The best knee pads you can buy for mountain biking - tried and tested protection for trail and enduro riding
Tried and tested protection that we really rate
A regularly updated list, we find the best knee pads you can buy for mountain biking. Rest assured, we are as fussy about our knee protection as you are, these have all been reviewed by us and scored over four out of five stars, meaning we really liked them for our trail and enduro riding.
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[Updated 18th January 2021]
The best knee pads you can buy
Hit the link below to jump straight to that knee pad or scroll down for the whole list in no particular order. Review links can be found under each knee pad listing.
- 7 Protection Sam Hill Knee pads
- 100% Surpass Knee guards
- 661 DBO knee pad
- Endura MT500 hard shell knee pad
- Bliss ARG Minimalist+ knee pads
- Race Face Indy D30 knee guards
- Dainese Trail Skins 2 knee pads
- Ion K-Sleeve knee pads
- Sweet Protection Knee Guards
7 Protection Sam Hill Knee pads
£80
The 7 Protection Sam Hill Knee pads are designed in part with arguably one of the greatest riders of all time. They are an excellent enduro and trail kneepad for those who like it slimline, but still want plenty of protection. They're super-secure for 'sleeve' style pads, though they can be too stiff in cold weather.
100% Surpass Knee guards
£120
100%'s Surpass knee guards offer huge amounts of protection thanks to a hard-shell capped design but they're comfortable enough for all-day pedalling thanks to a pre-shaped design that holds them securely in place. They're pretty expensive but they've become my go-to knee guards for trail and enduro riding.
661 DBO knee pad
£70
661's DBO knee pads offer a lot of comfort and protection for not a lot of cash, combining a flexible D3O insert to ward off bumps in a slimline neoprene outer with reinforced nylon cap. They're good for all-day pedalling but still provide enough protection for the bike park.
Endura MT500 hard shell knee pad
£80
Designed with help from the Atherton family and other top riders, the Endura MT500 Hard Shell kneepads offer substantial protection for trail and downhill in a fairly slim package. While protection is great, the fit is a little iffy and these pads get toasty on warmer days.
Bliss ARG Minamalist+ knee pad
£60
Our tester says, without a doubt, these Bliss ARG Minimalist+ knee pads are the most comfortable pads she's worn, thanks to being flexible, lightweight and breathable. They offer good protection for everyday trail riding via the Armourgel material, which hardens on impact just like D30. And all this comes in at a decent price too.
Raceface Indy D30 knee guards
£70
All day pedalling comfort combined with an uber protective yet lightweight D30 foam knee pad makes the Race Face Indy Knee Guards a winner for those who are willing to sacrifice a bit of side protection for unhindered movement.
ION K-Sleeve knee pads
£50
Minimalistic, slip-on knee protection is coming thick and fast in the mountain bike world these days, and for good reason. As the capabilities of bikes have increased, so have our requirements for the kit we wear and use. ION make a full array of protective kit, usually of high quality and durable construction. The K-Sleeve knee pad follows that trend perfectly, despite its very simple appearance.
Dainese Trail Skins 2 knee pads
£70
If you need knee protection but hate overheating then the Dainese Trail Skins 2 are an excellent choice, combining an unrestrictive fit and class-leading ventilation that makes them perfect for trail riders.
Sweet Protection Knee Guards
£60
The Sweet Protection Knee Guards are super minimalist pads that are lightweight and very comfortable. Perhaps inevitably though, they don't provide a lot of protection for the money.
We will be updating this list as we test more knee pads. Remember we test lots but not all make the grade to be included in this "best of" article. If you want to find all of our knee pad reviews quickly, the best thing to do is to pop 'knee pad' into the search bar at the top of this page (in the drop down menu on a mobile).
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