Knee/shin guards

[Verskis]

What knee/shin guards would fit the following criteria:
-Stay on place (during riding and during crashing) even on skinny calves
-Do not chafe the back of the knee
-Offer some protection to the sides of the knee also

I don't mind the hotness of the pads, and I don't plan to do anything but DH with them, so they don't have to offer all-day pedaling comfort, I just want that they do not chafe the skin off the back of the knees.

After reading Kidwoo's review of the Lizardskins Softcell pads I am really interested in them, but could woo or anybody else using them give some advice on sizing? I am about 180.5 cm tall (that's 5'11" for all the people that do not understand international standard units) with shortish legs, pretty skinny calves but more athletic thighs. I've been using POC VPD kneepads in size medium (retiring those to trail bike and BMX duties only), and they've been a pretty good fit, snug in the thigh but slightly loose below the knee. Should I get S/M or L/XL? Probably the smaller size would be better?

Also the Alpinestars MOAB and Nukeproof Critical knee/shin guards look good, can anybody compare these two against the Lizardskins?
Or do you have any other suggestions?

[boylagz]

Im currently on Fox Launch Pro knee pads. Best Ive ever used. Stays in place, outstanding coverage and not hot at all, even for the amount of padding it offers (good side coverage). If you want some shin pro get the Launch Pro knee/shin. Ive been on 661 Kyles, one of the 661 knee/shins, AStars SLC kevlar knees...

Good luck.

[DMdh]

Im currently on Fox Launch Pro knee pads. Best Ive ever used. Stays in place, outstanding coverage and not hot at all, even for the amount of padding it offers (good side coverage). If you want some shin pro get the Launch Pro knee/shin. Ive been on 661 Kyles, one of the 661 knee/shins, AStars SLC kevlar knees...

Good luck.

I have the fox launch pro too and they are perfect. Best Ive ever used.

[Mo(n)arch]

The new Scott pads should be awesome. Basically like the TLD Tbones only with complete d3o material. SUper comfy, stay in place and offer side protection.
They are on the warmer side, though.

[Verskis]

The new Scott pads should be awesome. Basically like the TLD Tbones only with complete d3o material. SUper comfy, stay in place and offer side protection.
They are on the warmer side, though.

Too bad they offer only knee pads, not knee/shin. I am perfectly happy with my POC's for knee-only protective needs.

Those Fox knee/shin pads might be good also. Do they have hard plastic cup on the knee under the fabric cover?

I'm not sure if I want a hard plastic cup on the surface, or do I want the surface to be something softer. Hard cup is good for sliding when riding with shorts, but softer cups are gentler to long pants when crashing.

[Verskis]

Seems like the Foxes might not be that good after all, some bad reviews here (check the comments also)
http://all-mountain-next.blogspot.fi...ction.html?m=1

[ustemuf]

Those are not the right Fox launches.. these are:

http://shop.foxhead.com/store/produc.../6912/cat60004

[MinorThreat]

I'm still sold on the 661 Pros. Unfortunately, One discontinued them; but there are still a few places that have stock. I did a little mini-review here once to show how they worked for me with my scrawny chicken-legs:

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/sho...=1#post3572454

[Foxbat]

I tried a number of hard plastic faced knee/shin guards and had quite a bit of trouble finding something that would stay put in a crash (damn you TLD Brian Lopes pads!) and not chafe the backs of my knees. My friend recommended I try the Lizardskins Softcell pads and they fit the bill. Not too hot either for a day of shuttling in hot San Diego either.

As for sizing, my build is similar to your's and I tried both sizes and found the L/XL model provided the best coverage but the straps were a bit long. I took them to a local tailor to shorten the straps and they were perfect!

[Sandwich]

Pretty happy with my Kali Aazis 130s...They're really similar to the newer fox launch pros. They offer some side protection in key areas, but not a ton. Not a lot of pads do, but I typically haven't fallen sideways in my many years of riding, the impact is usually from face first sliding or knee impacts, so the light padding is sufficient. The kalis are very comfortable and surprisingly stay in place. I was kind of between sizes and kind of wish I went down in size, but I could barely pull those on.

They are sooooooooooo much more comfortable than my raceface/roach pads, it's like I wasn't wearing anything.

[kidwoo]

Verskis: I still love those lizard skins. I've had those things on for 12 hours at a time and have even left them on to stay warm one night to deal with a shuttle truck mess up. No sore spots, ever. They really are the most comfortable pads I've ever had that aren't useless when crashed on.

I understand why people like the launch ones but one seriously out of control ragdoll with side impacts and their weaknesses become apparent real quick like. Without sitting on top of your foot, those things have nothing keeping them in place. That rarely happens but when it does, you might as well be wearing nothing. And they don't protect the top of your knee very much because that little flap doesn't conform to a bent leg. The lizard skins aren't fantastic in that regard either but they're a lot better than most just because you get get them really attached to your leg.

If you and I were on the same continent I'd just mail you the pair of launches I have. I really don't like them. They're like wearing a sheet of stiff cardboard that only covers your shin.........with flimsy elastic for straps.

[Verskis]

If you and I were on the same continent I'd just mail you the pair of launches I have. I really don't like them. They're like wearing a sheet of stiff cardboard that only covers your shin.........with flimsy elastic for straps.

Thanks for the offer, but I wouldn't want any useless stuff to collect dust

The Lizardskins are on the top of my list, I'd just like more info on the sizing. Which size do you have?
According to the sizing guide here http://www.xsportsprotective.com/liz...-kneeshin.html
I would need the smaller size.

The local shops do not sell them. One Finnish store ( couple of hours away) sells them, but I can't be arsed to make the trip to try the pads.

[Sandwich]

Just to be clear:
Fox lunch:


Fox lunch pro:


people always mix em up and fox was super-smart by naming them exactly the same thing.

[Deano]

the alpine stars moab do it for me, ticks all the boxes.

not cheap tho.

best knee/shin guards i have used.

[MinorThreat]

Just to be clear:
Fox lunch: . . . .

You're making me hungry - - I thought you said 'box lunch.'