The TSG Task VEP knee pads are at the upper end of the protection scale, with substantial padding.
Once on and snugged down with the upper strap your knee feels locked in tight – a horseshoe-shaped ridge at the top of the knee cap and anti-slip neoprene details see to that. They also reach further up your thigh and lower down your shins than most.
TSG claim the outer shell material works like skin, in that it doesn’t just grip in a crash and ragdoll you forward, or skid like a hockey puck. It’s meant to gradually slow you in a controlled fashion, which all sounds rather relaxing and agreeable.
Impact cushioning comes from the visco-elastic foam that moulds to your body with heat, but it’s not the same effect as impact-hardening D3O-type materials.
Below the pad sit small, removable lower-shin protectors (attached with Velcro) and an additional strap on the calf, which offer protection where flat pedals can spin back and make painful contact, which doesn’t sound nearly so agreeable.
On the downside they’re really warm, and their small sizing makes them more obtrusive to ride in.
This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.