Since hooking up with the Athertons, Endura has broadened its protection range and has added several new knee pads including the MT500 D3O Ghost. This features a D3O insert, which is soft and malleable when inert, so hugs the bony contours of your knee but stiffens dramatically during an impact. The insert is built into a rip-stop chassis, but this cover is quite a loose fit, which we’re assuming is to help the pad slide.

Endura MT500 D3O Ghost knee pad

To eliminate hot spots on the tendons at the back of the knee, there’s a soft mesh panel running down the back of the MT500 D3O Ghost. This knee pad is also articulated, so bends as you pedal, so there’s zero bunching or binding. Testers rated this knee pad second only to the Rapha Trail knee pad in terms of pedalling comfort.

To ensure the pads stay in place when you are cranking hard, there is a wide silicone lined band across the thigh and Endura uses a Lycra cuff on the bottom, which we found sits nicely over the calf.

Although D3O hardens on impact, the insert is quite thin, so it’s more of a scuff protection. If you take a hard slam, you’re definitely going to feel it. On the plus side the insert has an open grid, so airflow is excellent and we had no clamminess on the knee.