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Submitted by
Bryce
a Weekend Warrior
from Columbus, Ohio
Date Reviewed: October 18, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Dillon and Vultures Knob | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$35.00 | | Purchased At: | Cambria | | Strengths: | Light Weight Breathable. Very thin...Long sleeve shirt can be pulled over them. Secure fit...provided you get the right size. | | Weaknesses: | If youre looking for protection against heavy hits....this is not the elbow or knee pad you want. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Jamis XLT 2.0 frame with Marzocci Bomber front and swinger rear. Hayes Hyd. disc brakes. XT and XTR components. | | Bottom Line: | I purchased these pads for the minimal protection and comfort they provide. I dont like to ride with pads, but these work great. They provide enough protection from trees and rocks, to prevent scrapes, which is what I wanted, Something to soffen the initial impact. Theyre great for that use. Do not purchase these if your looking for a pad with maximum protection. I gave a four for value, because they cant cost more than $2 to make, but what else would we expect. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Bob Soper
a Weekend Warrior
from Mission Viejo, CA
Date Reviewed: October 17, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Aliso/Woods | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$45.00 | | Purchased At: | PerformanceBike.com | | Strengths: | fit, esp. forearm/elbow. Shin coverage for knee pads helps when going down tight/overgrown trails. | | Weaknesses: | knee/shin pads tend to slip down exposing the top of the knee, fairly warm in the summer, need to grab by the plastic shell to avoid tearing neoprene. | | Similar Products Used: | skin, bone, ... | | Bike Setup: | heck--strap the knee pads onto your camelback and the elbow pads around one of your down tubes | | Bottom Line: | Buy the Skinz Pro pads with the plastic inside. I have been in two or three dozen crashes/bailouts while wearing these and always come away okay (the neoprene + plastic shell is pretty tough). True story: on a fairly technical trail recently (Telonix) my front tire got caught up in a rut, whipped my handlebar around, and slammed my knee into a freaking boulder--I didn't feel a thing! Have also turned too sharp and fallen knee first into the ground without getting hurt. Just don't use for extended XC rides, as they will get fairly warm. As someone below said, order a smaller size than what you think you might need, as the straps are also neoprene and will stretch. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Johnson Leroy
a Cross Country Rider
from MT
Date Reviewed: September 29, 2000 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$70.00 | | Purchased At: | Price Point | | Strengths: | Well made, holds steady and covers most of the important parts of the leg. | | Weaknesses: | Very hot, doesn't cover sides of leg in needed areas where bone could be damaged by rock contact. | | Similar Products Used: | azonic (one size fits all exept for my size), Lizard skins (only covers shin) | | Bike Setup: | '98 Raven, Myself: 6'1" 250lbs. and having difficulties finding items that fit. If it says one size fits all, forget it! Don't buy it! | | Bottom Line: | There to damn hot. My legs were soaked with slimy sweat after riding in the cool Montana mountains. I'd say about 25% or more of my strenght was absorbed by the lack of ventalation on the climbs. Imagine these in Moab! They bunch slightly under the knee. However, in my search thus far, the Skinz convertable Signature Series has been the most comfortable and well made. Going downhill, I felt safe and confident. So for downhill there great, but for XC there very hot and slimy. I found the skinz web sight (Lycos Search Engine) that shows all their products. They make a pro series that Price Point doesn't cary and as far as I could find Skinz is the only place that sells them. My plans are to try them (pro series) if can get a set. | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sam Lowe
a Cross Country Rider
from Phoenix, Arizona
Date Reviewed: June 28, 2000 | | Favorite Trail: | Roller Coaster | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Strengths: | They have different models. I have the Pro-Series Pads. These have a layer of plastic in the pad. They generally stay put. Will definitely prevent skin rash and nasty cuts when you "auger in." Improve confidence when things get sketchy. | | Weaknesses: | Hot in the summer, but I think this is all pads regardless of brand. And remember, this is Phoenix. | | Similar Products Used: | None | | Bike Setup: | Hardtails | | Bottom Line: | I really like these pads. Full downhill protection is too much for XC. I don't care for "skin only savers" - if you are going to wear pads, wear something that will help against rocks, trees, cactus, etc.
While these pads aren't cheap, I've found that you don't think too much about the expense in that quiet moment between "Oh &%#$ I'm going down," and the actual impact.
I'm lucky, Skinz is located here in Phoenix. Great people! They were able to adjust the fit for me. I also suggested a knee only pro-pad instead of the knee/shin combination which was really hot. Not only did they make one for me, they are going to add it to their product line. That's great customer response. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Butch
a Weekend Warrior
from Norwalk, CT
Date Reviewed: December 26, 1999 | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
Light weight. Stay in place. Washable!!! Bearable in Hot conditions. | | Weaknesses: |
Stink (after a few rides) and I mean stink. Worse than my shorts :-) | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bike Setup: |
Specialised FSR | | Bottom Line: | Work well for x-country. My paid for themselves the very first day I rode with them. I would have cracked a knee cap without them. The protection is not sufficient for the 15 foot drop-off wackos out there, but it is a good compromise between weight, comfort, mobility, and adequate protection for XC riding (maybe even light free-ride). Best thing - after a full year of use, they stay up where they need to protect. I am actually a bit surprised!
I am glad I got mine. One of the best rations of utility for $ in the MTB world. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Barry
a Racer
from See ya in St. Louis, screwy!
Date Reviewed: May 31, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
ones with dirt, some rocks, trees and grass | | Duration Product Used: |
1 Year | | Strengths: |
they do what they are supposed to | | Weaknesses: |
loose fit | | Similar Products Used: |
none | | Bottom Line: | I wish I had bought these in a smaller size, simply because they tend to slip down after awhile. But overall, I would say that these things may have paid for themselves at least once by protecting me in a major crash. They are a little hot to be wearing in warm weather, but they make great leg and arm warmers in cool weather riding. They do not hinder your pedding too much for recreational riding, but I would not recomend them for XC racing. I give them 5 stars for being what they are...low cost, low impact protection. If you want to save a few bucks by staying out of the ER, or if you just feel like its time for you to start riding over your head, buy these babies. | | Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Scott
a Cross-Country Rider
from Chapel Hill, NC
Date Reviewed: March 28, 1999 | | Favorite Trail: |
Hobby Park, NC | | Duration Product Used: |
less than 1 month | | Strengths: |
Light weight, can be wrn as a upper leg and shin guard | | Weaknesses: |
not for serious downhillers | | Bike Setup: |
'99 Klein Mantra Race | | Bottom Line: | I have been looking for some mild leg protection but most of what I have found is clearly made for serious downhillers and not for XC bikers. This suits my needs completely. Light and unobtrusive but protects my leg from gashes and bruises. I do not know the manufacturer except that they were made in Phoenix. I bought them at a Performance Bike shop in Chapel Hill. | | Overall Rating: |
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