KNEEPADS

The perfect pull-on pad should bulletproof your knees while providing fit-and-forget comfort; we put 10 of the best to the test to see which comes closest to the ideal

- Paul Burwell

A set of kneepads won’t save your life but they can save a ride, or a visit to A&E... and who wants to go there right now? There are dozens of different kneepads on the market, with varying levels of protection, but for trail riding we recommend a pull-on or sleeve design. Think of this as a sock with the toe cut off. It’s easy to pull on, it’s lightweight for carrying, you won’t get too sweaty, it won’t rub, and you can ride in it all day.

Most lightweight kneepads have a single reinforced kneecap made from either an impact-resistant foam or a smart material like D3O. Some models have supplementary padding at the sides and the top, and most have a Kevlar covering, so if you just have a little scrape, it’s not going to put a hole in the pad.

To stop them slipping down, all knee pads have a stretchy construction with additional silicone grippers at the top and usually at the bottom too. They should be available in several sizes because a better-fitting pad is more likely to stay in place. They will get stinky, so most are washable, and some have an antibacterial treatment – although if you have a ‘smart’ insert you may need to remove this first.

Like most products we test, there is a ton of choice when it comes to features, benefits, prices and weights, but to make your life easier we have picked 10 of the best.

USED & ABUSED

How we test