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

Fox has been making variations of its Enduro knee pads for a minimum of a decade. They’ve advanced over time, however they’ve at all times been a low-profile, pedal-friendly, lighter-duty possibility for path and enduro driving. That continues with the newest 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 newest 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 latest launch of the brand-new Fox Airframe Chest Guard, made with the identical Koroyd materials, exhibits there are many different functions, and there could possibly be extra merchandise on the best way.

I acquired my palms 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 at all times put on knee pads, however I completely pull some on once I’m driving terrain that I really feel warrants it. As a part-time knee pad wearer and full-time pedal fanatic, I’m significantly 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 newest model of the Fox Enduro Professional is sort of harking back to its predecessor, with a light-weight building, lengthy sleeve, and light-duty degree 1 influence safety. The outgoing mannequin used a D30 insert for the padding, which has been a preferred selection 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 system, they ship unparalleled consolation, flexibility, and efficiency for enduro and path riders.” The unique-looking insert cups the kneecap and drops just a few inches down the higher a part of the shin. Based mostly on the influence resistance and knee protection, these knee guards are licensed EN 1621 Stage 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 material protecting the entrance of the pad. The remainder of the sleeve is manufactured from a light-weight, stretchy, and minimal material that’s tremendous snug in opposition to 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.

Preserving 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 be elasticized and depends on that alone for grip. The stretch materials additionally provides stress across the leg, assuming you get the precise measurement. On that notice, the Enduro Professional is available in six sizes between XS and 2XL.

Koroyd, Like For Helmets?

Once 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 at all times thought that Koroyd was the title of that particular materials, however I realized that Koroyd is definitely the corporate title. The knee pad insert and different Koroyd pads made for protecting gear are utterly totally different. I additionally realized 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 transient particulars part above, I used the phrase “auxetic” in a quote describing the Koroyd insert. Should you’re questioning what auxetic means, effectively, you’re not alone. I needed to look it up. Based on Wikipedia, auxetics are a “sort of metamaterial with a damaging Poisson’s ratio, in order that axial elongation causes transversal elongation.” In layman’s phrases, because of this auxetic buildings have a novel property of getting thicker when stretched, versus thinner. In my transient interval of web analysis, I additionally realized that research have proven that this property permits auxetic supplies to soak up power extra successfully than conventional supplies, thereby making them a good selection for protecting tools.

Not surprisingly, the Koroyd utilized in helmets that almost all of us are conversant in just isn’t the identical Koroyd utilized in these knee pads. They’re comparable in that they’re each brilliant inexperienced and have a porous construction, however in any other case, they appear very totally different. The Koroyd knee pad insert looks like some sort of rubber, however it should have some kind 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 midst of the pad, the Koroyd insert is 10 mm thick, and it tapers regularly all the way down to the sides. The porous construction ought to permit air to move by, and you’ll observe the auxetic properties in case you stretch and compress it in your palms. It’s fairly cool, and it feels extra protecting than the thinner pads and inserts in lots of Stage 1 knee guards.

On the Path

As talked about earlier, I’m a part-time knee-pads type of rider. Once I’m actually making an attempt to maneuver quick, go far, or its tremendous scorching, 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 probably the most pedal-friendly knee pads will rub you fallacious ultimately. I’ve tried many alternative choices in my life, and I’m nonetheless in search of my Golidlocks. Which is why I used to be stoked to check out the newest Enduro Professional. 

Based mostly on the scale chart, I may have in all probability 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 experience. The medium matches me nice and is sweet 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, it’s possible you’ll not have any pores and skin displaying in any respect. 

For me, the primary experience in any kee pads is often probably the most telling. It’s uncommon that I’ve placed on a brand new set of knee pads they usually didn’t chafe me a minimum of just a little or should be adjusted inside the first hour. Not the Enduro Professional. These are in all probability probably 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 in opposition to the pores and skin, the seams are all in the precise spots, and the leg grippers do a powerful job of protecting 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. Irrespective of the driving model, 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 believe the floating pad design comes into play right here, because the knee sleeve and pad pocket are separated and may transfer independently of one another when wanted. I’d argue that this design additionally helps maintain the pad in place because it isn’t compelled 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 Stage 1 safety for a motive — I need them to be lighter, extra breathable, and extra pedal-friendly than beefier Stage 2 pads. Whereas the protection of the Koroyd insert isn’t huge, I believe it’s strong for the way snug and pedal-friendly these pads are. It covers the entire kneecap and extends a bit down the shin as effectively. In contrast to some comparable choices, nevertheless, they don’t actually present any protection on the perimeters of the knee.

Apart from protection, the pad itself feels extra snug and protecting than different Stage 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 influence assessments on my flooring, 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 scorching. 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 effectively, and sweat dries fairly rapidly. 

Sturdiness-wise, I’ve acquired nothing to report. Fortuitously, I haven’t taken any main slams whereas carrying them, however they’ve been by 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 rather well. When it’s time to wash them, the pad may be very simple to take away and substitute, so you may maintain them wanting 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 probably the most pedal-friendly pads I’ve worn but, they usually really feel extra protecting than many different Stage 1 pads I’ve tried. 

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

Verify them out on the Fox web site or in individual at your native Fox supplier.

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