I took the plunge on these (a very spendy, especially for me, 90€ plunge) after trying a couple of contenders to start with; No matter the material used, all 6 of the options included here meet CE level 1 certification, which was originally designed for protective motorcycle apparel. The test involves a 5kg weight being dropped with a force of 50 joules onto the pad. The resulting force is measured, and the average of nine tests must be less than 35 kN, with no single impact greater than 50 kN. Essentially, seeking out pads with that certification helps make you're purchasing protection that will at least do something in the event of an impact, rather than just being knee warmers that'll help hold all the pieces together. The fit for me is really good, I put them on and forget about them, even on long rides, even on 90+ degree days. That's not to say they don't get hot, but I feel it's tolerable. And they do not slide down at all for me, which is key. I think the extra tall sleeve is the biggest reason for this.

Protection comes down to two things: coverage and the protective padding itself. The protective padding should encapsulate the entire knee cap, as that's why you are wearing the pads in the first place. The sleeves of the pads should also cover the areas both above and below the actual knee cap. During testing we found that pad stability is pretty good too due to silicone grippers on the top and bottom but the gripper on the top is quite harsh. Internal grippers are often used to help lightweight pads stay in place. As long as the fit is correct, these will go virtually unnoticed when you’ve got them on and can easily be worn all day. Fit

Product Reviews

Designed to keep weight down the compression fit, the slip-on design fits higher on the thigh than most pads. An internal silicone strip keeps the pads from slipping down. Other factors such as straps and zippers could impact comfort and fit. Some riders prefer knee pads with straps, while others may prefer minimalistic pads that rely on silicone grippers to stay over the knee area. Quite a few pads in the 7 Protection range feature top downhill rider Sam Hill's signature, and the Lite is sort of the baby bear of the family – in the sense that it has the lowest protection level and the lightest weight.Like the regular Sam Hill pad reviewed above, the Lite features an SAS-TEC protector and similar Lycra construction (albeit with less lateral protection), coupled with slimmer design and a lower price point. According to POC, the VPD Air Legs is a pull-on knee pad aimed at riders looking for minimal padding and protection, but with high-level comfort and breathability. To achieve this, the knee pad combines a lightweight material body but with a high-tech VPD protective insert.

VPD stands for ‘visco-elastic polymer dough’ a patented substance that is soft and pliable when you’re riding along but then stiffens under impact. The other trait of VPD is that it’s heat moldable, so put this pad on, ride for a bit and it’ll fit better. USG Inc. will replace any Seven iDP product that is defective or was shipped in error at no cost to the customer. Closure or Slip-on: These are slip-on pads with a compression fit. It's critical to get the sizing right with these so you might need to try on a couple of different sizes to find the perfect fit. It all comes down to both the material of the sleeve and whether it features any perforation or other ventilation. Pads with more ventilation features will generally be more breathable, and therefore comfortable.

They don't run as cool as some lightweight guards, but considering the level of protection on offer, the Sam Hills regulate temperature and sweat well. We think this comes from the strategically placed airflow holes in the SAS-TEC pad itself; when riding it's possible to physically feel the air being drawn through to keep rider operating temperatures as fresh as possible. On the subject of temperature, it's worth noting the SAS-TEC pad does require some extra time to warm up to its flexible state on colder days but, other than being slightly stiffer up the first climb of the day, we didn't find this to be an issue. So here I am with a very expensive set of "pedalable" pads with Sam Hill's name on them. Yeah, they are comfortable. They do breath pretty well too. In fact I would say that out of what I've tried so far these are probably the best of most worlds. They're breathable like the Alpinestars but have more side protection. They're hotter than the aforementioned but much cooler than the ION's. All in all I'd say these are a good compromise pad for riders looking for a little more than just a knee cap. Oh, and the recommended large fit me pretty well too (lower silicone bands are somewhat loose but ok). This low-weight pad rides just like it with exceptional comfort and flexibility. While the insert doesn't have the same anchored feeling derived from a concave insert, it does offer a lot of freedom as the fit lets your knee move uninhibited. The other pads aren't restrictive, but the lighter model does feel distinctly freer. The combination of the comfortable and secure sleeve with flexible knee protection makes the Rapha Trail knee pads fit and forget even on long trail days. After many intense testing sessions, we never needed to hike them up after a big climb and a good flow of air through the insert helps keep them comfortable on the hottest of days. The pads are very slimline so there are no problems fitting them under the tightest race pants, yet the thin Rheon Labs insert has offered plenty of protection when we have needed it. An elastic upper strap with two strips of silicone helps keep the pads from sliding down, and there's also a velcro strap for further fine tuning of the fit.

As elbow pads hug the body closely and cover a lot of skin, they can feel hot – particularly if you are riding hard. Running the length of the pad in the rear and extending across the lower front a breathable 4-way stretch mesh maintains airflow for all-day comfort.The pad does extend quite a way up your thigh, and it's worth consulting their sizing chart, which was accurate for me. The grippers do a thorough job without leaving any marks or soreness on the skin. I give them 4 out of 5. This is my initial review, so there's room to move up or down. I was on the verge of 3.5, but so far my biggest complaint is the price, so minus one star. Another thing that impacts comfort is breathability and ventilation, which will be discussed later. Do you get hot wearing mountain bike knee pads?