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661 Recon knee pad review

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Liam Mercer's picture

Liam Mercer

Since beginning his mountain biking career while working as a resort photographer in Greece in 2014, Liam became a freelance contributor at off.road.cc in 2019. From there, he’s climbed the journalism job ladder from staff writer to deputy technical editor, now finding his place as technical editor.

Partial to the odd enduro race, heart rate-raising efforts on slim-tyred cross-country bikes, hell-for-leather e-MTB blasts or even casual gravel jaunts, there’s not a corner of off-road cycling where Liam fears to tread. With more than 40 bike reviews under his belt and hundreds more on MTB, e-MTB and gravel parts and accessories, Liam’s expertise continues to be cemented and respected by the industry.

Product reviews

661 Recon knee pad review

SixSixOne has made the minimalist Recon knee pad an incredibly comfortable, cool and secure fitting piece of body armour. The flexible pads are easy to forget about during extended periods of time, making them perfect for day-long rides and multi-day epics.

661 has done well to keep the pad securely in place without the use of velcro. Once the pads are on, there's no moving them. The protective portion of the pad doesn't deviate from its position either. The XRD pad (661's version of the impact-hardening D3O-like foam) is stitched straight onto the sock providing coverage to only the very key areas; namely the knee cap and along the shins.

The lengthy knee sock is held in place by a silicone strip at both the top and bottom seams, and a nice, thick elastic strap that runs around just underneath the pit of the knee restricts the pad from moving about. They're pretty tight-fitting but not so much that it becomes a problem.

While the pad doesn't let air flow through it, the stretch mesh constructed backs offer plenty of cooling. Additionally, large openings well placed on the pit of the knee keep the pads from getting sweaty and also eliminate any bunch-up while pedalling. 

661 recon knee rear

They're super low profile too, great for fitting underneath trousers, jeans or longer shorts.

Happily, I haven't had the opportunity to test these pads in a proper crash but I am a rider who occasionally knocks knees against top tubes or especially chunky rocker links so I have woken up with an extra bruise or two after a ride in the Recons. However, if I was to ride mellower trails, plan to ride for some properly long days or just ride on a seriously hot day the Recons are a solid choice.

The Six Six One Recons are a great option for those who prioritise mobility, comfort and weight over outright protection. If you're someone who finds themselves riding some proper chunky trails at speed, then you will probably be left asking for a little more coverage. At the end of the day, these pads do exactly what's intended, with maximum comfort married to a solid level of bash protection.

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