Fox Launch Pro D3O knee pads review
Good, reliable pads that won't slip
GBP £110.00 RRP | AUD $190.00 | USD $130.00 Skip to view deals
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Fox’s new pedalling-friendly pads are some of the priciest out there but include some nice features for the money.
At the heart of the pad is a well-shaped D3O knee-cup wrapped in hard-wearing material. On top sits a thick plastic cap, attached via Velcro. The idea is that the plastic will slide, not snag, during a crash and prevent the pad from sliding down your leg.
The neoprene sleeve is relatively thick but heavily perforated to prevent overheating. A wide silicone strip at the top helps stop slippage and there are two Velcro straps to tailor the fit. However, the lower of these didn’t offer quite enough adjustment on my medium sample, which otherwise fitted perfectly.
Any doubts that the plastic cap might hinder pedalling evaporated once I set out. The Launch Pros are incredibly comfy even on long stints in the saddle. They didn’t slip down once and don’t get as hot as you might expect, given the coverage and burly build.
While I like the idea of being able to remove the plastic cap, I never felt the need to (except when washing). Plus, without it in place, the Launch Pros do look a bit odd, with a patch of exposed Velcro.
Authors
Rob Weaver is BikeRadar's technical editor-in-chief. Rob manages all of the testing here at BikeRadar and across our magazines, Mountain Biking UK and Cycling Plus. Rob first graced the pages of MBUK back in 2001 when working as a freelance writer and went on to start testing bikes for the title in 2007. In 2010 he joined the team full-time and has been keeping a close eye on all things test-related ever since. Rob’s expansive knowledge of bikes comes courtesy of his passion for racing. He cut his teeth racing cross-country mountain bikes in the early 90s before finding his feet in downhill. After many years competing on the UK national circuit (including a year attempting to race UCI DH World Cups), Rob realised his know-how and passion for bike setup, tech and writing clearly outweighed his racing ability. A degree in sports technology and decades of riding experience all help to give Rob a thorough understanding of what’s needed to create a great bike or product. While Rob’s a mountain biker at heart and never happier than when he’s sliding down a Welsh hillside, he’s more than happy to put the miles in on the road or gravel bike, too.
