Leatt might be best known for their neck braces, but the company do a full range of joint armour too, including the 3DF Knee Guards.
These are very light, with a high-wicking, Coolmax-like mesh rear panel behind your knees to keep the temperature down, while the pre-shaped shell is reinforced with tough aramid threads throughout to help resist abrasion. Silicone grippers help keep them put.
Protection is provided by impact foam on the knee cap and a tiny bit of padding at the top and side of the knee. That might not sound much, but the guards meet all necessary safety standards.
These pads are noticeably cooler in use than some, something helped by the combination of minimal padding, lightweight backing and just a single strap around the top of the thigh.
The lack of other straps keeps bulk down, and makes no difference to how well they stayed in place while riding. No, you don’t feel as ‘strapped in’ as you do with some, but it made no functional difference during a testing crash – they stayed firmly in place.
They’re keenly priced and there’s a good range of sizes that even goes down to a kids’ model.
This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.