I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve liked riding in these pads. The open, wrap-around design is super quick and easy to fit and adjust, and once settled in, they stay firmly in place. They breathe very well in warm weather and don’t soak up sweat like a lot of other pads. The lack of any prominent side padding may limit them to lighter duties, so they are best avoided if you’re heading to a bike park for proper gnarly riding, but they are a solid choice for trail riding.
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Endura Singletrack Knee pads – Technical details
Endura’s range of knee pads now runs to six, with the Endura MT500 D30 hard shell offering the most protection down to the Endura Singletrack Light for lighter duties. The Singletrack Knee Pads are a pedal-friendly, lightweight model designed to maximise air flow through the use of its open-backed design and mesh material.
It’s a wrap-around, opposed to a pull-on design, which is designed to be quick and easy to fit, highly breathable, and comfortable. Wide side gussets wrap around the legs and are fixed with elasticated Velcro tabs to ensure a tight and secure fit. There are small perforated elasticated panels between the two gussets to aid comfort and add a little more protection.
The body of these pads is made by sandwiching a thin perforated foam layer between a woven open mesh outer layer for durability and a softer fabric lining on the inside for comfort. All of this creates a very stretchy and robust feeling construction, and is designed to let your legs breathe. A full weave section covers multi-layer foam inserts at the knee cap, which have a ton of flex to them and are pre-curved to enhance the overall articulated design.
There are no extra side pads for protection; instead, they rely on the straps to add a little protection. So I can see these pads sitting in the trail riding category.
Weighing in at 456g for my M/L, they can be considered a lightweight pad and are also available in S/M and L/XL.
Endura Singletrack Knee Pads – Performance
With all of my lightweight and pedal-friendly pads being of a pull-on design, I was interested to see if I would take to these, especially as I‘ve been wearing Fox’s Enduro D30 Knee pads for quite a while and rate them. It would be true to say that all pads I wear, always will need a little tweaking mid-ride to keep them in place unless worn under trousers, so I wasn’t expecting it to be any different with the Endura’s
My size M/L weighed in at 456g for the pair, which is pretty light in my book, and first impressions were of a well-made pad which looked pedal-friendly. Fitting took a little getting used to, as seating the large Velcro straps needed a little adjustment to get the tightness right and the straps neatly aligned. But I like the fact that you don’t need to remove your shoes to fit them. The pre-shaped knee padding sat just in the right place, and a feel around of the padding revealed a double thickness layer at the knee cap, with the lower layer spreading a little way down the shin, offering about 3.5” of shin protection.
I’ve been riding these solidly for over a month, and it’s been hot, really hot! They do what Endura claims, and that’s breathe. I’ve been so impressed by how well, as it feels like such a given that post-ride I’d remove most pads, sweat-soaked, and have to leave them hanging about to dry. I usually have to be coerced into washing my pads as I wear them so much and they just end up stinking – usually once my wife has identified that ‘unholy smell’! But not with the Singletracks.
I quickly understood the design once pedalling. The shorter length means that they never rode up my shins, something that happens a lot with longer pull-on pads, I tend to find. And, yes, I did need to adjust them a few times to get the right fit around my thighs, but once done, it was fit and forget. I never experienced any rubbing or chaffing – ever, which I also do to some level with some pull-on pads.
I’ve had a few spills whilst wearing these pads, but my knees didn’t take the brunt of the impacts, so it’s hard to say how well they will react to a hard, direct impact, especially compared to D30 pads. I’m not convinced the material covering the knee cap would survive more than one bad, rough crash, but if they save the day, then all good. But I feel safe enough wearing them. Sure, they’re not as sleek or cool-looking as quite a few brands’ offerings, but I’ll happily say they are one of the most breathable pads I’ve worn in warm weather. I also like that I can whip them off in a second and strap them to my hip-pack for long drags home.
Endura Singletrack Knee pads – Verdict
There are a gazillion options if you’re after a new pair of lightweight pads. What sets the Endura Singletrack pads apart is the breathability and comfort levels you get for the price. They aren’t flashy, and if you’re looking for low-profile, the likes of the G-Form Terra Knee Guards at £95 may be more suited. Pat said they ran a bit warm. But they’re a good option if you wear pads under trousers.
The Fox Launch D30 Knee pads cost a bit more at £85 but do use that wonder stuff D30, which I can tell you, works well in a bad crash. They offer a great level of protection, look cool, but lack ventilation.
I could go on and on listing pads, but if you want a quick fitting, highly breathable knee pad with ample protection for trail riding, then the Endura Singletrack is a great option at an attractive price.
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