With an increasing range of the best kids mountain bikes out there, you can set your little ones up for serious fun on the trails. But they have to stay safe, whether from grazed knees and elbows or more serious crashes as the stakes get higher. With more and more kids enjoying riding, the market has upped their game in terms of comfort and style. We tested a range of pads and helmets on pedally, cross country style rides of over an hour, and on faster downhill trails, often in hot and muggy conditions. We looked for the most comfortable protection gea, looking for the holy grail of kids protection – we wanted to see if the kids could forget they were wearing protection at all! G-Form Youth Pro-x3 Elbow Guards Best kids elbow protection: comfortable elbow protection for the littlest arms. Sizes: 18 – 20cm or 20 – 24cm (bicep size) | Colour: Black | Rating: 9/10 Reasons to buy: These are slim fitting, and stay snug on the tiniest of elbows. They are light weight and have a wide gripper, meaning they don’t slip down. Reasons to avoid: The ‘moisture wicking’ is not as good as it could be and they get a bit warm. G-form make a good range of kids protection gear, and these elbow pads are part of a range that includes full arm sleeves, knee and shin pads. Unlike some we tested, these stay put on even the littlest arms. The grippers round the top have a thick line of silicone so they don’t slip down. The pad is light weight, grooved rubber so it flexes easily. They are just enough for smaller children to protect from grazes and bumps. The fabric is mostly nylon so they don’t breathe well and did get hot on the hottest rides. That said, there was no push- back on wearing these and they were rated as ‘cool’ by the 8 year old. Fox YTH Enduro Knee Sleeves Best kids knee pads: great for ‘enduro’ style rides, pedalling and descending fun Size: One size, roughly for children aged 8+ | Colour: Black | Rating: 9/10 Reasons to buy: These pads are supremely comfortable, designed for pedalling and staying ‘up’ even on long days out. Reasons to avoid: With only one size available, it’s worth trying them on if you can. The Enduro pads are lightweight and soft, meaning they flex around the knee and stay in place. There is a wide silicone gripper made that keeps the pads up, even with straight legs and lots of bouncing over roots and rocks. The mesh round the back of the knee is a nice touch, letting a bit of air flow circulate. The pad itself is made of tough foam and can be pulled out of its pocket so the sleeve can be washed. We loved these pads for rides with lots of climbing, even in the sweatiest depths of the heat wave. Alpinestars Paragon Lite knee protection Best for …Continue reading »
Best mountain bike protection gear for kids: helmets, knee pads, shoes and more - MBR
Best mountain bike protection gear for kids: helmets, knee pads, shoes and more - MBR
Best mountain bike protection gear for kids: helmets, knee pads, shoes and more - MBR
Best mountain bike protection gear for kids: helmets, knee pads, shoes and more - MBR
Best mountain bike protection gear for kids: helmets, knee pads, shoes and more - MBR
