Since introducing its apparel range in 2022, YT Industries has been working hard to expand its soft goods offering and, most recently, has stepped into the world of protectives with the YT Trail Knee Protection. The brand’s efforts have culminated to great effect as these lightweight and mega-slim knee guards aren’t only kind to the wallet but also pack a real punch. There is room for improvement but they’re an excellent first attempt and worthy option among the best MTB knee pads.
- Best mountain bike helmets 2024 – top-rated head protection for the trail
- Leatt Ultralite Airflex knee guard review
- Knee pads – everything you need to know
YT Industries Trail Knee Protection – Technical details
It’s certainly not uncommon for a bike brand to venture into clothing, we’ve seen it repeatedly from brands such as Specialized, Canyon, Scott and Trek (Bontrager). However, few do so without slapping logos all over the place and alienating those who ride other brands.
With its subtle and rather cool-looking branding, YT Industries looks set to turn that trend on its head, focussing on creating top-performing kit that can be mixed with any bike brand.
As for the YT Trail Knee Protection, the company aims to provide ventilation, comfort and protection in one package, meeting the demands of trail riders everywhere. In a bid to hit those goals, the pads come with D3O Ghost inserts. These are a version of the non-Newtonian material that’s thinner and more flexible than versions prior but they exceed CE Level 1 certification. Of course, that insert is removable for proper cleaning.
Those inserts fit inside a high-stretch and super lengthy sock complete with cool lightning-bolt silicone detailing, mesh panels at the rear for breathability, and elastic straps for further stability. At the knee area, there are abrasion-resistant fabrics for added protection.
On offer are four sizes from S to XL to fit legs with thigh circumferences of 48 to 58cm and calf circumferences of 32 to 41cm.
YT Industries Trail Knee Protection – Performance
YT Industries has been doing great things in the apparel space and having awarded the Gravity Cordura pants top marks, it’s clear that the brand isn’t messing around. YT’s foray into protectives isn’t only a bold move but it’s further cementing the brand as one to look for when shopping for more than just bikes.
Sitting between sizes can show up the best and the worst of a brand’s sizing concepts but having gone with the medium, I’ve made a great choice. I won’t lie, they’re a little on the snug side but, generally, the fit is more than acceptable and there are no tight spots on the pad. Then, because they’re super slim, they easily fit under trousers and mesh well with shorts.
With that, comfort is very good. The pad’s sock is super long so it can be tucked under a chamois if you ride with one, but, importantly, it eliminates the change of the knee pad/shorts gap. It extends far down the calf, too, and the pad is super slim.
That’s thanks to D3O Ghost. It’s the brand’s latest version of D3O and it’s rather clever. Instead of a solid block of the flexible orange material, D3O ghost is a much more open cell arrangement stuck to a fabric backing. The result is an insert that exceeds the usual certifications while being more malleable and breathable than D3O’s other models. It’s quite good, too, having crashed wearing the inserts without injury.
The insert is a good size, too, providing comprehensive coverage around the knee and down the shin. However, being a trail-specific pad, there are no orbital patches of protection – so the YT Trail Knee Protection might be best put aside for more aggressive riding.
Comfort is further boosted through YT’s conservative use of silicone around the pad’s hems. Instead of sticky bands of the material, YT has chosen to use lightning bolt shapes which add security to the pad, they’ve never slipped, gripped the skin too hard or become uncomfortable.
Speaking of security, I’m not sure the elastic strap is of much use – it makes it a little awkward to take on and off, and would often hook my heel when putting them on. Although with that said, security couldn’t be better, so perhaps the strap is doing some good stuff here.
Then airflow and breathability are handled commendably. Apart from the fine mesh of the abrasion-resistant knee and the open-celled insert cool air is welcomed through the pad. Moisture has never been an issue either.
Another downside is the pouch that the D3O sits in as it’s not secure and can slip out when removing the pads. So before putting them on, you’ll need to reinsert the end and ensure it’s nice and flat so any bunching that can happen with the super bendy D3O Ghost doesn’t cause discomfort.
Then with so much faff around this area, the openings for the inserts are looking a little worse for wear. There’s no real damage per se, they’re just overstretched so their ability to keep the inserts in when removing the whole pad isn’t quite what it used to be.
But when it boils down to performance and general wear, YT Industries has done a great job. The pads are comfortable and they’ve been a regular choice over a number of pads I quite like. They’ve found regular use throughout most of my rides apart from heavier going bike park days where I value a bit more coverage.
YT Industries Trail Knee Protection – Verdict
At ten pence under £60, the Trail Knee Protection offers excellent value. Similar pads come in the form of Scott’s Soldier Ghost Knee Guards that’ll set you back £80. These are of a similar build but the sock isn’t as long. In terms of performance, there’s very little between the two apart from the durability of the insert’s opening.
G-Form’s Pro Rugged 2 Knee are similar pads that up protection a little bit thanks to extra foam pads at the shin but these will set you back £83 and aren’t as slim. There are also Fox’s Enduro Pro knee guards at £90. These increase coverage but don’t match in terms of comfort
Also at £60 are Sweet Protection’s Knee Guards. These are quite different being built with a neoprene-esque fabric but they employ the brand’s own Visco elastic soft foam for protection, rather than something of the calibre of D3O. The YT knee guards are also much longer and provide better coverage.
The YT Industries Trail Knee Protection bolsters the brand’s apparel range with some good knee pads that not only undercut the competition in price but offer supreme performance. Comfort is impeccable, as the D3O Ghost insert does a fantastic job blending protection with breathability. While awesome, there are some areas for improvement, such as the quality of the inner opening for the inserts and the elastic strap feels unnecessary. Regardless, YT has done a solid job.
You might also like:
- What is singletrack?
- Downhill mountain biking – everything you need to know
- How many spacers should I install on my bottom bracket?
Product purpose:
Build extra:
2 – Breathable mesh inserts optimize airflow
3 – Durable, abrasion-resistant knee material
4 – D3O® Ghost™ knee protector offers high-flex, low-profile, CE Level 1 protection
5 – Silicone cuff detailing for a secure, non-slip fit
6 – Additional calf strap improves security
7 – Removeable D3O® insert for easy cleaning
8 – Subtle branding details throughout
9 – Unisex fit and design
Product construction
Product construction extra:
Product performance
Product performance extra:
Product durability
Product durability extra:
Product comfort
Product comfort extra:
product value
All the deals displayed on our review pages are pulled from a constantly updating database feed of the best affiliate deals available. The criteria for deciding on what are the best deals is who is offering the lowest, delivered price. In most cases we will be showing the very best deal available online, but sometimes you may be able to find an item cheaper. If you can please feel free to post a link in the comments box below. To find out more about affiliate links on road.cc click here.
