G-Form Terra Knee pads are sleeve-style knee guards designed to protect you when your ambition gets the better of you – and you hit the dirt hard. They are available in six sizes and use silicone grippers to stay put. Impact protection is supplied by RE ZRO, highlighted in purple, and is not only recyclable but also biodegradable. Level 1 protection has never been so eco.
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G-Form Terra Knee Guard - Technical details
G-Forms Terra knee pads have a two-piece sleeve design, meaning you pull them on up over your foot. The material is split into the upper and lower sleeve sections joining at the knee, allowing a large vent behind the knee for cooling and increased comfort when pedalling. A small window/vent on the side of the knee cup shows not only the RE ZRO material but also allows cooling air in as you pedal.
At the top of the sleeve, there is a wide band with G-Form logo silicone gripper pattern on the inside to hold the knee guard in place. At the bottom is a smaller stretchy band with silicone dots on the inside.
The RE ZRO protection pad fits into an extremely breathable inner pocket behind the outer abrasion-resistant kneecap material and is easily removable for cleaning and washing the sleeve.
The purple RE ZRO polymer protector is a thin lightweight pre-shaped pad that moulds around your knee and looks like a molecular pattern and therefore extremely ventilated. It is CE-certified EN1621-1 Level 1 so think aggressive trail riding not Downhill.
That molecule pattern is probably not an accident as the RE ZRO material works at a molecular level. What? Please excuse the small amount of science but we need to get tiny here. Upon impact the Supermolecule Energy Absorption System (yes really) fractures its molecular bonds, releasing energy through heat and sound in a behavior called shear-thinning. Almost immediately the Supermolecules recombine and set themselves back to zero. (Hence the name I expect RE ZRO*) You can read in more detail about the science on RE ZRO’s website under the faqs
The RE ZRO pad is made of a single polymer which means that they are easily recyclable and if that doesn't happen and they end up in landfill they will naturally biodegrade returning to ZRO in 3-5 years.
The Terra Knee Guards cost £95 and come in Black in XS, S, M, L, XL, and 2XL. There is a size chart online to work out which you should choose and you’ll need to measure around your thigh and the fattest part of your calf.
G-Form Terra Knee Guard - Performance
G Form Terra Knee Guards certainly look the part with their smart black and purple RE ZRO protection showing on the inside of the knee cap. I’m testing a size large and they have stayed in the right place on my legs with the silicone gripper doing a great job.
Once warmed up, which is pretty quick even on a cold day, they flex and move with your knee without an issue. They might look bulkier than some of the slimmer Level 1 knee guards I used previously and give the impression of offering more coverage than some of the slimline guards, but in terms of testing standards, they have all passed the same level – CE EN1621-1 Level 1.
They fit well, too, The top gripper proves a comfortably tight fit with the large silicone G logo doing a great job of making sure they stayed in place without the need for any adjustment on any of my rides.
I’ve not crashed very much whilst riding with these which is very good for me and my knees but when I have it has been in soft loamy soil so I’ve gotten away with it for the moment. So far I can say that the abrasion-resistant knee material has kept the worst impact marks off and the actual knee guards have done their job without drama.
One thing that has very quickly become apparent is that these are hot knee guards. The RE ZRO protection material might be riddled with holes and the mesh pocket that holds it might be very breathable but the rest of the sleeve material is not and these are warm wear. Thank god for the large cut out behind the knee and we’ve not even got to the summer and the mid 20’s yet. If you're thinking about an autumn/winter pair of pads then these are a great choice providing both warmth and protection.
The good thing about the heat is that the RE ZRO protection material warms up fast and softens nicely to fit your knee and become a second layer or an external knee cap. Pedalling fast along flowing trails or uphill presents no issues with the fit of these pads with no bunching behind the knee or interference with your pedalling action. And while they might not be particularly slim, they are far from bulky and didn’t catch on my shorts.
The little window into the purple RE ZRO layer is a nice touch, but the White G-Form logos don’t appear to be very durable. One of the large G logos on the back of my right guard has already fallen off and I haven’t washed the sleeve yet, the left-hand side looks like it might follow pretty soon. The good news is that the front G-Form branding appears much better adhered to the knee guard material. At £95, you would expect the branding to stay on a little better.
When they get too stinky it is easy to pop the RE ZRO pad out hand wash it and chuck the rest of the guard in the machine which should prolong their usefulness.
How much those eco credentials matter you will be on a personal basis and not one that everybody will feel the same way about. But being made from recycled material and being biodegradable is a great start for a product like this which is likely to see its fair wear and tear. We might have just started recycling tyres and tubes through bike shops but the whole industry could do with a little more eco-awareness rather than just saying bikes are green – we've done our bit. Well done G-Form for offering this RE ZRO material, it's a start in the right direction as far as I am concerned.
G-Form Terra Knee Guard - Verdict
Other knee guards to consider around this price offer differing levels of protection and ventilation even if they are rated as the same protection level.
Worth a look are the Fox Launch D3O Knee Pads review which are very comfortable with plenty of coverage even if the fit is a little slim and they are also a little warm.
At £100, the Leatt Ultralite Airflex knee guards are worth a look if you want a minimalist pair of guards that sacrifice a little protection. They breathe very well, are super slim and have deeper pockets.
YT Industries Trail Knee Protection knee guard a £60 offers great value for money with an excellent mixture of protection comfort and tasteful branding, although some features might be unnecessary.
G-Form Terra Knee Guards are comfortable to wear, if a little warm, feel well made and stay put offering good levels of protection. They are available in a wide range of sizes and have some excellent eco-credentials for when you are finished with them. They are worth checking out, especially for cooler riding conditions.
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