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Increasingly as I ride my right knee bounces off of my top tube leaving me with bruising. Also, if I fall off and hit my knee hard (e.g. on the top tube or the like) then I lose the strength in my lower leg for a while. Neither of those are these things that I can fix and I really don't want the latter to happen when I'm riding with other people (the prospect of this happening is really putting me off riding with groups) or in the cold n wet.
I currently wear IXS flow pads which have been really comfy and offer good protection on the front of the knee but I really need more side protection - I'm currently sporting an angry looking swelling on the inside of my right knee that also left me sitting on the side of a hill for 20 minutes whilst I got strength back to stand up properly.
So, what's good?
I use Leatt 3DF 6.0 they’ve got loads of side protection, they’re really comfortable and never slip. They’re massive though.
POC VPD 2.0 Knee pads are great, I’ve use both the standard and longer length ones, they’re really comfy with lots of protection. They’re also quite expensive, but you get what you pay for in my experience.
Troy Lee Designs Raid - used these for more heavy duty riding fro a while and they have protected me against rocks, bike frame, trees, shifters and brake levers....all while being comfy enough to pedal about in and staying in place as well or better than most pads I've tried.
Thanks all, a few options to look at there. I think that massive might be par for the course...
I just got some fox launch pro's. I got them because they looked most similar to my old Kyle straits and I got on well with them. Not tested these on a full day out yet but they feel very similar. Got Leisure Lakes to price match the cheapest offer I could find on the web as I had vouchers to use up.
Ion K Pact certainly worth looking at, they won best in test in enduro mag recently.
https://enduro-mtb.com/en/best-heavy-duty-knee-pads-can-buy/
If you like the IXS flow the IXS Carve has more upper shin and side knee protection whilst not running to hot.
I just got some IXS Carve Evo. Feel really secure, no movement, good for pedalling. Padding at side of knee is ok