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After a helmet, a pair of the best mountain bike knee pads is probably the wisest protection to use. That\u2019s because your knees are generally one of the first \u2013 and most painful \u2013 parts of the body to hit the ground in a crash.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Knee pads vary wildly, though. Some are super-lightweight sleeves, more for scuff protection than big hits, while others wouldn\u2019t look out of place on a motocross bike. As such, the padding can vary from simple Kevlar-wrapped foam through to high-tech materials that are malleable until hit and then seemingly magically harden up, to hard-plastic skid plates covering impact-absorbing materials.<\/p>\n
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, while others have Velcro straps so you can cinch them down over your thighs and calves.<\/p>\n
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 don\u2019t chafe on long climbs or get too sweaty when the sun comes out.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve taken the pads in this list on both short spins and longer cross-country<\/a> rides to find out which pads go unnoticed on longer rides, and which get the sweatiest. While protection is vital, if pads don\u2019t feel good you\u2019re less likely to wear them, so comfort has taken equal precedence in our reviews.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re in the market for protection, we also have lists bringing together the best mountain bike helmets<\/a> and the best MTB elbow pads<\/a>.<\/p>\n Being able to tighten things down with a Velcro strap adds security, but also weight, warmth and faff. If you want the best protection, though, Velcro-secured pads are likely a good option.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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!<\/p>\n Pads extend differing lengths down your shin \u2013 the deeper they go, the more protection they offer, but also more warmth and potentially more discomfort too, if the pad itself isn\u2019t particularly flexible.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div> <\/section>What to look for in MTB knee pads<\/h2>\n
Velcro straps<\/h3>\n
Behind the knee<\/h3>\n
Articulated or not?<\/h3>\n
Side protection<\/h3>\n
Shin protection<\/h3>\n
Best MTB knee pads in 2022<\/h2>\n
Sweet Protection<\/h3>