Knees are important and they need protection when we're out on our bikes. A bad knee injury can spell a long time out of the saddle. What a miserable thought! That's why getting the best knee pads for mountain biking is essential.
We'll be looking at a wide range of knee pads and what you should be looking for when buying a pair.
Ready? Let's go!
Should I Wear Kneepads For Mountain Biking?
Let's cut to the chase, the skin on your knees isn't that durable. Stitches aren't fun and often painful. Injuries can lead to time off the bike.
Every aspect of knee pad technology has improved over the years.
The fit and comfort is much better as pads have become lighter and offer more breathability.
They also look a lot better too (yes, that's important!).
If you take a look around the trails, you're more likely to see people wearing pads than not these days.
You rarely know when you're going to crash and if you're anything like me, it'll happen where and when you least expect it so it's best to be prepared at all times!
Different Types Of Knee Pads For Mountain Biking
In many ways, all knee pads are similar.
You get a tube and it has some padding on the front, maybe on the sides. When you move, they are designed to move with you, and they stay in place so they offer the knee protection they're designed to.
Though when you look more closely, there are several differences in the design, depending on what type of mountain biking you do, which will determine what type of knee pad is best for you.
Lightweight
As the name would suggest, these pads are focused on being a slim fit and little weight.
They will provide the least amount of protection compared to other types of knee pads but they are the least bulky.
The idea behind these pads is that you aren't really meant to notice them when they're on.
Want to ride all day? These mountain bike knee pads will do the job.
They will protect you from scrapes and should you hit any gravel, it will provide a barrier between you and it.
Trail
These pads sit in the middle, giving you more protection than the lightweight pads, but they are bulkier.
With this, it does mean that you get more protection - quite a lot more.
In my experience, I would say they're good for a two to three-hour ride. They aren't likely to bother you when you're trail riding.
Heavy Duty
If you want the most protection from your mountain bike knee pads, then keep reading!
These pads are there to give you the most impact protection. Designed to withstand the biggest hits and give you the best level of protection.
Wearing these knee pads will mean that a large area of your skin is covered up and padding covers most areas of the pad.
Heavy-duty pads do make it difficult to pedal in, though it's certainly possible.
With this type of knee pad, you may find that you also get some shin protection. Obviously, this will give you more protection in the event of a crash but they are also fantastic for stopping rocks (and your pedals) from hitting your shins as you're riding.
If you're after the best mountain bike knee pads with the ultimate protection, then heavy-duty is the way to go.
Buyers' Guide: How to Choose the Right Mountain Bike Knee Pads
Fit & Comfort
Getting the right type of knee pad that is comfortable and fits well is important. I'd go as far as to say it's a critical part of the search when looking for knee pads.
To some extent, it's about finding the right balance.
You want your knee pads to have protective features but not to detriment of a quality fit because ultimately, you won't want to wear them - which takes away their whole purpose!
Pedal Friendly
Speaking of important factors to consider when looking for knee pads, you need them to be pedal-friendly.
It almost doesn't matter how much protection a knee pad provides because if it isn't pedal-friendly, it's as good as useless.
Whether or not knee pads are pedal-friendly are relative to each rider in many ways. To some degree, it's going to come down to you making an educated purchase based on your riding style.
Materials
As a basic rule, mountain bike pads have a foam inner and a hard-wearing outer - quite often using neoprene). Then on the front of the knee, you'll find plastic or foam to provide protection to the knee.
D30 is becoming more common, with good reason too. It's flexible and offers good high shock-absorbing qualities.
What makes D30 so good is that on the impact the molecules inside lock together and reduce the impact. However, otherwise, it presents itself as a soft and flexible material - which is why it's proving to be so popular.
Knee protection using D30 technology will have a D30 label to show this.
Other kneed guards use Kevlar on the outer side. As a material, it's extremely hard-wearing and can withstand a lot of sliding impact.
Ventilation & Breathability
How important this is to you will depend on your climate.
Riding in Southern California in the summer? Then you're going to be cycling in high temperatures.
If you're hitting the trails on the East Coast then you're in for some high humidity, with warm temperatures.
So yeah, knee pads need to have ventilation.
Due to the design of knee pads, they aren't ever going to breathe all that well. You are effectively strapping a piece of armor to your leg so it's naturally going to warm it up.
However, that's not to say that you don't want to find pads that will give your knees some moisture and heat release.
Durability
Compared to a lot of expenses relating to mountain biking, knee pads are fairly inexpensive but that doesn't mean you don't want them to last.
Look at the quality of the stitching. A knee pad is one of the pieces of equipment which gets the most use and abuse from a rider so you need the stitching to be of good quality. Ideally, in places where it won't rub against you too.
Look for a knee pad that is CE Certified. This means that the product has been declared by the manufacture that it complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety, and environmental protection legislation. In other words, it's been tested and signed off that it offers a good level of protection.
EN 1621 1
Getting a little deeper in CE Certified products, you will see that a mountain bike product gets listed as 'EN 1621 1 level'.
What does all that mean?
Well, the 'EN:1621' part is a motorcycle certification. These safety classifications were adopted from motocross as downhill mountain biking was said to be similar so this could be applied. It stayed this way ever since.
EN 1621 1 level signifies that it's for limbs (knee, elbows, and shoulders).
Our Top 9 Mountain Bike Knee Pads
1. Fox Racing Launch D3O
Fox Racing Launch D30 pads are a good starting point, they're some of the best knee pads you can buy.
Why?
Most riders will find them to be comfortable. Every design aspect is well thought through and the quality is brilliant.
Can't ask more than that, can you? 🙂
Alright, so they aren't perfect, but they're pretty close. Weight-wise, they are quite heavy as far as knee pads go and I'd say they are a little bulky. This means that they can get a bit warm on hot days.
Having said that, the padding that the D30 uses is soft but has the ability to harden upon impact. So you can be sure that you're going to be comfortable but well protected. A fine balance.
If you're a rider who wants something you know will provide decent protection, then the Fox Racing Launch D30 is aimed at you - they are designed to take the odd crash occasionally and keep you safe.
I know what you're thinking, that's going to affect the pedaling ability.
Interesting, it doesn't. Well not overly. If you're looking to take on mammoth days in the saddle, these mountain bike knee pads may not be the best choice.
However, they are ideal for the average outing as you get outstanding protection, coupled with fantastic comfort.
Pros
Cons
If you're after knee guards that are going to give you great coverage and stay in place, pretty much no matter what...then Troy Lee designs the pads for you.
The balance between comfort and protection is spot on.
You get plenty of protection, on both sides of the pads and above the kneecap. It goes along away to feeling secure on technical trails and challenging terrains.
One caution I will throw out there is the sizing, some riders have found that they've needed to size down so be sure to check the sizes.
When the Troy Lee knee pads are on, you'll find them to be extremely comfortable.
Got a long ride in mind? That won't be an issue as these Troy Lee Designs knee guards will still be comfortable even when you're pedaling for hours.
Keeping them on isn't tricky either, you don't get the feeling that they're going to move any time soon. That's thanks to Troy Lee Designs and the pre-curved knee cup, paired with an elasticated strap that you place above the calf.
There is also a velcro strap that goes across the thigh, allowing you to get the fit just right for you. This velcro strap isn't something that needs to be done up tightly in order for the knee pad to stay in place.
One thing that people have commented on is that these Troy Lee pads can get a little sweaty when the weather gets warm. Personally, I think that's to be expected given the level of protection they provide.
Overall, if you want to get yourself a pair of knee pads for big riding adventures where pedaling won't be an issue, the Troy Lee Raids offer plenty of versatility to do just that.
Pros
Cons
POC are well known when it comes to protective gear, they produce some of the best mountain bike knee pads available so we're off to a good start!
The POC Joint VPD doesn't falter away from this level of quality. If you're looking for enduro or downhill pads, these are some of the best knee pads you could pick up.
What makes them so good?
A lot of it is down to the technology, POC VPD padding tech. A lot of riders who use these pads claim that they provide a feeling that your knees always feel protected - that's saying something!
POC describes this VPD technology as; "VPD adapts to the shape of the body, but when exposed to impact, the material stiffens and has extreme impact absorption properties.".
Sounds pretty cool, right?
What all that means is that the POC Joint VPD moves around as you're pedaling, ensuring that it doesn't limit how you pedal. At the moment of impact, the Joint VPD stiffens up and gives you that much-welcomed impact protection.
What makes the POC Joint VPD stand out so much is that you get the thickest layer of VPD with these pads so the level of protection you're getting is the best.
Of course, that does come with a slight compromise in that things can get a little toasty when you're climbing but for many riders, I think it's a worthy compromise.
Overall, for a knee pad, they offer the ideal level of fit and comfort, along with an immense amount of protection.
Ideal for those who want to go out on big rides but also light enough for the odd easy ride too.
Pros
Cons
Into trail riding? Leatt Airflex Pro has a lot going for them.
After some negative reviews surrounding the Airflex 3DF pads and their sizing issues, Leatt seems to have got it right as the Airflex Pro seems to fit beautifully.
The level of protection now offered on the Airlfex Pro is impressive too, with extra foam being added to either side of the knee, as well as above it. All in all, this provides a degree of protection between knocks and bumps.
So I know what you may be thinking, that sounds like a lot of padding so how does it affect the pedaling?
I'm happy to report that it doesn't seem to! Pedal until your heart's content and the Leatt Airflex Pro should stay put without interfering.
Fit and comfort are well catered for, the extra foam padding goes a long way to provide a more natural shape to the pad itself, and that gives the rider more comfort.
How does the Airflex Pro cope with impact?
Very well! The Leatt Airflex Pro seems to stay in place when you need them most, helping to prevent any injury. Not totally, I hasten to add. The knee cup is 6mm deep and it does soften with impact so depending on how badly you fall, you could still end up feeling a bit sore.
Overall, the Leatt Airflex Pro are some of the best knee pads for trail riding, with a decent level of protection and comfort to boot.
Pros
Cons
These knee pads from Sam Hill offer that much-wanted balance between comfort and protection.
If you're after the guarantee of protection and a good degree of movement then the 7iDP Sam Hill pads could be ideal for you.
With these knee guards, you get an elasticated sleeve, which removes the need for any straps. Instead, they favor a compression fit and silicone grippers at the top of the knee and the bottom. These work really well at keeping the knee pad in place but it also increases your comfort levels - a good design all round from Sam Hill!
Another aspect of this design I admire is how the knee sleeve goes to the middle of the thigh. Often when you're wearing knee pads, they stop just above the knee and it can impact your ability to pedal. By sitting at thigh level it makes pedaling uninhibited and remarkably comfy.
One thing which seems to run throughout the Sam Hill range, including Project Knee pads, is the sizing. If you commonly wear a size L, you may find that not to be the case with Project Knee pads or these ones.
The knee cup uses heat-molding technology and includes an abrasion-resistant fabric layer. Also included in these knee cups is a neoprene surround.
Why is that good?
That gives you additional side protection, which a lot of the best mtb will do. When you combine all of this protection, you could be forgiven for thinking that it's going to be quite bulky, however, the 7iDP Sam Hill pads feel like they'd protect you, but not hinder you.
Pros
Cons
The concept of the Dakine Slayer is that they're to be a low profile pad for days when you plan to be out in the saddle all day or the weather is particularly warm, in other words, they're lightweight.
This knee sleeve is constructed from a four-way stretch nylon/poly blend. The pad itself is made from foam padding that is sensitive to impact.
As you'd expect from any decent knee guard (the best mtb guard!), it features odor control moisture wicking treatment. This does a great job at keeping bad odors away but it also helps to keep the silicone grippers in place too.
The Dakine Slayer knee guards arrive pre-curved. Something which I think helps with the overall fit of these knee pads and helps to keep the pads in place when you're pedaling.
I can't deny that each knee sleeve has been designed well, every aspect has been thought about including the seams which are externally stitched - this is going to go a long way to stopping any rub points.
The Dakine Slayer knee sleeve has been designed to be used when the terrain isn't too challenging, and therefore the protection offered by these knee pads isn't the greatest as the coverage isn't huge.
There is a central pad on the knee and also one of the upper shins, this is where the majority of the protection is offered.
The impact foam is quite soft but as it warms up, it becomes more compliant, something that will happen naturally as you get going. As you're pedaling, you will find that the knee sleeve stays firmly in place, the fit and comfort score highly and the silicone grippers do an excellent job.
Whilst these are designed to be lightweight knee pads, a few riders found that when the temperatures outside were hot, the knee sleeve did warm up when pedaling hard. This is to be expected to some degree though and I don't think even the best mtb knee pads are going to be able to prevent this.
When it comes to impact, these low-profile knee pads do the job. I'm not talking about huge impacts - that isn't what these sleeves are about but any small falls should be well protected when using the Dakine Slayer pads. You should find that the pads remained in place during any impact too.
Overall, when you want to wear knee pads in cooler climates when the terrain won't be too fierce, these pads could be the best knee pads for mtb in those conditions. They're rugged and offer a decent amount of protection.
Pros
Cons
Do you remember when knee protection used to be solely hard-capped plastic? Technology has come a long way since then but sometimes it's good to use the tried and tested stuff too.
Using the latest D30 technology combined with removable hard shell caps, the Fox Launch Pro uses the best of yesteryear and today's offerings and we rather like it!
Fox is well-known for its protective knee guards, the Fox Launch Pro pad is an exciting addition, with a focus on protection and performance, it feels like you can't go wrong.
The pad is bursting with features, including a hypoallergenic Ariaprene neoprene material to give you plenty of breathability - when you consider how robust this pad is, it's quite an achievement!
Comfort features don't stop there, Fox uses moisture-wicking fabric to help keep each pad dry when you inevitably start sweating.
These pads can be fastened quickly and easily. It's a small thing but when you're getting ready it's nice to know it's not going to take a long time and a lot of fiddling.
We liked the fact that the shell caps are removable so you can change up your protection level depending on your ride.
Pros
Cons
8. G Form Pro
The G Form Pro pads don't feature the D30 technology, though they feature something very similar, which hardens on impact too. This means that you get the flexibility and comfort levels paired with the solid protection every rider wants.
At the back of the G Form Pro pad, there is mesh and this helps to keep you cool. On the outside, the material is nicely hard-wearing but the inside is delightfully soft, using Lycra that makes for a comfortable fit.
You do get protection on the top and bottom of the knee, as well as at the side of the knee cap with the G Form. It's a surprising amount of protection from a pad that is relatively lightweight, easily one of the best mtb pad designs around.
The appearance of these G Form Pro knee pads is ruggish and tough, that's down to the reasonably thick Armortex fabric.
There is a velcro strap and a silicone gripper on each G Form Pro knee pad, all of which go to keep the knee pads exactly where they should be.
A lot of people have said that the G Form Pro pads keep the knee warmer as the material at the front is slightly thicker than found on other similar products. This isn't said to be an issue, and depending on your local climate, could be a positive!
Pros
Cons
The Indy Knee Pad range from Race Face is their thinnest knee pad offering. It's designed to be protective and a good fit.
Race Face Indy comes from a lot of technology already used in other pads from Race Face.
It pulls the lightweight qualities from "Charge Leg" and combines it with the protective elements from "Ambush Knee" and you get some of the best mtb pads on the market!
Sewn into the sleeve of this pad is D30 padding, adding to the protective qualities.
The pad does come with a velcro strap at the top of the pad and a silicone strip at the top and bottom.
Even on hot days, you should find this pad to be comfortable. It has an airy design and this prevents any heat from lingering underneath.
The seams won't cause any rubbing, and some riders even reported that they forgot they were wearing pads after a while!
The Race Face Indy is an impressive pad, scores well for comfort, and offers a good level of protection.
If you're a rider who falls multiple times, you should find that the pad will remain in place and dampen the impact effectively every time.
Pros
Cons
Common Questions and Answers
1. Are MTB knee pads worth it?
Absolutely.
Knee pads can protect you when you're on the bike and when you fall off it.
As you're riding downhill/on a trail/anywhere, things can shoot up or you can come into contact with rocks, trees, anything at speed. This can lead you to get an injury, something which could have been prevented had you been wearing a set of knee pads.
Then there's the protection a knee pad offers should you come off your mountain bike. I'll be honest, if you have a crash and you're not wearing knee pads, you'll only do it once. They can protect you from serious damage and time off the bike.
2. What are the most comfortable knee pads?
This depends on what type of riding you like doing. Arguably the most comfortable knee pad is a lightweight one, something like the Leatt Airflex Pro (reviewed above) is designed for trail riding and therefore lacking any bulk.
However, if you're planning to hurtle downhill at speed, you're going to want something more comfortable. That doesn't mean you have to sacrifice comfort!
3. How tight should MTB knee pads be?
Your knee pads should be comfortably tight. When you first get a pair, it's probably best to have them feel a little too tight as they will slacken off with use.
Ideally, you want to have a little struggle to get them on at first. If they simply slide on easily, to begin with, then they're likely to be too big and will end up sliding down as you're riding.
On the flip side of that, if a knee pad is digging into your skin, then it's too tight and could affect your circulation.
Final Thoughts
So which one do we consider to be the best knee pads for mountain biking? The Fox Racing Launch D3O steal the show. They balance comfort and protect beautifully.