Bike
MTB
What are your best options when it comes to mountain bike protection?
We break down all the kit you need for protection out on the trails, and why it's important.
If you’re new to mountain biking, you’ll probably have noticed a few things. Mountain biking is fun. It’s addictive. Turns are great. Jumps are amazing. The ground is hard.
While many more experienced riders tend to pare down on the protective kit – you’ll notice most folk rocking simply knee pads, gloves and a decent helmet (plus the rest of their clothing of course) – an upward learning curve warrants and indeed necessitates protecting yourself from head to toe.
What are the options? Is it even possible to cover every breakable body part in the quest for bounciness? Actually, pretty much yes.
We’ve selected a few of our favourites for each body area below. These aren’t in any way the best in terms of budget, but if you value your health and would prefer to get back on that horse once it’s bucked, we recommend looking at these or equivalents from other established brands.
Here’s our best mountain bike protective kit, from toe to head:
ANKLES
G-Form Pro ankle guard
© G-Form
661’s Race Brace Pro ankle supports are the stuff of legend among those with wiry pins. Great if you’re carrying an old injury, this can also be found on the feet of many top freeriders – the supreme support helps them deal with nagging injuries and massive hucks.
There are few other ankle guards available, but if you’re after something lightweight then G-Form’s Pro Ankle Guard will deflect stray rocks and the like.
KNEES
Scott’s Grenade knee pads are simply unbeatable in terms of protection and comfort. They manage maximum coverage and deflection while maintaining a level of flexibility. Also, many hard-shelled (less flexible) pads simply move off the knee upon impact, leaving bare skin to ground.
Full-length (knee and shin) pads are a bit out of fashion for modern mountain bikers as they can be a bit restrictive for pedalling, but if gravity is your thing, look to Leatt’s Hybrid EXTs for something all-protecting.
At the other end of the spectrum, for those carpark skills sessions stash a knee pad or two under your jeans with G-Form’s Pro-X lightweight, highly flexible pads.
HIPS/UPPER LEGS
Alpinestars Sequence Pro shorts
© Alpinestars
There are plenty of very comfortable protective undershorts on the market, and Alpinestars’ Sequence Pro Short ticks all the boxes, providing great coverage while remaining slim and flexible enough. Thighs, hips and coccyx are covered. You’ll forget you’re wearing them – until that unexpected backflip.
BACK/BODY
Bliss ARG Comp top
© Bliss
A full upper body armour can be quite restrictive for all-day pedalling, but if you are serious about keeping yourself on the trail then a vest with good chest, spine and shoulder pads is a no-brainer. Bliss Protection’s ARG Comp is up there with the best: a flexible and slim profile meets decent spine, chest and shoulder coverage. It’s a little heavy, but you’ll get used to it and thank yourself when shoulder-barging the ground.
For something stripped back, Dainese’s Trailknit Pro-Armor Tee is essentially a base layer with spine and shoulder pads. Great for summertime trail rides.
ELBOWS
Elbow pads are a tricky area to protect. While it seems essential to cover them up, there are few manufacturers who’ve managed to make a pad that both covers the elbows and, er, actually stays on them. Some that do stay put can be restrictive around the forearm, which can lead to sore arms on longer descents.
Alpinestars’ Sequence Pads seem to strike a good balance. They offer great coverage and a high level of protection, extending higher on the upper-arm meaning they tend to stay in place longer than most.
GLOVES
Notice the protective layer it adds around your knuckles
© 661
Wide handlebars lead to great bike control and, well, sore knuckles. If you want to avoid one of mountain biking’s most prolific injuries – the crumpled pinky – 661’s EVO II Gloves pack D30 (a supple protective material that hardens on impact) on the knuckle area. Trees beware.
NECK
Neck braces only work with full-face helmets. They aim to reduce the risk of serious neck injury through lowering forces through the neck when performing that surprise headstand dismount. Leatt were the pioneers and remain the experts in neck braces for mountain bikers, with the DBX 6.5 Carbon option coming in at just 600grams you’ll hardly know you’re wearing it. Just ignore jokes about wearing a kids’ potty around your neck.
HEAD
Giro Switchblade with MIPs
© Giro
Of course, none of the above comes anywhere near the importance of a good helmet. You should never leave home without one, and always replace a lid that’s taken even a mild blow. There are many great mountain bike helmets on the market, and of utmost importance is finding one with a comfortable shape for your head, secure fit and that ticks several safety boxes.
Make sure it conforms to European safety (CE) standards (all major manufacturers’ lids of course do) and think about spending a bit extra for added MIPS – a patented system that many helmet manufacturers lease for good reason. The MIPS system – basically a thin layer between the helmet shell and your bonce – essentially allows the helmet body to rotate slightly on ‘angled’ impacts, slowing deceleration and hopefully reducing brain injuries.
661’s EVO AM lid is MIPS-equipped, plus it boasts a BOA retention system that allows for perfect fit. If you’re looking for full face coverage, Giro’s Switchblade is also MIPS-equipped, with a removable chinguard too.
