Protection gear…to me…is much like having an insurance policy (if you want to see me wreck…watch the video above!). When you have to use it, you want it there and you want it to cover what you need it to. However, you also want to be the least intrusive on your life as possible. For insurance you want it to be cheap but with the right coverage. For mountain biking protection gear…you want it to be durable enough to actually protect your body but also comfortable on rides.
I started wearing 661 Kyle Strait knee pads about the exact same time as I adopted the Gravity Dropper seat post. They seemed to go hand in hand very well as I was able to be more aggressive on downhills with the saddle out of the way. I really enjoy fast, technical descents and after banging my knees against rocks…it seemed like the logical solution.
Back then (sometime around 2006), the Kyle Straits were really the only option. I’ll be the first to admit, they were heavy, hot and when you started to sweat…your knees would chafe against the material behind the hard shell. They were great at protection and I can readily remember several times that they saved me from knee injures.
Why should everyone wear knee pads now?
I’ll be the first to admit that I was one of the few wearing knee pads back then. That ratio of protection versus intrusive to the ride was not very good. There are times that I really wished I wasn’t wearing them as they got uncomfortable on the ride.
That is not the same situation we are in today.
Much like with the vented full face helmets we are seeing on the market now, mountain biking knee pads have gotten a lot more comfortable for all day wear. They are lighter, breathe better and they offer the same amount of protection (sometimes more) than the knee pads of the past.
Companies like POC, Troy Lee Designs, 7iDP, G-Form and IXS are making knee pads that are designed to be worn all day long and provide much needed protection to a part of our bodies that is very susceptible to hitting the ground…HARD.
That same protection/intrusive ratio is at an all time low and the benefits of the protection are now outweighing the downsides. It is interesting that cyclists have been somewhat resistant to more protection equipment historically which is probably why you still do not see knee pads on as many riders as we probably should. I do think there is a misconception out there that they are super hot and uncomfortable. While that might have been true in the past, I feel like those same riders should give them a second chance.
What are some other benefits of knee pads outside of protection?
There are two main ones that come to mind…
- Increased warmth during the colder months.
- Increased confidence due to the increased protection.
While they are not nearly as hot in the warmer months as they used to be, they are still an extra layer for a joint that is horribly stiff when it is cold in the colder months. You can now drop your knee warmers for a set of pads and get the protection with the warmth as a best of both worlds.
While this may not be true for all riders, I do know that I am more confident to ride more aggressive and try new lines when I am wearing more protection gear. That added “insurance policy” allows my mind to let go some knowing that I have that extra gear on.
So…do you guys wear knee pads on your rides? Why or why not? What is your favorite brand?
10 comments