[Closed] Knee pads - real world falling off experience

No experience of the GForm, but have 'used' my Endura 500's in anger a fair few times, and so far have no bumps or cuts to recover from.

never used them but IMHO you need to actually try them on as some are pretty poor for cycling in IME.
IME full length race face are ok for all day and help keep the worst of the rain and cold off in winter
Kyle straits 661 for more gentle stuff and summer
That said I rarely wear either.
Comfort is the main thing as no matter how good the protection is if they rub or they are uncomfortable you wont wear them.

Have a look at Troy Lee 5400s too.

I have poc elbow and knee pads and 'used' them a couple of times in the alps. Also use them if it's chilly localy. They work well and are very comfy ime.

I got TL 5400s having tried both those and G-Form - I found them more comfortable (the g-form ones were tight on the back of my knees). Note the sizing is also crazy - I'm in XS TL pads, despite not having that tiny knees, but found the medium g-form ones were tight. I've never been a fan of wearing knee pads, but the TL ones are at least bearable to ride in, and I'm not keen on landing on rocks with my knees again.

I use the old Kyle Straits, they work... The thing with knee pads is bulk really isn't a problem, so there's not really much reason to go with less protective, minimalist pads when a big lump of a pad works better with no real downside. Unless you want to wear them under trousers, anyway.

Attitudes to kneepads are weird, IMO. Pretty much everyone wears a helmet, but you're far more likely to suffer a serious knee injury than a head injury. Not that surprising, since you're more likely to land on them in a crash... They stick out, they're closer to the ground, and they're complicated and fairly delicate. But somehow wearing kneepads is still seen as weird by some folks while wearing helmets is essential.

Course, you'd rather injure your knee than your brain. But I'd rather injure neither.

Further to my earlier comment, I have fallen off a number of times wearing the Troy Lees and they've done the job.

Not as bulky and lacks the side protection of a Fox Launch or whatever the Kyle Strait is now called, but that doesn't seem to be what you want.

If you go for the Troy Lees, follow the size guide. I got small ones, and I'm usually a medium in MTB and large in roadie stuff.

I bought g-forms after a swinleycrash left my knee looking like it had been hit with baseball bats. And then grated. Cost me 2 weeks of riding.

Have worn them on half a dozen rides so far, and find them very comfortable. Far more wearable for xc style rides than a pair of 661 'stormtrooper' type knee and shins that chafed the back of my knee quite badly. Have crashed once in them, a minor one but onto slate and they protected the knee great. The only issue I have is that I sized up as suggested above, only to find that I probably overestimated the size I needed. Hence I have a pair of 2xl in black, almost as new condition, that I have sized down from, that I'll be putting on the classifieds later unless anyone here wants dibs on them. Paid 40 against rrp of 45, selling for 33 posted.

All I know is that my mate had a pair of those hard ones and when he crashed they slipped round and cut his knee open.

Scott grenades, easy to wear all day and as hard shell will protect against most things.

Theotherjonv do you know what your knee measured. I measure 16" so would be xl by g forms size guide.

I have just got out of the bath where I have picked a lot of gravel out some very deep gashes on my elbow. Thankfully my Kyle Straits have just ment I havent had to do the same for my knees. I havent crashed for a while and today was a really big off and I know I hit my right knee very hard as the knee pad is rather scuffed but knees are are absolutely fine. I personally dont have an issue pedalling in them at all - bit warm in 30 degrees in Spain but on anythiny techy I wouldnt be wothout them 'just incase'.

I have these
[img] ?1375701858[/img]

Used in anger last weekend at BPW. Spanked it hard, at speed. They did the job they were meant to do very well. D30 FTW!

porter_jamie - Member
I have poc elbow and knee pads and 'used' them a couple of times in the alps. Also use them if it's chilly localy. They work well and are very comfy

Me too. They seem to work really well.

661 knees only for a couple of years after splitting my knee cap with a stupid fall. Hardly notice them.

Been toying with getting knee pads for some time, after being dumped on the Tarmac at walking speed one day riding into town on my SS. Damp day, turned onto a shared path alongside a main road, and both tyres went out from under me, for no apparent reason. Hit my left knee, elbow, shoulder, cheek, fortunately I was wearing my helmet, otherwise I'd have had a serious scalp injury. My left knee has caused me continual problems ever since, been to the doctor twice, and all he can say is it's an internal injury, and as I get older, it'll get more painful. It's really shaken my confidence on the bike, I'm reluctant to ride off-road, because I have no faith in the tyres gripping, and throwing me off, and doing even more damage that will compromise my mobility even more.
Trouble is, it's not really being able to try pads before buying, to see how comfortable they are while riding that puts me off buying; I can't really afford to chuck £40-50 at something that I wouldn't want to wear because they're too uncomfortable.
Bit of a quandary, really.

Surfer. I size up at around 15-15.5, so edge of l to xl. As others suggested to then size up, I got 2xl, and they're just a bit baggy. Fine with knee warmers over but on their own they have a bit too much fabric.

Countzero, if you're sturdy in the leg dept, you're welcome to have a try of my 2xl g-forms, if they fit PayPal me the money and if not, post them back. Trouble is, not many shops seem to stock them so trying for size is a bit hit and miss.

I've got sone Fox launch knee and elbow pads, confy and knew pads saved one knee in Andorra when I offed on some slippery black run. In fact if was dead comfy, even falling off!

I feel wrong without my knees covered, like driving with no seatbelt.

After a few falls wearing knee pads you realise you are unconsciously putting you knee down and using your thigh to muscles absorb and limit the impact on your upper body.

I recently brought RaceFace Ambush Knee D3O Guard. Have ridden in them three times and they seem great.

I have a set of full length Race Face Leg guards that are fine in really rocky mountain descents or fast lift assisted alpine riding but are way too hot for normal rides.I normally wear an old pair of plastic insert Kyle Straits if riding rocky places and a set of 661 d30 type for all other riding having had a fairly inconspicuous off whilst riding general XC and giving myself a minor fracture just below my knee cap and some horrendous carving off of my dermis that should I have pads on wouldnt have happened, It also takes ages for just a little bang on the knee to heal so prevention is better than cure IME.

It also takes ages for just a little bang on the knee to heal so prevention is better than cure IME.

This, probably took a couple of months for a 5p sized hole in my knee to heel as everytime I went out on the bike it split open again. That's why I wear pads now!

There is of course the issue of risk compensation - I'm sure I'm far more likely to break my arm when wearing knee pads (there is quite a significant difference in how I'll ride stuff).

Judging by the amount of deep scratches, in fact gouges, on my knee pads they are working well as my knees are fine ! I bought mine for Alps so are the hard plastic type with shin guards, very useful for when rocks fly up from the trail and avoiding "spikes" from pedals when having a moment. I was in Chamonix on a super hot day riding an easy trail (actually flat) when I had an off being a prat and nearly broke my shin on a rock as due to hot weather and easy trail pads where in my camelback. I won't make that mistake again. I dont wear them in Surrey Hills where I usually ride as its loamy although I do see plenty of other riders with the POC style who as above use the knee slide dismount if things go a bit wrong

I used g form in the alps this year and found them to be very comfy, although I didn't crash enough to call them into action.

Which reminds me, I have an unused pair of gform knee pads that I need to sell. I bought XL and L sizes; the XL fitted best and I never got around to returning the L pair. Email in profile if you are interested ( sorry for thread hijack)

Have both GFrom and Endura MT500's and I tend to use the MT500's more as I find them comfortable to ride all day and from experience, to be really effective when needed.
Usually also wear GFrom elbow pads for more gnarly stuff (i.e. good chance my limited abilities will let me down on a tough trail) and they do work well.

There is of course the issue of risk compensation - I'm sure I'm far more likely to break my arm when wearing knee pads (there is quite a significant difference in how I'll ride stuff).

I do understand but the main reason I don't ride in a way that will make me break myself badly is the fear (and implications) of breaking myself badly.

I dont wear them in Surrey Hills where I usually ride as its loamy

That was my reasoning in owning a pair of hardshell knee and shin pads for big riding, and nothing for my home turf of swinley and the S Hills. Until I mashed up my knee 6 weeks or so ago, on a blue trail I'd ridden hundreds of times before. Momentarily lapse of concentration, talking to someone behind me and bang! Two weeks on the injury roster, right at the end of summer.

Hence I wanted pads that'd work, be comfy for longer xc rides, and be unobtrusive visually, as I'm old skool when it comes to looks and don't want to look all gnarr when frankly I'm not.

had my 661 veggies now for about 3 years and save my bacon plenty of times never get in the way just take a shile to soffen up so expect a little rubbing and first on the back of knees

Ok, had a read through this thread as I want to get some knee pads just for general xc as I'm too old and brittle and incapable for gnarr riding. Falling off last week in the woods gave me 2 weeks of very swollen knee to ankle fluid retention. From what I've read here, am I right thinking XL G Form would be correct for my 16in. Round the knee measurement?

Cheers, Rob.