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11/18/2025
Location
Sunnyvale, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
12/11/2025 6:06pm
After a crash in level 1 leatt 3df hybrid knee pads messed up my knee for months, I'm looking for something more protective.
So far I'm looking at:
- POC VPD 2.0 Long
- Ion Arcon LT
- Alpinestars A-Impact Plasma Elite Shield
- Demon v4 HD
What are your favorite heavy duty knee pads? Ideally something that can be worn under pants. I don't even own riding shorts.
I have the slightly older Fox Launch D30 Pro knees and elbows with the hard plastic cap. They have been 100% protective, completely indestructible, and even don't suck that bad to pedal in. They're very easy to wear on the ankles if you have a fire road slog to do.
My vote is anything with a small hard cap, especially for racing or DH. I've crashed on the thinner trail sleeve style D30 pads many times before and sometimes you walk away more hurt than expected.
Recently purchased Ion Arcon pads for enduro riding (thanks Vital for the benchmark video) but haven’t tested them so far (still brand new and waiting in the closet before landing near the christmas tree).
Ion recommends me M size but I was near L size. Another French rider in the same situation told that he bought M and L sizes, then returned the M one. So I purchased L size too.
Raceface ambush have been solid.
stoked you found some value in that knee pad video! 😀
Out of all the recent stuff I've tested, for pads to wear under pants for DH, the Arcon LT has to be right up there. Level 2 protection and it subjectively feels like it really wraps and holds the knee. Could be the sizing at play but also the choice of fabrics and the construction. I've also been super impressed with the DHaRCO stuff, I didn't test the DH version they make but if it's like a beefed up version of their Gravity pad (that I did test), I'd say it could be a front-runner in this case too. ION runs small, DHaRCO regular fit.
I'm a pretty big fan of my Akta knee pads. I'd say they are some of the comfiest, even while pedalling, while still having solid protection that I've had over the last 20 years of riding
https://aktamtb.com/products/trail-mtb-knee-pads
I'd be interested to hear if anyone has even tried the Impact Plasma knee pads, because while they don't seem like the most practical bike pad, if it's actually DH only (shuttle/lift), it seems like the most hardcore pad that can still bend I guess. Just wondering if that shell feels uncomfortable in the stood up position, when not bending. (Or, conversely, if they shaped it to be stood in, and therefore it may feel 'flat' in the bending position.)
It's something I noticed when my GF tried 100% knee pads, some of the worst pads I've ever seen, to the extent I thought they were a defect/stitched wrong. But you look at reviews and they seem to have the same problem. Just abysmal
Meanwhile I've been loving my Leatt Airflex pads, but sometimes I steal my GFs Rapha pads (level 2 cert) for trail riding.
But that said money no concern, and if I didn't care for any hard shell features, I'd grab that ION Arcon for sure. Whole set even. I have the chest protector and it's amazing. Kinda wish I grabbed the knees and elbows. But I do like the concept of hard shell or anything to increase sliding and reduce friction...
Ion K pact, I had them for 4 years now and they are still going strong, very hight quaility, superior to fox that I had before.
While I like them very much, I doubt they'd fit under long pants. Rapha pads fit under pants well, they became my favorite winter riding knee pads quickly and saved my knees from annihilation on slippery leaves / rocks a few times already.
I pedal 3-4 hour rides in pants with these G-Form Mesa MTB Knee Guards pretty frequently. Had the Ion K-Pact Zips before which weren't quite as burly, but rubbed the back of my knee-crease funky on the bigger days. Having those solidified that I'll only have pads with zippers from here on out though. The G-Forms left me with a rash once or twice when they were new but now that they are broken in, no rubbing issues. Good luck on the search!
I picked up some new leatt 6.0, as they are level 2 and low profile. They tick almost every box, but the D30 style pad in the knee is kind of small. It's a shame, as they are super comfy and light. They just need a little more coverage around the sides of the knee, like the arcon LT, and they would be perfect. I haven't 100% decided, but I think these are going to be returned and I'll continue my search.
The knee pad is removable so I am also considering picking up a larger L2 pad and swapping it in. It would be an expensive approach, but I'm willing to pay a lot to protect my knees.
The G form mesa look like a good option. Can you let me know what your height/weight is and what size you went for?
I'm 5'-9" 180 lb. I just re-measured and according to their size chart I was firmly a L, but knowing I hate pads slipping down, I went with a M. That is probably what contributed to the early chaffing too as they broke in.
And now that you are more interested, I will also say I didn't actually purchase these by choice. I originally bought a pair of the now discontinued E-line version. I had an issue with the Velcro on the upper strap losing it's stickiness causing the pads to "pop off" while pedaling. I got the Mesas via a warranty claim, which was super easy and painless to do online with G-form. For what it's worth, the E-lines made it 8 months before that issue, and I'm at 8 months now with the Mesas without the issue. The E-lines were slightly bulkier, but about the same comfort-wise, so depending on your size it may be worth getting a pair of those that are now on super sale at a few different sites. Overall, definitely would recommend either based on G-forms customer service and for a burlier pad to pedal in.
7idp sam hill
Been thinking of getting the Mobius knee braces to use as knee pads. My son tore his acl back in sept and cracked his femur above the knee cap from impact
https://www.mobiusbraces.com/p134737-x8h-hybrid-knee-support
Hey hope everything is doing better for you now ! As I have the Leatt 3DF 6.0 myself (have been loving them) I'm interested in what happened and what failed with your knee guards ? Is it the soft pad "sticking" to the ground during the crash & messing your knee up ? That was indeed something I had in mind when choosing mine
Great post OP, a few years ago I came down hard on a knee and the POC pad I had did not do nearly enough to prevent an injury. Rapha for me has worked the best out of Leatt airflex, POC vpd, TLD raid, and some 7idp and evoc pairs I bought for my son. We also pedal so comfort is a key factor along with protection. All our level 1 pads were not cutting it so we tried the TLD and learned that the shape of 3DO inserts doesn’t work for me and they are too bulky to pedal in. I found a group test article that compared lab results for energy dissipation across the pads tested. Needless to say, not all pads are equal. That took me to Rapha and Rheon labs as they were the best combo of protection and fit/comfort in the test group. As my son grew and got faster, I switched him over to the Rapha pads as well. We still crash but knees have been totally fine. One thing to note, their repair services don’t apply to mtb protection. That said, the sleeves hold up extremely well, and the only tears have come from hard contact against some Chromag Dagga pins. Dharco also uses Rheon and I’ll be trying them next.
Idk how heavy duty they are but I settled with the ixs flow 2.0
I compared them to 7idp transition, ion arcon lt and evoc sock type ones and found that the sock type things are too uncomfortable and too hard to put on and off.
Also I don't get the honeycomb design of some protectors like the ion arcon as when I tested a fall at home the pattern kinda imprinted itself on my knee and it hurt. I dunno how this would feel in a real crash. They might be better ventilated but I prefer a protector with less holes.
The only downside the ixs have is that the back material is easy to rip. But they are very comfy and easy to put on and off.
Got a pair of the new TLD stage pro knee pads -- they're rated level 2 but dayum they're so light, thin & nice to pedal in that I'm reeeeeally hoping they'll hold up when it's dirt tasting time.....!
My ixs carve were pretty good and my current leatt 3df ext knee/shin have been good.
I feel like everything is still 2nd tier compared to the old Poc vpd 2.0 dh knee/half shin though. Owned two sets and haven’t found anything I’m as satisfied with since they stopped making them.
Absolutely love my Leatt 2025 EXT 3.0s. They slide under my pants perfectly and aren’t very noticeable at all, give excellent coverage, are super comfortable, and have saved my shins and knees multiple times. A couple times I’ve crashed and thought “damn, those pants ripped so easily, that didn’t seem like much of an impact” only to later inspect the hard shell and find deep sharp gouges that would’ve for sure ripped my knee into a bloody mess. Mine have been going strong for two years of park in the summer and towing my son up on the ebike in the winter and I don’t even notice them. Couldn’t ask for much more. Gonna order another set now just to have them whenever I decide to retire my current pair, but that’ll probably be awhile
They’re on clearance right now for $52 https://www.motosport.com/leatt-2025-ext-30-knee-shin-guards
That is what I was wearing.
What happened was I went off a ~4 foot drop to relatively flat ground on my DH bike (chupacabra drop if you know SC). I had torqued down my Bontrager stem to 6nm, but apparently that is the wrong torque spec. (should have been 12nm for all 4 bolts holding the stem to the crown).
When I landed, my bars dropped out from under me (rotated basically 180 degrees), and I got chucked over the front of the bike into hard pack dirt littered with mid-size rocks sticking out.
All 185lbs of me getting tossed landed on my left knee, taking pretty much all of the impact. I have no doubt that I would have shattered bone if I didn't have the leatt knee pads on. My knee was tight and had limited range of motion for several months after the crash, occasionally reminding me on pedaling days that it wasn't thrilled with my choices in life.
The leatt hybrids are fantastic pads, but they are only rated to level 1 for impact. That means they just don't cushion as much as it's really possible to. There are level 2 knee pads out there that are designed to cushion for higher impact forces. My crash was a pretty bad scenario, but if I had a heavier duty knee pad on, I think I would have suffered less in the following months.
FWIW, I also own the Leatt 3DF 6.0, and I would never consider using those for downhill. They are comfy but I only use them for trail riding. They just aren't built to absorb any significant impact.
I ended up ordering a set of Ion Arcon LT from Evo. It has the largest insert of any pad I've seen. Thanks vital @iceman2058 for the detailed review.
I've been a big fan of the Fasthouse T mac Hooper knee pads. I'm on my second pair and have used them on everything from racing DH to long pedal days without issue. Super comfortable and LEVEL 2 that fit under pants without being crazy bulky. I feel like these get slept on in terms of comfort vs protection. I've tested them plenty of times even a few direct impacts to rocks and they've always protected my knees well.
Another option for those of ya'll that already have a comfy knee pad with a removable insert is to just upgrade the insert. I swapped out the stock level 1 on my fox launch elite knee pads with the inserts below (d3o diablo) and I am over the moon happy with them for even trail rides but feel really well protected.
I also swapped out hip pads with sastec Tripleflex air level 2. These newer gen level 2 inserts seem like a no brainer and well worth the barely noticeable increase in thickness.
https://www.sportbiketrackgear.com/icon-d3o-diablo-level-2-knee-elbow-guards/
i rather be able to just buy the sleeves, they are always ruined and the inserts are fine. such a waste of material having to throw them away way too early
I tried on the Ion Arcon LT and had the same impression. Hitting my knee into the ground was painful. The RE ZRO pad is hard plastic and it doesn’t really absorb impact well. I would have expected more cushioning from a level 2 rated pad. Whatever the rating says, common sense tells me my knee is going to be in a lot of pain if I hit the ground hard wearing the Arcon LT’s. The coverage is fantastic, but the RE ZRO pad isn’t what I hoped it would be. Leatt’s level 2 3df foam pad is way better at absorbing impact, but unfortunately it doesn’t have the same coverage around the sides of the knee.
Ratings are based on tests with far more impact energy than you would ever willingly submit yourself to with a “DIY crash test”. What you’re saying would be like looking for a helmet with a soft shell because the stiff EPS foam is uncomfortable if you thump it with your hand 😃
A softer insert would just let more energy through to your knee in a real crash.
Yeah it's weird. Found a test for the ixs which mentions force values:
https://velomotion.de/2025/06/ixs-flow-2-0-knieschoner/#gsc.tab=0
You are mistaken about the forces involved in the CE test. It is not a high impact test. The CE impact test is only 50 Joules, and that is very easily generated in a bounce test on concrete. We can use E = mgh here.
- CE Impact test : 5 kilo weight dropped from 1 meter = 50 Joules
- Evwan single knee pad bounce test: 92 kilo weight dropped 6 inches (0.152 meter) = 122 Joules
- Evwan dual knee bounce test: 92 kilo / 2 knees = 46 kilos per knee dropped from 6 inches = 61 Joules (per knee)
Put simply, dropping onto your knees from a height of 6 inches produces more energy than the CE level 2 knee pad test.
Level 1 vs 2 is simply about how much force is transmitted. These are not robust tests. Take them for what they are, very basic tests to indicate a general level of protection. I would argue that the parking lot bounce test is actually a pretty good indicator of performance on the trail, as the forces involved are closer to a real world situation than the CE test is.
Knee pads are not tested the same as helmets, because helmets are destructive pieces of equipment with crumple zones. Knee pads do not get more protective at higher impact forces the way that helmets do, so conflating the two is a mistake. If you have pain at low impact forces with a knee pad, it's going hurt even more with a heavier hit.
I’m glad you pushed me on this or I wouldn’t have done the math. I think this is super interesting and shows that we really need higher quality test standards and reporting for mtb safety gear.
The math and physics tell one side of the story, but I don't think it's the whole picture. The CE drop test involves dropping a 5kg PLATE on a 10cm diameter hemispherical ANVIL, both are metal. Picture the the violence of that impact - sure it's "only" 50 joules, but to measure the actual impact you also have to take into consideration the path of deceleration, which is very short in this case. Would you put a finger on the anvil, under that knee pad and then drop the plate onto it? No thanks!
In the case of the plate and the anvil, the impact load is near instant (and occurs in a very small, constrained area), with the insert bearing the full brunt of the impact and doing what it does to dissipate the impact energy before transmitting what is left to the other side (=you). In the case of the DIY parking lot drop test, I'd argue that the total deceleration time is an order of magnitude longer than the plate/anvil scenario, for several reasons. First of all, even on asphalt there is some amount of give in the ground, and any surface irregularities will also affect the load path. Second, and most significant, your body has A LOT of built-in shock absorption capabilities. To start with, there's a bunch of weight in the lower part of your leg, which is not situated above the knee joint (so will not be a full participant in the downward acceleration and thus will need to be at least partially removed from your body mass calculations). Second, despite how committed you may think you are to dropping your whole body weight on your knees, your body will protect itself. The knee joint itself will compress, as will the spine, and the hips will bend to help the body mass decelerate. Even the arms will "bounce" a bit as opposed to rigidly transmitting their portion of the energy to the body itself. These may seem like small movements, but you don't need much to be able to absorb a large portion of the energy through other means than the knee pad itself. Translation: lots of energy absorbed by other means than the kneepad, and a much longer deceleration time for the portion that IS transmitted to the knee pad.
So to sum it all up, I don't think the pain you feel when doing that parking lot test with a stiffer pad is indicative of it's ability to protect you from actual damage. That "surface pain" is just discomfort from the (relatively) small impact of a stiff object on your skin. The actual work the insert has to do when subject to a real, violent crash is far more significant.
I think so, anyway. :-)
The CE test of 50 joules is not a serious impact. It's a 5kg (11lb) weight falling 1 meter (3.3 feet). Imagine wearing a knee pad and dropping that weight on your knee from that height. It's not going to hurt at all with any respectable knee pad. I have crashed on my knees much harder than that, unfortunately.
Looking at the Ion Arcon LT, the protective pad is made out of relatively hard plastic, with no other padding. It's not a viscoelastic foam like d30 or leatt 3df, so there is not much cushion to the impact. We can disagree about the parking lot bounce test vs CE test, but if it hurts bouncing on concrete, it's going to hurt even worse in a crash. A heavy crash is not going to somehow hurt less than just testing it on concrete. I think this would be a great trail riding pad, but would I ride A-line or serious downhill in it? Absolutely not.
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