Fox’s latest kneepads are without doubt their best yet. Beefy lateral pads, pre-formed dense shells that cover the patellas, and bomb-proof construction make the Launch Pro a winner for the price.
Like the more common SixSixOne pads, the Launch Pro slips on over the leg and is secured by twin elastic straps with a hook-and-loop closure. Rubber end tags make it easier to get them on and off with gloves on.
They have a larger hole at the rear of the knee than most kneepads, and along with the curved shape, this makes them way more comfortable because they don’t bunch up or become restrictive when you’ve been riding for a prolonged time.
Pedalling movement remains unhindered and pinch-free, and oversized perforations in the Neoprene help with breathability. They’re a little shorter below the knee than most pads, so they look slightly cooler, but longer above the knee for improved protection and great stability.
You can crank the straps up fairly tight without them becoming restrictive for a good security-comfort balance. The fabric is friendly to your skin too – some other pads have had a few of our testers itching with sweat rashes, but this one has only thumbs up to date.
The thick yet flexible cap provides plenty of impact resistance too, and the other padding around the main cap will deflect all but the very worst impacts. Their light weight (396g/pair) makes these true 'go anywhere' pads.
A final neat touch is the Fox Head logo at the bottom of the pads – it stays visible even under long shorts. This could mean the tide will turn on the sea of 661 logos you see all over the place.