Fox Enduro Pro Knee Guard Review: Comfortable and Pedal-Friendly with Koroyd Protection?

Fox has been making variations of its Enduro knee pads for not less than a decade. They’ve advanced over time, however they’ve all the time been a low-profile, pedal-friendly, lighter-duty choice for path and enduro driving. That continues with the most recent model of the Fox Enduro Professional, however this new knee pad has one thing totally different up its sleeve — Koroyd.  

Sure, the identical Koroyd that makes the honeycomb-like materials utilized in Smith and Endura helmets is increasing into the world of physique safety and has teamed up with Fox. The most recent Enduro Professional knee guards are the primary product to make use of the brand new Koroyd insert, which they are saying “introduces a brand new period of consolation first physique safety.” The current launch of the brand-new Fox Airframe Chest Guard, made with the identical Koroyd materials, reveals there are many different functions, and there might be extra merchandise on the way in which.

I acquired my arms on a pair of the brand new Fox Enduro Professional knee pads a number of months in the past, and I’ve been driving with them on and off ever since. I don’t all the time put on knee pads, however I completely pull some on after I’m driving terrain that I really feel warrants it. As a part-time knee pad wearer and full-time pedal fanatic, I’m notably delicate to the pedal-friendliness of knee pads. I’d argue that I’m nearly as good a candidate as any to look at the consolation and mobility claims of those new knee pads with the distinctive Koroyd insert.

Fox Enduro Professional Knee Guards: Particulars

The most recent model of the Fox Enduro Professional is kind of paying homage to its predecessor, with a light-weight development, lengthy sleeve, and light-duty degree 1 impression safety. The outgoing mannequin used a D30 insert for the padding, which has been a well-liked alternative in all kinds of protecting gear for the previous a number of years. Regardless, the extent of safety and goal rider and use for the Enduro Professional stays the identical — light-duty knee safety in a pedal-friendly bundle.

The brand new Enduro Professional carries that torch however labored with Koroyd to develop the primary knee guards with a Koroyd insert for the pad. The versatile rubber-like Koroyd pad has a “distinctive auxetic construction and superior materials method, they ship unparalleled consolation, flexibility, and efficiency for enduro and path riders.” The unique-looking insert cups the kneecap and drops a couple of inches down the higher a part of the shin. Based mostly on the impression resistance and knee protection, these knee guards are licensed EN 1621 Degree 1 (Kind A).

The brand new Enduro Professional knee guards have an extended sleeve that extends roughly midway up the thigh and midway down the shin. These pads have a floating design the place the Koroyd insert is contained in its personal sleeve with abrasion-resistant Cordura cloth masking the entrance of the pad. The remainder of the sleeve is made from a light-weight, stretchy, and minimal cloth that’s tremendous snug towards the pores and skin. Subsequently, the knee makes contact with the knee sleeve, whereas the floating pad isolates it considerably in the course of the pedal stroke.

Holding the pads in place is a 3-inch-wide elastic gripper on the thigh with a silicone print for additional traction. The decrease opening can also be elasticized and depends on that alone for grip. The stretch materials additionally provides pressure across the leg, assuming you get the fitting dimension. On that notice, the Enduro Professional is available in six sizes between XS and 2XL.

Koroyd, Like For Helmets?

After I first heard about these new pads utilizing Koroyd, I used to be fairly confused. How would they put that stiff plastic, honeycomb-like materials right into a knee pad and make it snug? I all the time thought that Koroyd was the title of that particular materials, however I discovered that Koroyd is definitely the corporate title. The knee pad insert and different Koroyd pads made for protecting gear are fully totally different. I additionally discovered that Koroyd works with manufacturers to develop and take a look at supplies, new merchandise, and meet security requirements — like this new partnership with Fox.

Within the temporary particulars part above, I used the phrase “auxetic” in a quote describing the Koroyd insert. Should you’re questioning what auxetic means, properly, you’re not alone. I needed to look it up. In response to Wikipedia, auxetics are a “sort of metamaterial with a unfavorable Poisson’s ratio, in order that axial elongation causes transversal elongation.” In layman’s phrases, because of this auxetic constructions have a novel property of getting thicker when stretched, versus thinner. In my temporary interval of web analysis, I additionally discovered that research have proven that this property permits auxetic supplies to soak up power extra successfully than conventional supplies, thereby making them a sensible choice for protecting gear.

Not surprisingly, the Koroyd utilized in helmets that the majority of us are aware of just isn’t the identical Koroyd utilized in these knee pads. They’re comparable in that they’re each vivid inexperienced and have a porous construction, however in any other case, they appear very totally different. The Koroyd knee pad insert seems like some sort of rubber, however it should have some form of particular composition that makes it auxetic. It’s fairly versatile and comparatively light-weight — the pad weighs simply 80 grams. Comparatively, the thinner D30 pad from my Race Face Covert knee pads weighs 90 grams.

In the course of the pad, the Koroyd insert is 10 mm thick, and it tapers steadily all the way down to the perimeters. The porous construction ought to permit air to cross by way of, and you’ll observe the auxetic properties in the event you stretch and compress it in your arms. It’s fairly cool, and it feels extra protecting than the thinner pads and inserts in lots of Degree 1 knee guards.

On the Path

As talked about earlier, I’m a part-time knee-pads form of rider. After I’m actually attempting to maneuver quick, go far, or its tremendous sizzling, I’m usually going naked knees to remain cool and eradicate the possibilities of chafing. In my expertise, even the lightest and most breathable knee pads are nonetheless fairly heat, and essentially the most pedal-friendly knee pads will rub you incorrect ultimately. I’ve tried many various choices in my life, and I’m nonetheless on the lookout for my Golidlocks. Which is why I used to be stoked to check out the most recent Enduro Professional. 

Based mostly on the dimensions chart, I might have most likely gone with a big, however I opted for a medium to make sure a comfortable match. I’m glad I did, as it’s tremendous annoying to have your knee pads slipping down when you journey. The medium matches me nice and is good and comfortable over the entire size of the sleeve. And these pads are lengthy. They stretch from mid-thigh to mid-calf. Should you put on tall socks, chances are you’ll not have any pores and skin exhibiting in any respect. 

For me, the primary journey in any kee pads is often essentially the most telling. It’s uncommon that I’ve placed on a brand new set of knee pads they usually didn’t chafe me not less than just a little or must be adjusted inside the first hour. Not the Enduro Professional. These are most likely essentially the most snug knee pads that I’ve ever worn. As soon as these pads are on and positioned correctly, they don’t transfer in any respect, and most significantly, they haven’t given me even a touch of irritation in all of my testing. The sleeve materials feels nice towards the pores and skin, the seams are all in the fitting spots, and the leg grippers do a formidable job of holding them in place on the leg.

I’ve used these pads for fast-paced XC rides with loads of mileage, 5,000 climbing days simply grinding out vert within the saddle, and e-bike take a look at rides. Regardless of the driving fashion, they haven’t shifted round on my knee, and their pedal-friendliness, mobility, and luxury have and proceed to exceed my expectations. There is no such thing as a restriction to the pedal stroke in any way, and the Koroyd insert is versatile and comfy in entrance of the knee. I feel the floating pad design comes into play right here, because the knee sleeve and pad pocket are separated and might transfer independently of one another when wanted. I’d argue that this design additionally helps maintain the pad in place because it isn’t pressured to maneuver together with the entire sleeve always. 

Consolation is vital, but when I’m going to be carrying knee pads, I’d additionally like them to be protecting. Nonetheless, I’m choosing Degree 1 safety for a motive — I would like them to be lighter, extra breathable, and extra pedal-friendly than beefier Degree 2 pads. Whereas the protection of the Koroyd insert isn’t huge, I feel it’s strong for a way snug and pedal-friendly these pads are. It covers the entire kneecap and extends a bit down the shin as properly. Not like some comparable choices, nonetheless, they don’t actually present any protection on the perimeters of the knee.

Except for protection, the pad itself feels extra snug and protecting than different Degree 1 knee pads I’ve tried. It’s considerably thicker than the D30 insert in my Race Face Covert pads (my earlier favourite), and higher matches the form of my knee. In pseudo-scientific side-by-side impression assessments on my ground, the Enduro Professional and Koroyd insert cushioned the knee a lot better, too.

When it comes to breathability, I’ve discovered them to be acceptable. They’re clearly a lot hotter than carrying nothing in any respect, however they’re removed from oppressively sizzling. With three layers of fabric and the pad between your knee and the air, it slows down direct airflow, even when the Koroyd insert has loads of holes in it. That stated, the remainder of the knee sleeve appears to breathe fairly properly, and sweat dries fairly shortly. 

Sturdiness-wise, I’ve acquired nothing to report. Fortuitously, I haven’t taken any main slams whereas carrying them, however they’ve been by way of a pair minor ones and loads of encounters with trailside bushes and the like. I’ve trimmed a few unfastened thread ends off, however past that, they’re holding up very well. When it’s time to wash them, the pad could be very simple to take away and change, so you possibly can maintain them trying and smelling recent.

Fox Enduro Professional Knee Guards: My Takeaway

Fox and Koroyd joined forces to create one thing distinctive with the brand new Enduro Professional Knee Guards. The Koroyd insert is clearly distinctive, however the degree of consolation and pedal-friendliness of those knee pads is one thing that I’ve by no means skilled earlier than. From the primary pedal stroke, these pads haven’t irritated me in any way and haven’t even budged on my leg. They’re essentially the most pedal-friendly pads I’ve worn but, they usually really feel extra protecting than many different Degree 1 pads I’ve tried. 

I don’t assume I’ll ever be a full-time knee pad wearer, however the Enduro Professional may get me carrying them fairly a bit extra usually. For my wants, I’d argue this stuff are nearly as good because it will get.  

Examine them out on the Fox web site or in individual at your native Fox vendor.

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