The best mountain bike knee pads can look good on you. But these guards play a very important role that far outweighs the value of looking good on the trails.
In fact, they’re the difference between hurting your knees and getting back home safe in case you ever fall from your bike by accident.
Like the best bike helmets, these knee guards are a must-have. And here are some options to consider if you don’t own a pair yet.
Contents
Top Rated MTB Knee Pads Comparison & Rating Chart
Preview | Product Name | Material | Closure | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67% Polyester, 25% Polyurethane, 8% Spandex | pull-on | extra small to extra large | ||
| neoprene, polyurethane, mesh | pull-on | extra small to very large | ||
| Viscoelastic polymer | LoopLock closures | small to very large | ||
| Perforated Neoprene | open-back construction | large | ||
| perforated neoprene | pull-on | small to extra large | ||
| PP, PE with breathable Polyester sleeves | pull-on | small to extra large |
Best Mountain Bike Knee Guards - Cheap & Affordable Knee Pads
1. Alpinestars Paragon Knee Guard
Protect your knee from injury with Alpinestars Paragon Knee Guard the same way you protect your head with a mountain bike helmet.
The pad is made of polyester, spandex, and polyurethane in just the right proportion, so you get a better stretch and a good fit on the go.
One of the best things about Alpinestars Paragon is that it’s extremely lightweight.
You won’t even notice that you have it on until after your ride.
It features a pre-shaped ergonomic design, which can fit and align to the knee of any rider and even offer better performance in any riding position.
2. Troy Lee Designs Raid Knee Guard
The last thing you want to worry about is falling off your mountain bike and hurting your knees. And that’s why it’s important to get Troy Lee Designs Raid Knee Guard.
Troy designs this to be as durable as possible, not to mention ensuring that they actually provide the protection your knees need in case you fall.
The pair features a neoprene and mesh build. On the inside is a padding that’s tough enough to stand up to bruises, tough enough to ensure the trails don’t tear your knees and leave you bleeding in the event of an impact.
This pad wouldn’t be effective without the polyurethane calf band and the silicone gripper.
These play the role of ensuring the pad stays in place so you can worry less about it falling and focus fully on your riding.
3. IXS Flow Evo+ Knee Pads
IXS Flow Evo+ is one of the best knee pads in the market, mostly because it was developed with the help of Hans Rey, the world’s best legend in mountain biking.
The pad is somewhat thin and comes in five different sizes.
It feels comfortable on your knee and it provides enough protection without adding weight to your body.
When it comes to design, this one is made of viscoelastic polymer, which is good at absorbing a lot of force if you ever fall from your bike.
And it does that from all direction, with a goal of keeping you safe in the process.
It also includes an anti-bacterial aero mesh, which not only provides an additional layer of comfort but also is breathable enough to provide accurate airflow required to keep your feet cool and dry.
4. Race Face Ambush Guard
We aren’t saying you’ll fall from your mountain bike. But you need prior knee protection just in case something like that ever happens.
Besides, why risk smashing your knees when you can use Race Face Ambush Guard for protection?
The best thing about these ones is that they’re easy to put on and take off; you don’t have to remove your mtb cycling shoes.
While Race Face Ambush Guard fits well, the lower Velcro may feel short for some riders.
Plus, it’s only available in large size, which means your options on size are definitely limited.
You’ll love these because they’re lightweight, you won’t even notice you have them on.
5. Demon Hyper X D30 Mountain Bike Knee Pads
Demon Hyper X D30 is one of the best pair of MTB knee bad. Made with the primary goal of offering the best protection possible, these are the right option to wear even if you don’t anticipate a fall.
And these aren’t just good for mountain biking. You can use them every time you plan to engage yourself to high impact activities that require toe protection.
It features an abrasion resistant, lightweight Kevlar panel, which plays the role of absorbing shock in the event of an impact.
Inside the pad is a soft terry cloth and extra padding, which provide the comfort you need, no matter how long you have these on.
Add to this the perforated neoprene venting and what you get for the price are breathable bike pads.
6. JBM BMX Bike Knee Pads
Why risk hurting your knees in a cycling binge when you can actually protect yourself with the JBM BMX?
These are high quality pads made of polypropylene and polyurethane with an additional polyester sleeve.
Together, these materials help to manage impact in case of a fall, so you can worry less about injuries and focus on bike riding.
