Dainese Trail Skins Pro Knee Protectors

Product Information

It’s a solid idea, but seems to require a precise fit from the start, maybe more so than most other knee pads we’ve ridden in. The tab with Dainese logo got dog-eared, exposing the hooked section of the Velcro fastening. Ian Linton / Immediate Media

Pro-Shape 2.0 is inspired by the geometry of auxetic materials present in nature that, following an impact or stress, expand in all directions simultaneously, increasing the area of coverage.A matching 60€ pair of Trail Skins Air Elbow Guards give arms the same protection, again held in place by wide elastic bands with silicone grippers. Ok, thanks all. I think I do appreciate the sliding quality that the hardshell pads provide but good to know these do not rip apart. The neoprene of my iXS Dagger pads is starting to rip in places and even though it is no urgent reason to replace them, I'm already looking ahead at what to get next should they suddenly rip. Enduro-mtb.com/en did a big kneepad test a while ago (hardshell and softshell tests separately) and even though it seems the softer stuff is good, I still don't quite trust it. You only know when you go down, after all. The typical car-park test doesn't tell the full story. I recently got a Kali helmet and the people at Kali are really responsive and eager to discuss what's best and what's not. So I might need to drop them a line and hear their thoughts. Knee protection has progressed significantly since the days when I borrowed my sister’s Bike brand volleyball pads to ride down logging roads. The marshmallow-shaped pillows didn’t stay in place whether crashing or pedaling, making them more of a nuisance than they were worth. The new Trail Skins Pro Kneepads from Dainese have more tech woven in than my mountain bike did twenty-some years ago, and the innovations are focused on more than just protection. I rode first with the Pro version ( above) but never was super happy with my fit. Sizing down to S kept them from moving at all. But I never really liked the short velcro straps that had to be adjusted behind my leg where I couldn’t see them, preferring the more simple fit of the Air or Lite pads. mollow: Yeah, lbs vs online is a bit of a compromise either way. Online gets you more options, the lbs allow you to fit what they have available.

The flexible main padding that Dainese calls PRO SHAPE 2.0 is made of more holes than solids, allowing a massive amount of air through for warm rides. The pad conforms to the shape of your knee, to achieve the brand’s pedal-ready objective. I have yet to crash in these pads, but the protective material feels like it will sufficiently protect my tendons and bones once I do. The pads performed well, dampening the impact so that I could continue riding without much discomfort. However, my knee suffered an abrasion-based graze where the pads had rotated on my skin, and my knee was also sore and swollen for several days afterward. That is, for their way of testing. I'm not sure whether that's the complete story for me as it doesn't cover two (perceived) advantages that hard shell gives you. That is, they distribute that residual force over a larger area and the slide better (which for me is a good deal of what I want protection for). I think my pads take loads of crashes and replacement after 4 or 5 crashes, that could in some cases imply a single ride so that isn't feasible. Yet most of these crashes aren't big, mostly sliding out sessioning corners. Trying to hit them faster and faster up til failure.

Dainese Trail Skins lightweight MTB knee & body protection

More than just three levels of knee protection, the expanded Trail Skins family now includes two levels of elbow guards, two levels of chest protection, and a pair of padded shorts. Mix and match to get the best combo for your style of riding… Dainese Trail Skins Pro light mountain bike protection Dainese Trail Skins Pro Knee Guards Each of the molded viscoelastic pads designed to move with your joints – knees, elbows & shoulders – use the same ‘Auxagon’ tech pads like we saw in the debut of the Trail Skins family last year at Crankworx. Thin and open on the outside, they are able to flex in multiple directions with your body…

Now, a similarly constructed 75€ pair of Trail Skins Pro Elbow Guards offers the exact same protection tech for your arms. Each level of new third generation Dainese Trail Skins MTB protection starts with the same idea – lightweight & intricately vented Pro-Shape pads that stay close against the body and move with you as you pedal, delivering full protection while claiming to stay perfectly situated in place. c. Bike Connection Agency, photo by Luigi Sestili The family of Dainese Trail Skins protectors represents the perfect balance between rideability and protection, allowing the rider to take on any discipline with maximum freedom of movement and in accordance with the highest international safety standards. The Trail Skins Air elbow guard is constructed around the Pro-Shape 2.0 protector, inspired by the geometry of auxetic materials present in nature that, following an impact or stress, expand in all directions simultaneously, increasing the area of coverage. For now the Lite line only includes the 60€ Trail Skins Lite Knee Guards, that take an even more simplified approach. Dainese Trail Skins Lite Knee GuardsThe Trail Skins Air elbow guard is also constructed around the Pro-Shape 2.0 protector and shares the features of the knee guard. The elbow guard remains stable, even during intense activity, thanks to a very long transparent sleeve that extends to the bicep and a practical elastic at forearm height. XS - XL, €59,95

As for the padded protection shorts, they are the Trail Skins element I have used the least probably. They are comfortable, with super soft body fabric and a comfortable chamois, but I haven’t gotten the sense that the little hip pads offer much real benefit to me personally. They feel a bit odd when you pull the waistband of many regular trail short over top of them, but once in place they do their job & disappeared from my thoughts mostly. But again, I get the sense that sizing down would give me a more secure fit, especially in a crash. The Trail Skins Air knee guard is constructed around the Pro-Shape 2.0 protector, inspired by the geometry of auxetic materials present in nature that, following an impact or stress, expand in all directions simultaneously, increasing the area of coverage. The large protective section was particularly flexible once warmed up, either from the heat of my legs or the sun, and not uncomfortably stiff when cold.All of the latest Dainese Trail Skins pads are available now, direct from Dainese or through their international dealer network. Our personal suggestion is to find a shop where you can try them on, as a close and secure fit seems critical to get the most out of their comfort and flexibility while riding. I’d recommend trying the Trail Skins Pro before you buy them rather than just relying on Dainese’s size chart. The structure of the Pro-Shape 2.0 protector allows for maximum flexibility and adaptability whatever the knee position, tracing its movements throughout all phases of activity. It absorbs 83% of the force of an impact, rather than transmitting this to the knee. 55% of its surface area is completely open, ensuring ventilation and greater heat exchange during both the uphill and downhill phase. An ideal feature for riders who plan to take on long rides, even on the hottest of days. The family of Dainese Trail Skins protectors represents the perfect balance between rideability and protection, allowing the rider to take on any discipline with maximum freedom of movement and in accordance with the highest international safety standards. The ideal choice for riders who plan to take on long uphill and downhill sections when out riding. This inverts the hooked section so a part of it points outwards and snags onto the inside of riding trousers, shorts and bibs.