Dainese Trail Skins Pro Knee Protectors

Product Information

Pro-Shape 2.0 is inspired by the geometry of auxetic materials present in nature that, following an impact or stress, expand in all directions simultaneously, increasing the area of coverage. I’d recommend trying the Trail Skins Pro before you buy them rather than just relying on Dainese’s size chart. The 70€ Trail Skins Air Knee Guards share the same Pro-Shape 2.0 knee pad & side skid plate, but feature a simplified fit. Held in place with a simple extended sleeve design – essentially a long lightweight mesh knee warmer, elastic grippers at the top and bottom hold the knee guards in place, likely reaching up under the grippers from a pair of padded cycling shorts.

The Trail Skins Air elbow guard is also constructed around the Pro-Shape 2.0 protector and shares the features of the knee guard. The elbow guard remains stable, even during intense activity, thanks to a very long transparent sleeve that extends to the bicep and a practical elastic at forearm height. XS - XL, €59,95 I rode first with the Pro version ( above) but never was super happy with my fit. Sizing down to S kept them from moving at all. But I never really liked the short velcro straps that had to be adjusted behind my leg where I couldn’t see them, preferring the more simple fit of the Air or Lite pads. The family of Dainese Trail Skins protectors represents the perfect balance between rideability and protection, allowing the rider to take on any discipline with maximum freedom of movement and in accordance with the highest international safety standards. Their tighter-fitting style feels different from bulkier knee pads such as G-Form’s Pro Rugged Knee Guards and they are significantly more flexible than pads such as the Alpinestars Paragon, which means they can get away with being a little more snug.Dainese is dedicated to producing the most effective safety solutions in every arena where athletes continually push the human body and mind to surpass their prior achievements. From our motorcycle racing origins to alpine skiing, mountain biking, competitive sailing and outer space’

The family of Dainese Trail Skins protectors represents the perfect balance between rideability and protection, allowing the rider to take on any discipline with maximum freedom of movement and in accordance with the highest international safety standards. The ideal choice for riders who plan to take on long uphill and downhill sections when out riding. The Trail Skins Lite knee guard is constructed around the Pro-Shape 2.0 protector, in a compound version that is even softer so that it can be folded in on itself, taking up minimal space. Ok, thanks all. I think I do appreciate the sliding quality that the hardshell pads provide but good to know these do not rip apart. The neoprene of my iXS Dagger pads is starting to rip in places and even though it is no urgent reason to replace them, I'm already looking ahead at what to get next should they suddenly rip. Enduro-mtb.com/en did a big kneepad test a while ago (hardshell and softshell tests separately) and even though it seems the softer stuff is good, I still don't quite trust it. You only know when you go down, after all. The typical car-park test doesn't tell the full story. I recently got a Kali helmet and the people at Kali are really responsive and eager to discuss what's best and what's not. So I might need to drop them a line and hear their thoughts. To get them positioned correctly, I felt like I needed to wear them a little higher than I was expecting, but doing so didn’t appear to impact their stability. I adjusted the Velcro straps to their tightest setting to enhance the secure fit further, too. The ventilated front sections worked well at keeping air flowing across my knees and proved to be significantly cooler than knee pads with solid front protection panels. This was most noticeable on cooler days when it was possible to feel the cold air.

A matching 60€ pair of Trail Skins Air Elbow Guards give arms the same protection, again held in place by wide elastic bands with silicone grippers. Thanks to the close fit and elasticated hems with silicone grippers, once the pads were positioned correctly on my legs they remained fairly static while riding, requiring only one or two minor adjustments throughout the day.

The structure of the Pro-Shape 2.0 protector allows for maximum flexibility and adaptability whatever the elbow position, tracing its movements throughout all phases of activity. It absorbs 83% of the force of an impact, rather than transmitting this to the elbow. 55% of its surface area is completely open, ensuring ventilation and greater heat exchange during both the uphill and downhill phase. An ideal feature for riders who plan to take on long rides, even on the hottest of days.For now the Lite line only includes the 60€ Trail Skins Lite Knee Guards, that take an even more simplified approach. Dainese Trail Skins Lite Knee Guards The Trail Skins Lite line is designed to minimize bulk and ensure lightness as well as the utmost portability. Ideal for riders who always want a protector with no tangible weight. It is suitable for all types of riding activity. The tab with Dainese logo got dog-eared, exposing the hooked section of the Velcro fastening. Ian Linton / Immediate Media Combined with the use of highly breathable fabric, the structure, open across 55% of the area of coverage, ensures lightness and greater ventilation during every stage of the ride, even on the hottest of days.

Knee protection has progressed significantly since the days when I borrowed my sister’s Bike brand volleyball pads to ride down logging roads. The marshmallow-shaped pillows didn’t stay in place whether crashing or pedaling, making them more of a nuisance than they were worth. The new Trail Skins Pro Kneepads from Dainese have more tech woven in than my mountain bike did twenty-some years ago, and the innovations are focused on more than just protection. They feature similar mesh sleeve construction, but use the thinner but less vented Pro-Shape 2.0 pad ( at right above) which is foldable. photo by Luigi Sestili BCA

Self-preservation makes crash testing knee pads particularly difficult and whether or not a tester crashes in them is a roll of the dice rather than a scientifically controlled procedure. Now, a similarly constructed 75€ pair of Trail Skins Pro Elbow Guards offers the exact same protection tech for your arms. The flexible main padding that Dainese calls PRO SHAPE 2.0 is made of more holes than solids, allowing a massive amount of air through for warm rides. The pad conforms to the shape of your knee, to achieve the brand’s pedal-ready objective. I have yet to crash in these pads, but the protective material feels like it will sufficiently protect my tendons and bones once I do.