For many of us at BikeRadar, Troy Lee Designs Raid knee guards have become go-to knee pads for trail riding. Slip them on and the comfort is apparent straight away. Fortunately, nothing changes once pedalling.
- Best MTB knee pads
- Troy Lee Designs A1 MIPS Vertigo helmet review
- Best mountain bike pedals - a magnificent 7
- How to ride flat turns at maximum speed
A single Velcro strap helps prevent the pad lifting when your knee is bent, but it’s the ‘Fit Lock’ band that really helps it stay put. This is a thick polyurethane strap that wraps across the back of the Raid’s airy mesh backing and sits above the calf muscle, preventing the pad from working its way down your leg.
The Raid pads’ lightweight build and overall comfort mean they’ve seen their fair share of long stints in the saddle
The pre-shaped D3O knee cup helps with comfort and security even further. Coverage is good too, with the D3O wrapping around the knee nicely and extending down to cover the upper part of the shin. All of this is topped off with extra foam padding on either side for protection from awkward tumbles.
The Raid pads’ lightweight build and overall comfort mean they’ve seen their fair share of long stints in the saddle and, since an initial niggle after the first long ride, we’ve suffered no irritation since.
Considering just how much we’ve worn and washed them over the past few months, they’re holding up remarkably well too. Sizing does come up a little on the big side though.
