Best MTB knee pads: get the best knee protection for all kinds of spills

If you’re up for some more demanding riding, Leatt’s 3DF Evo knee pads are up to the job. These use a soft and flexible Leatt-designed insert that hardens upon impact, complete with a bunch of perforations to encourage a solid dose of airflow. Equipped with silicone grippers at the top, they’re also sorted with velcro straps to add a welcome chunk of security. The 3DF Evos are also finished off with a MoistureCool and AirMesh fabric to encourage breathability while wicking moisture.

For their extra padding that sits around the main inserts and general comfort, these have become a go-to for bike park rides. Though their touch of additional bulk and somewhat lacking airflow means that they’re not quite perfect.

These certify to EN1621-1 Level 1.

Despite donning ‘enduro’ in their name, The Fox Racing Enduro Pro knee guards are more minimalist, featuring a simple sock design with a single Koroyd protector each. That Koroyd protector makes them rather different in their own right. It’s a very soft and flexible protector, making for a comfortable set of knee pads, and it’s built with an open-cell design, so it encourages plenty of air to permeate through. It’s washable, too, so there’s minimal faff when throwing these into the washing machine.

While these pads are definitely comfortable, they’re not without a couple of pitfalls. The Koroyd protectors can be tricky to remove and replace, thanks to the pads’ floating design, and Fox has equipped them with huge grippers, which feel a little like overkill. It would also be nice if the protector were a little larger. But if you’re looking for minimalist pads that bring comfort and airflow, look no further.

These certify to EN1621-1 Level 1.

Endura’s Singletrack knee pads are constructed rather differently from your standard knee guards, as they wrap around the knee, closed with a pair of velcro straps. This makes them super easy to put on and pull off mid-ride, if that’s your thing. These are loaded with perforations for airflow. Although Endura offers no details on the protective insert, we’re told that they meet CE EN 1621-1 protection.

Although they lack side protection from orbital pads, our Jimmer found that they breathe very well, that they’re comfortable, and for £70, it’s really tough to complain.

With a rich history of creating kit for roadies, Rapha is impressively nailing it with their mountain bike gear, and the Trail Knee Pads especially. They’re simple pads with Rheon’s protective inserts that provide Level 2 Type B protection, which, according to Rapha, is the highest level of protection available on a minimalist pad like this.

While pricy, these scored a whopping 10/10 owing to their superb comfort, heft of protection, and spot-on durability. If you’re happy to spend a little more, you’ll certainly be getting your money’s worth.

Coming in at a rather lovely £85 are Fox Racing’s Launch D3O knee pads. These get the EN1621-1 Level 1 sticker thanks to a pair of D3O inserts as well as some extra foam pads around the main one. Each pad then benefits from a pair of velcro straps to boost security, and there are plenty of perforations. Aside from all of that, they’re rather simple.

But simplicity rarely means bad, as these pads pack the value, achieving good comfort and plenty of coverage. They do fit a little slimmer than expected, and they’re not terribly cool, but for £85, it’s tough to argue.

Scott’s Grenade Evo Zip knee pads push the boundaries a little as they use D3O inserts, but they’ve been sculpted with help from the designers behind Scott. So rather than a slap of the non-Newtonian material, they feature a hexagonal profile that improves the flexibility, but without sacrificing their protection. Additionally, they are constructed with a zip, so they can be undone and whipped off quickly.

We found these to be incredibly comfortable, thanks to the flex in the inserts, and the zip just boosts convenience. Protection is upped further thanks to orbital pads placed around the D3O insert. They are a little pricy, however, and breathability could be improved.

These certify to EN1621-1, Level 1.

Another entry from Leatt comes in the form of the Ultralite Airflex knee guards. These are super minimal guards that are mega slim and lightweight, and there are no straps to be seen. They’re built with Leatt’s own Airflex Ultralite impact gel protectors that certify to CE Level 1 and apparently, weigh just 54g.

With a stretchy and thin sock material, these promote tonnes of airflow, and with the very bendy protectors, these are among the most comfortable knee pads we’ve worn. They move with your knees too, offering uninhibited pedalling. The only downside is that they’re a little pricy compared to similar alternatives.

Compared to the Ultralite Airflex knee guards, these are a little burlier, but they’re still designed to be nice and slim. These also get Leatt’s own protective inserts, as well as tech-filled fabrics, and they meet EN1621-1 certification. However, there are plastic caps to add a touch of abrasion resistance.

As with all of the best knee pads, these offer excellent comfort, plenty of coverage and we liked the hard shell. However, the plastic caps do impede airflow, and they’re expensive.

7iDP’s Sam Hill Lite pads have been around for a good while now and have remained pretty much unchanged, but with good reason. They’re built around a ripstop fabric construction and are certified to EN 1621-1 thanks to their SAS-TEC protectors. These differ a little from D3O types as they’re visco-elastic foam protectors.

Our tester found them to be breathable with top-notch moisture-wicking while definitely protective. They might not carry the protective might of heavier-duty pads, but they hit an ideal balance between weight, comfort, and fit.