The H. P. Knee/Shin protector offers the ultimate in knee and shin protection by utilizing injection molded custom plastic with a separate injection molded knee cap and shin guard. Full oversized Neoprene® trim makes this the ultimate in Knee/Shin protection for any serious racer.
Submitted by
Fermin Baez
a Downhiller
from Puerto Rico
Date Reviewed: February 15, 2005
Strengths: Tough. Lots of coverage not only upfront but also at the back of the calves where most knee/shin guards don't protect and exactly where those big O' pedals like to bite when you are unlucky enough to have a mishap.
Weaknesses: Uncomfortable: gotta get accustomed to them. They do slip, but is a matter of wearing them correctly.
Bottom Line:
If your priority is feeling comfortable while wearing full coverage protection, these are not for you. They are kinda hot, but you get accustomed to it (I live in a tropical island and I wear these coupled with a Rockgardn flak jacket in 80 and 90 degrees, and I wouldn't go riding without them). I've crashed in these knee/shin guards a number of times and my legs haven't even gotten the slightest bruise. I've also been inmune to pedal bites on the back of my calves. So they are doing exactly what I expect, that is fully protecting my legs. Lets face it, wearing full body armor will never be a picnic (it will be hot and uncomfy) but being a little uncomfortable is preferable to loosing skin or getting badly bruised.
Similar Products Used: Fox and Rockgardn comparable knee/shin guards.
Bike Setup: Santa Cruz Bullit with 2002 Monster T fork and 5th Element shock. Hozelfeller cranks, Evil 13 chain guard, XT equiped, Hayes 8" hydraulic brakes, Double Wide rims, Kenda tires... you get the picture.
Similar Products Used: thought i would upgrade from the kona pads to get more padding but these are all over the place, every time I crash the slide down or get turned around
Strengths: These shin guards stay in place very well, on the bottom of your legs. They protect the back of your legs from pedal bites. They have saved my shins many, many times.
Weaknesses: They are EXTREMLY hot. They make your legs sweat a lot and then the shin guards get very stinky. The velcro rubs your skin when you pedal, which is annoying and painful after a long day of runs.. The top of the guards will roll out of the way during a crash, and expose your knees to all sorts of abuse. But that seems to happen with a lot of other shin guards too.
Bottom Line:
Overall I have liked these shin guards. I would recomend them to others.They do protect your legs well, except in frontal, sliding crashes.And Maybe in a colder climate they would be better.
Strengths: huge, looks real tough, good protection
Weaknesses: bulky, uncomfortable, does not stay in place.
Bottom Line:
I ordered the Azonic because they were on sale at Jenson for 31.00. My friend already warned me that I will not like it since he have a Dianese and he like it a lot. So, when I recieved the Azonic I was surprised to see how big they were (I am 5'5")for me anyway. I tried them on and my first impression was very uncomfortable. The velcro were rubbing behind my knees so when you pedal you get this rash. I tried different ways to fit it in but it just would not stay in place. Maybe, if my legs were a bit longer it will be okay. Jenson was nice enough to take it back and pay for the shipping. I also ordered the elbow pads which are great and kept them. In short it's a great product but it's not for me. I end up ordering the Dianese which is 30 bucks more. I really liked how the Dianese fit when I me when I borrowed it from my friend. As far as product rating I will give it 5 chillies for protection since it protect even the back of your legs, for comfort 2 chillies, value 4 chillies. Good luck!
Strengths: Good product for the money. Protects the knee and shin very well and is durable.
Weaknesses: Hot, bulky, slides down, and the straps rub on back of leg which is very uncomfortable: got a rash from this.
Bottom Line:
Buy these pads if you want total protection and don't care about comfort. Don't by these pads if your looking for something light weight and stays in place. Overall, i use these every time i ride, but they are starting to annoy me because they are uncomfortable. Gonna change as soon as possible.
Similar Products Used: Fox 911 knee/shin guards = crap - falls down the minute you start riding. these are the older ones. dont know about the new ones.
Bike Setup: Super 8
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Siconico D
a Downhiller
from Flagstaff Az
Date Reviewed: December 25, 2001
Strengths: If it would fit, it's a good design.
Weaknesses: It doesn't fit
Bottom Line:
These came in the mail, and went back out the next day. \I don't know if it was just mine, but the stitching on the velcro/neoprene hurt the back of my knee like all get out. I went to a barely used pair of Roach DH and never looked back. Just try them on before purchase. (No more mail order clothes for me)
Submitted by
Tino
a Weekend Warrior
from Manchester, NH
Date Reviewed: October 11, 2001
Strengths: finally a pair of shinguards that actually stay in place!!, great construction, no more bloody shins, Azonic reputation
Weaknesses: get a little hot after a while, not the most comfortable things if you're doing a XC ride, kinda bulky
Bottom Line:
A great pair of shinguards for DH/Freeriding. Not so great for XC use. They stay in place perfectly and work great if you don't mind sweaty legs, I'm about 6'1 and ordered the L/XL size and their a bit too big, so I prefer them on over my DH pants. Just keep that in mind if you get these.
Similar Products Used: Fox 911 shinguards, other Fox shinguards
Bike Setup: 2001 RM Pipeline - Marzocchi, XT/LX, Race Race cranks, Maxxis MOFO DH tires, Easton Monkey bar, Hayes hydros, Ryhno Lite wheels
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Paul
a Downhiller
from San Francisco, CA
Date Reviewed: June 5, 2001
Strengths: These shin gaurds are great for jumping, downhilling, freeriding, you name it! The plastic molding really protects your shins and knees.
Weaknesses: Your legs get extreemely hot and uncomfortable but you get used to it. They sometimes start sliding off your leg, but if you are really hot the sweat holds them on just fine. Otherwise you get used to them so much you do not even know that you are wearing them.
Bottom Line:
These guards are great for all-around riding. I feel more confident doing drops and jumps when I have them on.
Submitted by
jason
a Downhiller
from north attleborough
Date Reviewed: May 24, 2001
Strengths: these pads saved my knees many times. the last time the cup cracked on the knee portion but left my knee unharmed. i am total grateful i was wearing these at the time. otherwise my knee would have been demolished.
Submitted by
James Rogers
a Cross Country Rider
from Mountain Lakes NJ
Date Reviewed: June 11, 2000
Strengths: Awesome protection, doesn't move, relatively cheap, good construction, not restricted to downhilling by movement problems but is heavy enough for DH
Weaknesses: as said, these are DAMN HOT. Neoprene doesn't breathe at ALL
Bottom Line:
These are great. They perform awesome. I have taken a few pedal strikes and one bad fall without a scratch on my body. This is in contrast to the Axo pads which, although cheap and nice, were not heavy enough and wandered while riding and if you crashed. I have the scar (an inch long gash from Gore mountain) to prove it. For a heavy XCer or DHer, these pads are the best.
Bike Setup: Schwinn Moab w/manitou XVert, C'dale R1000 and soon to be a Santa Cruz Bullit
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Dick
a Weekend Warrior
from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Date Reviewed: April 19, 2000
Strengths: Full leg protection, with hard shells. The neoprene moves well and doesn't bunch up too much. Way more protection than their little brothers!I got them for 70 Cdn.
Weaknesses: Damn Hot!! They tended to slide at first until they get broken in.
Bottom Line:
Theses are the greatest! With the hard shell I have never injured my knees which were beat to hell before. They are a bit warm, but the first hard dig you take you will forgive them for being hot.That is why they are still getting 5.
Submitted by
Jalapeno Bambino
a Weekend Warrior
from Toronto, ON, Canada
Date Reviewed: March 6, 2000
Strengths: Really good fit, comfortable, good straps, nice padding, great price
Weaknesses: Look a little bit like hockey pads, top wobbles a little bit
Bottom Line:
These pads are a great product! They fit nice, don't slide down at all (unlike Fox 911, which are the worst, most poorly constructed, most expensive pieces of trash imaginable) and are really cheap. ($40 Canadian at Duke's in Toronto.) They protect great, and do a good job of saving your knees from top crown. The top of the pads (knee cup) wobbles a little bit, and I wish that there was another strap there, but I love these pads. Azonic Rules! Good for freeriders and downhillers.
