The Grenade Pro II kneepads from SCOTT Sports provide some hefty knee protection, yet still manage to be comfortable to ride in and wear for several hours at a time
These are some chunky pads, with a longer padded section that extends down over the top of the shin for extra protection. They also incorporate padded sections on the inside and outside of each knee.
The SCOTT Grenade Pro II pads are pull-on rather than strap on, with a neoprene sleeve and Velcro tabs at the top and bottom of each pad to keep them in place. A mesh panel behind the knee does help provide a little ventilation, but ultimately like most pads these are quite warm to wear in hot weather. I did also experience a little discomfort on one side where the mesh seam rubbed, but readjusting the pad solved the problem. That said, the neoprene fabric does absorb the moisture so you don’t feel too sweaty when you’re riding.
Once on, and once they’ve got a bit damp through exertion, they are quite hard to get off again. I’ve had several amusing incidents, which involved me bracing myself against the side of the van while one or two friends tried to pull the pad off my leg. Happily, I’ve now got the removal technique down; pulling down from the bottom and pushing down from the top by turns seems to do the trick!
A handy feature on these pads is the ‘left/right’ label located on the front of the pads themselves. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve frequently managed to put my kneepads on the wrong way round (‘I’m sure this pad feels different somehow?’) so I’m appreciative of this detail.
In terms of sizing, I went for a medium and found the fit good. I’m in the region of 45cm around my leg just above my knee where the thigh starts to get wider, and 40cm at the top of my calf where the lower part of the pad sits.
The pads are fabric covered, and the knee portion has another layer of protection in the form of a rubberised pattern, which helps stop the fabric ripping. Several crashes later and everything seems okay on the pads I’ve tested, so far.
The protective pad itself on the SCOTT Grenade Pro II pads is the ubiquitous D30 foam. This stuff is relatively supple generally, but stiffens on impact. The bonus of this, apart from the fact it’s more comfortable to ride in, is that it can be reused, whereas hard pads should be replaced once they break or crack.
I’ve worn these for several types of ride; 3 hours at a trail centre, a few long all-mountain rides including walking and hike a bike sections, and a day in the park. In all cases, I found them great comfort-wise to wear and pedal in.
They’re probably a bit overkill if you’re just riding around gentle trails, but if you are prone to crashing like me, or if you want more protection for technical or rocky sections, then these are a good option.
VERDICT
Great for all mountain adventures or when you want more coverage and protection when you ride. These are easy to get on and stay in place securely when you ride, and the longer length gives some upper shin protection.
PROS
– Good all-round protection about the knee.
– Comfortable to ride in.
CONS
– Despite the mesh ventilation, these can get quite hot
– Hard to get off!
Price: RRP £94.99
Sizes: S, M, L
More info: SCOTT Sports
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