xc spins and racing neither myself or anyone else wear any pads given the race courses (and spins) tend to be on tracks that are every bit as technical as most Enduro tracks, the only difference being that the bikes are less capable and the descent speeds are (slightly) slower. The crashes are as big and the cosmetic damage greater due to less protection. I think it’s mainly fashion / what’s the norm (pads do look ridiculous with Lycra) and part you don’t want anything stopping body heat escaping when you’re already sweating through your eyeballs with effort.

I tend to agree on fashion/norm and I wouldn't even say from watching that the XC descents are slower or less gnarly if you come off ... they often seem to include fireroads with hard stones, tyres with little grip and multiple riders fighting for the same spot.

No, I’ve had a few offs over the years and the injuries that have kept me off the bike (shoulder and wrist) wouldn’t have been prevented by knee or elbow pads.

There is an argument that those injuries could have been even worse had I been wearing pads (riding faster due to extra sense of security).

yes - since i had an innocuous off on a flat corner at Swinley which left my knee looking like it had been hit by baseball bats and then had a cheese grater rubbed over it. Which then got infected and kept me off the bike for weeks when I was fit and enthusiatic. Since then I've used D30 type pads.

They won't save me from a massive off on rocks, I don't really ride that now anyway but there's a set of dusty hardshell pads in the garage for that.

Knee pads go on for anything more than tow paths, commuting, bridleways, or fire roads. I like my knees.

I pretty much wear knee pads for all riding XC through to DH (and a back protector for DH) as I still want to push the descents as much as I can (they are the fun bit). I just need to find some lighter-weight ones for XC.

Well that's annoying - the Scott Mission Evo turned up yesterday later than expected, so I was forced to use the Bluegrass Solid meaning they can't be returned.

The Scott is what I want - lightweight protection in a lengthy enough lycra sleeve that works as leg warmers / arm warmers. I've warmed to the idea that I'll stop me banging my knees and elbows on roots and trees in the winter. Thoughtfully the Scott elbows also extend down the forearm for those "fending off branches across the trail moments".

I'll put the others up for sale.