2. Scott Mission Evo

Best lightweight knee pad

Weight: 122g | Sizes: S-XL | Rating: 9/10

Reasons to buy:

• Superlight and super stable
• Excellent mobility for pedalling

Reasons to avoid:

• You may want more protection for more extreme terrain

If you want the peace of mind that comes with wearing knee pads, but not the extra weight, bulk, and impeded pedalling, then your search ends here. The Scott Mission Evo knee pads are so incredibly light and minimal that we instantly forgot we were wearing them. And now they’ve become the knee pad of choice for at least one member of the mbr test team.

While exceptionally light, they still manage to remain stable when pedalling all day, so they don’t end up around your ankles after ten minutes. And while the padding isn’t deep, or a clever harden-on-impact material, it’s enough to save your knees from scrapes and bruises if you lay it down in the dirt.

Read our full test review of the Scott Mission Evo pads

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3. 100% Surpass Knee Guard

Best knee pad for heavy duty protection

Weight: 482g | Sizes: S-XL | Rating: 10/10

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent protection from padding and hardshell
• Rock-solid stability

Reasons to avoid:

• Expensive
• Heavy

If you ride regularly in the bike park, live somewhere like the Alps or the Lake District, or simply value your knees, then you want a burly knee pad that will really protect against harsh impacts from rocks and stumps. The best knee pad we have tested for hardcore riding is the 100% Surpass. It’s rated to CE Level 2 and it’s designed to absorb maximum impact force thanks to the hard plastic shell backed by squishy foam.

Every inch of the pad bristles in padding, including the inside of the knee, which can sometimes be overlooked. There’s also extended coverage down the shin and above the knee, and the mix of stretch sleeve and velcro pads keep it totally locked in position. Sure, it’s a heavy pad, but it’s heavy duty, and the price tag reflects the build quality.

Read our full review of the 100% Surpass Knee Guard

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4. 7iDP Sam Hill Lite

Best for slim-line protection

Weight: 200g | Sizes: S to XL | Rating: 9/10

Reasons to buy:

• Very supportive
• Possible to self-tune with removable inserts

Reasons to avoid:

• Need to remove SAS-TEC inserts before washing
• Warmer than you might think

When it comes to slim-line protection, it doesn’t get much better than the 7iDP Sam Hill pad. This pad has been round a while, yet it still stands up to scrutiny thanks to its minimal fit and intrusion when pedalling. The main body of the pad uses ripstop spandex and works like a compression sock, while the pad itself is a SAS-TEC insert that acts a bit like memory foam.

With plenty of length, the Sam Hill covers a lot of leg, and stays put thanks to the silicone grippers. Chuck them on for a quick local blast just in case, but you’ll probably need something burlier for a week in the mountains.

Read our full test review of the 7iDP Sam Hill knee pad

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5. Sweet Protection Knee Guards

Best for big calves

Weight: 226g | Sizes: XS-XL | Rating: 9/10

Reasons to buy:

• Good fit and flexibility

Reasons to avoid:

• SAS-TEC pad is not removable, so hand wash only

Sweet Protection’s Knee Guard is the lighter of its two offerings and is essentially a simple sleeve. There’s a viscoelastic pad over the knee cap that remains flexible in normal use but hardens in an impact, and the fit, although strange at first, works well, with a tight cuff around the thigh and looser fit at the calf. The pad isn’t removable, so to retain its properties Sweet Protection recommends hand washing. That’s a pain, but the Knee Guards are a good length and it’s easy to forget you’ve got them on.

Read our full test review of the Sweet Protection Knee Guard

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6. Endura Singletrack Lite II

Best budget knee pads

Weight: 229g | Sizes: S/M, M/L, L/XL | Rating: 8/10

Reasons to buy:

• Good stability
• Comfortable
• Lightweight
• Great value

Reasons to avoid:

• No smart padding material

Looking for a basic knee pad that’s light enough for pedalling, but doesn’t break the bank? Well look no further than the Endura Singletrack Lite II. Although around £50 when we tested it, you’ll find it for much less online, making it something of a bargain.

When we tested it we praised the comfort, lightweight construction that made them unobtrusive while pedalling, and the airy material that kept sweat at bay during summer rides. With only a thin PU pad, this is not built for crashing on Alpine bike park tracks, but for most trail riding, it works a treat.

Read our full test review of the Endura Singletrack Lite II

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7. POC VPD Airflow

Best for locked-on pedalling and comfort

Weight: 225g | Sizes: XS-XL | Rating: 9/10

Reasons to buy:

• Supremely comfortable and cool
• Never budge an inch while riding, even on big pedal days or extreme descending
• Pre-shaped knee defender panel fits snuggly and offers impact-hardening protection
• Minimal and slimline enough to wear under tight trousers or jeans

Reasons to avoid:

• Like much stylish POC kit, these pads are very expensive compared to some rivals
• Not as much protection as thicker pads, obviously
• Longer thigh to calf length might not work for shorter riders or females

This is POC’s most minimal knee pad offering, and at only 225g it’s seriously light. Obviously that reinforces the fact these are designed more for trail riding than enduro shredding, with more of a bias to comfort and ventilation than outright protection.

With that in mind, we thought POC has knocked it out of the park with the VPD Airflow knee pads. Perfectly stable with no movement on long rides, they had us sold on the minimal feel that helped us forget we were even wearing pads on all-day rides. Yes, they’re expensive, but the build quality is first rate, and they’ve proven impressively durable so far.

Read our full test review of the POC VPD Airflow knee pads

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Also worth considering

Some of the knee pads we’ve tested that didn’t make the cut for this buyer’s guide include the POC Oseus VPD knee pads. Although we raved about the build quality, they were just too uncomfortable when pedalling, with the material at the back of the knee bunching up and chafing.

Leatt’s Airflex Pro knee pads were another set that caused uncomfortable chafing, once again caused by the mesh material at the back of the knee bunching up. Our samples also developed some rips and tears during the test period, which doesn’t bode well for long-term durability.

Dainese’s distinctive Trail Skins Air fell below the mark for a different reason. The lattice protector pad floated around while riding, and also migrated when we crashed on them. Not ideal.

Much better in all respects was the Endura MT500 D30 Ghost. Comfortable, well-ventilated, and stable, this is a great pad only let down by the narrow sizing range and relative lack of value when compared to other D30 knee pads. Being on sale does make it a much more palatable option now.

It was a similar situation for the Fox Enduro Pro Knee Guard. We noticed some slight chafing at first, but this subsided as the pad broke in. For a lightweight option, we reckon it’s worth considering, but the original price felt high compared to its rivals.

We’ve always rated Troy Lee Designs knee pads highly, and the Stage Knee Pads were no exception, with decent fit and stability. Our main criticism is that the non-removable D30 pad means you have to handwash them, or risk compromising the smart material. Which is a pain.

How we tested the best mountain bike knee pads

Comfort is a key consideration when wearing a knee pad, and the only way tp p[ut this to the test is to use alt he pads on all-day trail rides, involving extensive climbing and descending. During test rides we made a note of any chaffing or soreness, and whether the pad stayed in place. We also kept an eye on durability because pulling the pads on and off can put extra stress on the lightweight material, especially at the upper seam. All the sample pads are medium size and the weight listed in the specification is for a pair.

What to look for in best mountain bike knee pads:

When buying your first set of pads you could go for a heavy duty nee/shin, which extends all the way from the knee to the ankle. This offers the most protection, but if you’re pedaling all day, this style of pad can get pretty hot and uncomfortable. For trail riding, we’d recommend a lighter-weight design. Most still have a reinforced pad to shrug gravel rash and small impacts, but they’re more comfortable and don’t get as clammy when you turn up the heat.

What stops knee pads from slipping down?

To stop unwanted movement, knee pads use a silicone gripper or an elastic hem, like you’d find in a pair of Lycra shorts. Silicone tape can cause a bit of soreness so what feels comfy in the shop may not after a few hours riding.

Are all knee pads leg-specific?

Knee pads are either left and right specific or can be worn on either leg. There’s often a label inside telling you want pad goes on what knee. If in doubt, go for the configuration that shows the brand logo on the outside of the legs, as that’s often the way they’ve been deliberately designed.

Will I get too hot in knee pads?

Cutaways at the back of the knee stop rubbing of the ligaments and also increase air flow. On some designs the kneecap is also left uncovered or has a honeycomb/perforated surface to channel air directly over the knee.

What are smart materials and how do they help in a crash?

The protective cap used in most of the knee pads is often an impact-resistant foam, but some use hi-tech materials, such as D30 or Armourgel. These stiffen under impact and reduce the amount of force felt at the knee. Smart material are lighter but they are ore expensive.

What are the pads usually sewn on to?

To reduce weight, the base material for the majority of knee pads is either Lycra or a thin neoprene. A Kevlar cover is often placed over the knee area to increase scuff resistance.

Do I need to look for knee pads with Velcro straps?

To really batten down the hatches some knee pads have an additional Velcro strap, either at the top or bottom. Look for a long strip of of Velcro and a strap that doesn’t bunch up or narrow as you pull it tights, which can cause it to dig in. They’re not strictly necessary though, and some of our favourite and most stable pads don’t use them.

How much protection do I need?

It’s best to think about knee pads in three different categories: lightweight, trail and heavy duty. The lightest pads are designed to offer abrasion protection at best, they sacrifice extra protection for breathability, low weight and breathability. Trail knee pads are the go-to option for most of us, comfortable enough to ride all day in but tough enough to protect your patellas in a proper crash – at their best they’re lightweight and breathable and offers a good level of protection with malleable pads made from materials like D30 and Sas-Tec. Then there are enduro pads, better able to absorb impacts, they often have extended coverage down your shin, a plastic or TPU shell and offer maximum protection – the tradeoff is they’re often hotter to wear, stick out more and are less comfortable.

Know your riding

Get started by working out which is best for your kind of riding, there’s no point lugging around more material than you need to, pedaling in a pad that’s designed for downhill only. Mountain biking is fun, and we want to keep it that way. In the same vein, if you spend lots of time at the bike park it makes total sense to compromise on breathability and pedaling performance, so if you do hit the deck you’ll be able to bounce back up again without a trip to A&E.

How do I choose the right size knee pads?

The best mountain bike knee pads in the world are useless if they’re not comfortable and you end up leaving them in the car. Plenty of what makes wearing a kneepad a nice experience is the fit, get this right and it’ll stay squarely in place when riding (or crashing), and ideally will be so unobtrusive as to disappear when you’re wearing it. Most brands give you a detailed fit guide based on thigh and calf diameter. Knee pads are available in overlapping (small/medium, medium/large) or single sizes such as small, medium and large. Individual sizes offer a better fit but as always it makes sense to try beforehand because they do vary between manufacturers.

Sleeve or wrap-around design?

There are two types of fit, those that slip on via your foot like a sock, and those that fully open to strap around your knee. They both have advantages and disadvantages, slip on designs are generally lighter and less fussy but you do have to take you shoes off to don them. Fitted knee pads can be taken on and off when you need them on a ride, without having to take your shoes off. If your riding consists of one or two big ups lasting over an hour, fitted pads might suit you better, but if you’re constantly gradient hopping then something you fit and forget is the ideal.

Is it worth looking for integrated shin protection?

Kneepads vary in length from very short enough to just cover your knees, like the Sweet Protection, to long enough to slide under your chamois and still reach half way down your shin, like the 7idp Sam Hill Lite Knee. Why is this important? If you’re tall, longer pads are recommended, first to avoid the t@@t gap between your shorts and knee pads, and second so they actually fit your longer limbs.