After a helmet, a pair of the best mountain bike knee pads is probably the wisest protection to use. That’s because your knees are generally one of the first – and most painful – parts of the body to hit the ground in a crash.
As a moving part, your knees are also vital to protect, and wearing pads is one of the best ways to keep you on your bike, rather than resting on the couch.
We've taken the knee pads – or knee guards – in this list on both short enduro spins and longer cross-country rides to find out which pads go unnoticed on longer rides, and which get the sweatiest.
While protection is vital, if pads don’t feel good you’re less likely to wear them, so comfort has taken equal precedence in our reviews.
We have also included our MTB knee pad buyer’s guide at the bottom of the page to show you what to look for in your next pair of pads.
Editor's note: this list was updated on 11 September 2025 with the addition of our high-scoring Fox Enduro Pro Knee Guards. We have also removed old entries and added insight on how we test mountain bike knee pads.
Best knee pads for mountain biking 2025 as reviewed by our expert testers
Fox Launch Elite Knee Pads
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- Price: £144.99 / $165 / €155 / AU$250 as tested
- Protection: D3O
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Colour: Black
- Pros: Impressive comfort; well-formed protection; premium feel
- Cons: Pricey
The Launch Elite Knee Pads offer high levels of protection in a lightweight, tech-packed construction.
Large D3O cups span from the thigh to the shin offering plenty of coverage, with the malleable pads offering an EN1621-1 protection rating and remaining comfortable all day long.
The sleeve construction means there are no hook-and-loop straps, making the Launch Elites some of the comfiest knee pads we've ever tried.
Despite their high price tag, the fit, comfort and protection offered by the Launch Elites make them some of the best on the market.
- Read more: Fox Launch Elite Knee Pads review
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Bluegrass Aura Knee Pads
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- Price: £80 / €80 as tested
- Protection: SAS-TEC TripleFlex
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
- Colour: Black
- Pros: Great levels of articulation; decent protection; premium feeling; stay put when pedalling
- Cons: Pad needs to warm up for maximum comfort
The Aura Knee Pads offer an EN1621-1 level two protection level thanks to its TripleFlex cups that span from the thigh to the shins.
We found the pad gives good levels of articulation, but on colder mornings they were a little stiff causing small irritation until our body heat had warmed them.
The Aura Knee Pads inherit the premium feel of Bluegrass's top-of-the-range options making them incredibly comfortable on long days in the saddle.
- Read more: Bluegrass Aura Knee Pads review
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Endura MT500 D3O Ghost Knee Pads
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- Price: £90 / $120 / €100 as tested
- Protection: D3O EN1612-1
- Sizes: S/M, M/L, L/XL
- Colour: Black
- Pros: Impressive comfort; stable pad placement; lightweight and unrestrictive
- Cons: Sizing not the most exhaustive; a little rough on the inside
The MT500 D3O Ghost Knee Pads offer excellent stability thanks to their sleeve design which uses silicone gripers on elasticated hems.
Their hexagonal design provides great movement making the Ghost's comfortable on long days in the saddle.
The open ripstop front panel also provides good cooling on warm days.
We did find the sizing to be a little restrictive and the inside is a little rough.
- Read more: Endura MT500 D3O Ghost Knee Pads review
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Endura MT500 Hard Shell
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- Price: £80 / $115 as tested
- Protection: Plastic shells and D3O insert
- Sizes: S/M, M/L, L/XL
- Colour: Black
- Pros: Great protection; plenty of coverage; good adjustability
- Cons: A little warmer than some
While they might not be the lightest pads, there's no getting away from how protective and comfortable the Endura MT500 Hard Shell knee pads are.
The pads use a combination of D3O inserts behind hard plastic shells. This padding is attached to a sleeve that extends above the knee for plenty of coverage. There is also some PU foam padding to protect the side of the knee.
To stay in place, the pads have silicone grippers and broad Velcro straps at the top of the sleeves. There is a second strap around the top of your calf muscle, which enables you to tailor the fit of the pads further. We found this means the pads didn't slip down or bunch behind your knee and remained comfy even on long rides.
The pads do get a bit warm, but that's no surprise given the protection on offer.
- Read more: Endura MT500 Hard Shell knee pads review
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Fox Enduro Pro Knee Guards
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- Price: £90 / $130 / €100 as tested
- Protection: CE Level 1
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL
- Colour: Black
- Pros: Very comfortable; good articulation; secure; decent coverage
- Cons: CE Level 1 not as protective as others; could be more breathable
The Enduro Pros are extremely comfortable, thanks to the smooth sleeve and the protective knee inserts that can move to take strain when pedalling.
A secure fit ensures they stay in place on the descents, and the pad design offers good coverage should you need to use them.
They are only CE Level 1 rated, which may dissuade some riders, and we felt breathability could be improved slightly. However, we never overheated in these pads.
- Read more: Fox Enduro Pro Knee Guards review
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Pearl Izumi Summit Knee Guards
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- Price: £77 / $85 / €85 / AU$115 as tested
- Protection: D3O EN1612-1
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
- Colour: Black
- Pros: Comfortable and stable design; very unrestrictive; lightweight with good protection
- Cons: More side protection would be an improvement
The Pearl Izumi Summit Knee Guards are made from a four-way stretch Cordura fabric that allows for an unrestricted pedal stroke that keeps you comfortable for long days in the saddle.
We found the protection to be ample, with the D3O pad offering good coverage of the lower thigh to the upper shin area, though some may want more side protection.
The sleeve design makes for a comfortable and secure fit, with silicone beading used to keep the hems in place.
- Read more: Pearl Izumi Summit Knee Guards review
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Rapha Trail
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- Price: £80 / $110 / AU$140 / €95 as tested
- Protection: RHEON Labs CE level 2
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
- Colour: Black
- Pros: Extremely comfortable; high levels of protection; unrestrictive
- Cons: Not the most breathable
Rapha has hit the ground running with its debut knee pads. These are extremely comfortable and have good coverage and protection.
The feel of the material is similar to a set of knee warmers in that they are made from a very soft and stretchy fabric. There's a silicone print on the inside too, to ensure they stay in place, which we can attest they do.
The padding is made in collaboration with RHEON Labs from an 'active polymer' and is soft and malleable but hardens on impact.
The knee pads didn't disappoint when pedalling, despite having a reassuring bulk and they fit well under most mountain biking shorts. We'd be happy to pedal in these all day and they would stay perfectly in place while giving you peace of mind.
The knee pads aren't as breathable as some other options on the market, but for the comfort and coverage they provide, it's a small penalty.
- Read more: Rapha Trail knee pads review
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Leatt AirFlex Ultralite Knee Guard
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- Price: £80
- Protection: AirFlex impact gel protection
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
- Colour: Black
- Pros: Good airflow, comfortable on longer rides; no bunching around knees
- Cons: Not as secure as others
These pads are unmatched for trail-riding comfort, with the thin mesh sleeve having enough compression to prevent slippage, while not being so tight that the seams dig into your skin.
There’s more mesh fabric covering the AirFlex padding, giving them top marks for breathability, though we found the lightweight mesh material didn't hold the pads quite as securely as some others.
Effective bands of silicone grip help keep them in place, and there’s no bunching behind the knee. Coverage is decent, too, given their weight and size.
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Pearl Izumi Elevate
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- Price: £120 / $125 / AU$230 as tested
- Protection: D3O viscoelastic LP1 pads
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
- Colour: Black
- Pros: Unrestrictive; plenty of padding; impressive breathability
- Cons: Seam can irritate if pad is worn too low
The Pearl Izumi Elevate Knee Guards combine fairly high levels of protection with a lightweight-feeling design that’s very comfy in use, but at a high price.
The D3O pad is quite long, and extends far around the knee, with the outermost section backed up by further high-density foam on top. It’s visible through the mesh front, and ventilation is as good as you’d expect from looking at it. This is enhanced by mesh fabric at the rear and a large cut-out behind the knee.
The rest of the sleeve is very light, and extends high up and low down the leg, with a silicone gripper for security. There’s a touch of excess material at the top of the knee, and you need to pull them up high to get the best fit.
Our only real complaint, price aside, is that the open sleeve through which the D3O insert can be removed can catch on your feet as you put the pads on.
- Read more: Pearl Izumi Elevate Knee Guard review
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POC Joint VPD System
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- Price: £140 / $150 / €160 / AU$225 as tested
- Protection: POC VPD insert
- Sizes: S, M, L
- Colour: Black
- Pros: Comfy to pedal in; secure feeling from protection
- Cons: Not the biggest protective area; pricey; only three sizes
Although pricey, POC's Joint VPD System knee pads proved incredibly comfortable and offer a good level of protection.
The pads rely on POC's VPD (visco-elastic polymer dough) insert. This is designed to remain flexible when in use but hardens on impact. There are three different layers of the material, which POC says not only helps absorb any energy in an impact, but also makes them highly breathable.
They're not the longest knee pads going in terms of coverage but they fit well and come in at a decent weight, too, at 372g.
They remained comfortable on long rides and you can pedal comfortably, almost forgetting you're wearing them.
- Read more: POC Joint VPD System knee pads review
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Troy Lee Designs Stage
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- Price: £90 / $89 / AU$158 / €90 as tested
- Protection: D3O
- Sizes: XS / S, M / L, XL / XXL
- Colour: Black
- Pros: Comfortable and breathable; good articulation; bulk-free design
- Cons: Not as much protection as other
Troy Lee Designs' Stage knee guards performed well and are a comfortable and highly breathable option.
They articulate particularly well when pedalling and fit well underneath trousers or shorts.
You can feel the edge of the D3O insert on your shin when your leg is fully extended, though, but we only really noticed it on longer rides. The coverage is decent but they don't have quite the same levels of protection as other options, as they only have a CE Level 1 rating.
We also found they've held up well after two years of riding, proving a durable option.
As well as not providing the same levels of protection, there are only three sizes, which we'd recommend trying before you buy.
- Read more: Troy Lee Designs Stage knee guards review
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How we test mountain bike knee pads
We test mountain bike knee pads on a variety of trails and in differing conditions to see how they perform in the real world.
Our testers spend a lot of their time in knee pads, having tested hundreds over the years, which puts them in good standing to sort the good from the bad.
Ultimately, our mountain bike knee pad reviews are based on the following:
- Comfort – are the pads a good fit, and do they feel natural around the knee?
- Breathability – how well-ventilated are the pads?
- Protection – what protection level are the pads rated to?
- Price – are the pads a good deal compared to the competition?
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MTB knee pad buyer’s guide
Velcro straps
Being able to tighten things down with a Velcro strap adds security, but also weight, warmth and inconvenience. If you want the best protection, though, Velcro-secured pads are likely a good option.
Fit is vital. A baggy, loose feel may aid comfort, but it can lead to the pad moving in a crash, decreasing the protection it offers. Some designs rely on a long upper sock with a silicone gripper to keep them in place.
Behind the knee
The area behind the knee is often where pads cause the most skin irritation. Thinner, more breathable materials tend to bunch and chafe less. Some pads have a cut-out here, which may add cost but can definitely help with comfort.
Articulated or not?
Your knees bend thousands of times during a ride and your pads need to be able to move with them. Soft pads articulate easily, but harder designs may have cut-outs to help them flex as you pedal.
Side protection
While the front-of-knee protection is most obvious, some designs have extra padding on the sides. This can really help when you bang your knee on the top tube!
Shin protection
Pads extend differing lengths down your shin – the deeper they go, the more protection they offer, but they'll also add more warmth and potentially more discomfort, if the pad itself isn’t particularly flexible.
Knee cup
This makes up the bulk of the pad’s protection and can be made from soft, foam-like materials, impact-hardening ones (such as D3O) or hard plastics. The protection is usually encased within the pad’s fabric and can be removable for washing
Ventilation
The trade-off for more security and protection tends to be less comfort and breathability. Unless you want to whip off your shoes at the top and bottom of every climb, your pads are likely to stay on throughout your ride. As such, you need a pair that doesn’t chafe on long climbs or get too sweaty when the sun comes out.
More protection
Knee pads are seen by many as necessary protection for tackling enduro and downhill trails, but if you're in the market for more protection, we also have lists bringing together the best mountain bike helmets and the best MTB elbow pads.
