Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
Each pad has two wide elasticated hems to hold it up when you are riding, but the upper hem gets an additional silicone gripper – in a dot matrix design – to stop it sliding. The Sam Hill pads have a fairly substantial profile due to the generous coverage, which means there are more streamlined pads out there. That said, they fit well under riding pants, and don't give the feel of being oversized or cumbersome. They pedal well, too. On my initial ride they slightly pinched behind my knees, but since then have become my go-to. Internal grippers are often used to help lightweight pads stay in place. As long as the fit is correct, these will go virtually unnoticed when you’ve got them on and can easily be worn all day. Fit This low-weight pad rides just like it with exceptional comfort and flexibility. While the insert doesn't have the same anchored feeling derived from a concave insert, it does offer a lot of freedom as the fit lets your knee move uninhibited. The other pads aren't restrictive, but the lighter model does feel distinctly freer. This is a nicely designed, high-quality knee pad that comes in individual sizes with a comfortable smart-tech insert offering loads of protection. Breathability is great, and even though a little on the expensive side, the quality and construction are both first rate.
I'll admit I'm not too worried about my knee pads getting dirty, but if you're obsessed with keeping your gear clean it does take a thorough washing rather than the occasional brush off to keep dirt from showing up in all the nooks and crannies of the main pad. The protection has been good but sliding crashes have not been good, that's what killed my first set, I slid on a gravelly trail and it pulled the pad down and ripped the upper cuff to shreds. Had a pretty good scrape from that, but I'm sure it would have been a lot worse without them. Had a couple other big crashes and was very thankful I was wearing them.Who's this item for: These pads are perfect for general Trail riding and hardcore Enduro racing. The lightweight design is very pedal friendly but can also be relied upon to protect your knees and stay in place during those inevitable crashes. Price. 90€ for what is essentially a set of knee-warmers with a certified cap and some extra foam is pretty brutal. I get that new products cost money to produce, especially for smaller companies, but 90€ is a pretty damn big number. These better last a really long time.
Developed with Sam Hill, these are for aggressive trail and enduro riders who seek a lightweight and protective set of knee pads. Then I had a pair of IXS Flow Evos that have gotten a lot of positive mention in this comment section. For me, I think I'm maybe kind of between sizes? The smalls, trying them on at the shop were like, I could barely get them on, so I bought the mediums. But it didn't take long for them to stretch out and become too baggy up top. The calf strap would hold the pad generally in place, but the top would slide and bunch up and just generally make me way too aware of their presence. A hard shell (think DH/motocross helmet) - has an outer shell made typically of Carbon, Glass Fibre or ABS. The shell protects the EPS foam core from puncture and absorbs energy on impact. A typical micro shell helmet (think XC/trail/road helmet) does not have a substantial outer shell, as a consequence provides inferior protection. 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:
More Products
Many pads use mesh fabrics and cut-out sections on the inner arm to improve breathability. Perforated pads are also common to further aid cooling. Designed to keep weight down the compression fit, the slip-on design fits higher on the thigh than most pads. An internal silicone strip keeps the pads from slipping down. Even though these pads do breathe well, it is important to remember that the super long sleeve will never be quite as cool as a shorter sleeve. These pads cover so much of your leg that they are inherently just a bit warmer. A shorter sleeve with more exposed skin may be a better choice for warmer climates. Durability After that, POC VPD 2.0, which were better coverage, held in place better with the two velcro straps, and are generally much burlier than the Airs. Better side coverage too. They have the same gripper material that I hated on the Air, but for whatever reason, it didn't cause the same issues—probably a function of them staying in place better. But, they're hotter, heavier and bulkier than what I wanted.
According to POC, the VPD Air Legs is a pull-on knee pad aimed at riders looking for minimal padding and protection, but with high-level comfort and breathability. To achieve this, the knee pad combines a lightweight material body but with a high-tech VPD protective insert. Just as an aside, the EN1621-1 certification allows a residual force of 3.5 tonnes (presumably over any amount of surface area? I couldn't find more info so please let me know what's up). That's still quite a bit.Quite a few pads in the 7 Protection range feature top downhill rider Sam Hill's signature, and the Lite is sort of the baby bear of the family – in the sense that it has the lowest protection level and the lightest weight.Like the regular Sam Hill pad reviewed above, the Lite features an SAS-TEC protector and similar Lycra construction (albeit with less lateral protection), coupled with slimmer design and a lower price point. They don't run as cool as some lightweight guards, but considering the level of protection on offer, the Sam Hills regulate temperature and sweat well. We think this comes from the strategically placed airflow holes in the SAS-TEC pad itself; when riding it's possible to physically feel the air being drawn through to keep rider operating temperatures as fresh as possible. On the subject of temperature, it's worth noting the SAS-TEC pad does require some extra time to warm up to its flexible state on colder days but, other than being slightly stiffer up the first climb of the day, we didn't find this to be an issue. Next up ION K-Lite: These were ok, except for being really warm for a "light" pad. I found myself sweating more than normal (and that is a lot) which was a no go for me. I guess I could have lived with that but aside from the heat they were too big for me... away they went. Protection Style: The Sas-Tec protective pad is made from a dense heat moulding foam that conforms to the shape of your knee for a perfect fit without any pressure points or rubbing. The extra padding around the knee cap provides extra protection against side impacts. 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.
I took the plunge on these (a very spendy, especially for me, 90€ plunge) after trying a couple of contenders to start with;Low leg protection is minimal, but the Soldier 2 is slim enough to wear under a pair of trail pants or waterproof trousers and thanks to the mesh front panel and perforated insert, it didn't heat up during rigorous exercise while on test. Like the Sweet Protection pads listed above, the Sam Hill knee pads feature the same impact-absorbing SAS-TEC foam cup that stays flexible for pedaling comfort but hardens up upon impact. The removable pad provides plenty of protection over the knee and upper shin, and this pad is definitely one of the longest we've tested. Protection level: These pads offer light to moderate protection and exceed the CE EN 1621-1:2012 Level 2 standards. We tested the Sam Hill in size L. For reference, here are relevant leg measurements of this tester: Thigh circumference (measured 15cms above the knee): 470mm, calf circumference (measured 10cms below the knee): 380mm. Things That Could Be Improved
Great Deal 
New Comment