They can be a bit stiff until they warm up in colder weather but once they warm up they mold to your knee. I’ve done many 30 plus mile rides with them and they just disappear. Even after the ride I’m in no rush to get them off either. I can’t say that about any other pad I’ve owned. The thing with these pads is they are so comfortable that I wear them all the time. So here I am with a very expensive set of "pedalable" pads with Sam Hill's name on them. Yeah, they are comfortable. They do breath pretty well too. In fact I would say that out of what I've tried so far these are probably the best of most worlds. They're breathable like the Alpinestars but have more side protection. They're hotter than the aforementioned but much cooler than the ION's. All in all I'd say these are a good compromise pad for riders looking for a little more than just a knee cap. Oh, and the recommended large fit me pretty well too (lower silicone bands are somewhat loose but ok). Oh, and they may not fit the best under all pairs of pants. That rubbing the knee feeling, I get earlier when its winter and I'm wearing my Endura Spray pants. The smart insert adds around 30 percent to the cost, but the great fit of the VPD Air Legs – albeit with a gripper that's slightly too tight –makes that much easier to live with. So if you want lightweight trail protection and POC’s fabled build quality, this is the pad for you. The Trail knee pads use a sleeve design to hold the pads in place and house an 'active polymer' insert from Rheon Labs. This insert has non-Newtonian properties which means it's flexible when pedaling but stiffens upon impact.

I've worn the TLD Stage pads and they are nice but the material isn't as protective and they aren't any less warm than the these. HOWEVER they do wrap around your knee nicely unlike these. Developed with Sam Hill, these are for aggressive trail and enduro riders who seek a lightweight and protective set of knee pads. My only complaint, is that for me and my bodyshape/type, the pads can start to rub/irritate the outer edge of the knee a touch on longer pedaling days (15-20mi+, with 2000 - 3000ft of climbing). Usually thats not a problem for me, and in the rare instance that it has happened, I've just pulled the pad down around my knees for the rest of the climb. But it is worth noting.

It all comes down to both the material of the sleeve and whether it features any perforation or other ventilation. Pads with more ventilation features will generally be more breathable, and therefore comfortable. Bulkier and more protective pads tend to fasten with Velcro straps. Some riders prefer Velcro closures because they allow precise adjustments and provide an undeniably secure fit.

The Sam Hill is EN1621-1:2012 LEVEL 2, Type B certified. What does this mean? There are two levels of protection that can be certified Level 1 and Level 2. Level 1 allows for ≤35KN to be transmitted to the rider whilst level 2 allows a max of ≤20 KN to be transmitted to the rider. Type A or B refers to the area of protection, Type B giving greater coverage than Type A. Where 7IDP win is that we make Level2 Type B pads that are more comfortable than our competitors Level 1 Type A pads! The Sam Hill knee pads remain comfortable during long days in the saddle and offer ample protection for even aggressive trail riding duties. Like the Transition pads before, expect to see the updated Sam Hill pads popularity increase out on the trails this year because like it’s predecessor, its light and comfortable but also does it’s job well.The Scott Soldier 2 is a lightweight pull-on sleeve with a smart-tech D30 insert (like the Fox Launch D30 above) which automatically molds to your knee contours and stiffens on landing. One of the downsides of the D3O insert is it’s wipe clean-only, so it must be removed when you wash the knee pads. Also, during testing, the insert's lower edge caused some shin chafing. The fit for me is really good, I put them on and forget about them, even on long rides, even on 90+ degree days. That's not to say they don't get hot, but I feel it's tolerable. And they do not slide down at all for me, which is key. I think the extra tall sleeve is the biggest reason for this. Protection) warrants all original 7iDP products for a period of one year to be free of any defects in workmanship or materials. The warranty does not extend to any damage experienced through crashing, misuse, abuse, negligence, poor fit, modification or alteration or if used other than in the manner intended. USG Inc. warrant all original 7iDP products for a period of one year to be free of any defects in workmanship or materials. The warranty does not extend to any damage experienced through crashing, misuse, abuse, negligence, poor fit, modification or alteration or if used other than in the manner intended. 7iDP make no other expressed or implied warranties or guarantees. 7iDP shall not be liable for any incidental or consequential damages. If you believe your 7iDP product has a potential warranty problem: