G-Form Mesa Knee Guards review

Designed for gravity riding – including enduro and all-mountain – the £119.99 / $139.99 G-Form Mesa knee guards offer level two CE-1621 protection, while using biodegradable and recyclable materials in their RE ZRO protection cups.

While the pads are made mostly from a nylon, polyester and spandex mix, the soft, malleable RE ZRO knee cup employs a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, claimed to biodegrade by 14.14 per cent over 90 days.

Removing the RE ZRO protectors for washing – via their internal sleeve – is recommended to increase their lifespan.

Two smaller inboard and outboard side-facing pads should increase knee protection, while a flexible hardshell skid plate is fitted to the front.

Three hook-and-loop straps – two that fasten to the rear and one to the front – help adjust fit, while a zip on the shin section means you don’t need to remove your shoes to get them on or off.

The Mesa pads are available in only four sizes, from small to extra-large, but the hook-and-loop straps should increase each size's flexibility to fit legs of different shapes and sizes.

Made from a stretchy tear-resistant material, flatlock stitching is used throughout to help reduce discomfort. The multiple skin-facing panels are mesh-backed to improve comfort.

Between the thigh-high upper fixing point and shin-level lower, there’s a rear cut-out to help expel heat.

At 590g a pair (large), the Mesa pads are undeniably chunky, but the protection on offer should be worth the weight penalty.

G-Form Mesa Knee Guards performance

Thanks to the three-strap design, there are multiple points of size and fit adjustment to accommodate different leg sizes. This is handy given finding a comfortable fit proved tricky and very dependent on how tight each strap was.

Too tight and the rear cut-out’s hem pinched and dug into my skin when my knees were bending, but when set too loose they lacked stability.

Finding a middle ground for strap tension is key, but if you rely on the straps and zips to put on and remove the pads without taking your shoes off, you’ll need to get used to adjusting their fit until you find their tension sweet spot.

They can be slid on and off your legs, but this defeats the point of being able to open up fully.

Using multiple internal panels makes them feel quite rough and textured on your skin, especially compared to smoother sleeve-style pads. This impacts overall comfort, even once you’ve got used to wearing them.

Each strap's hooked Velcro section points inwards so they can’t snag your trousers or shorts. However, if they’re not done up tight enough, they can scratch and itch your skin.

Once tension is set, they don’t move about on your leg and feel solid. Whether you’re climbing or descending, they stay put and don’t need readjusting throughout the day. This improves their feel on longer rides.

They hug your legs well and don’t feel particularly bulky despite their size and weight, helping them fade into the background on all-day epics. They are fairly hot to wear, however.

Offering plenty of protection, they extend up your thighs and down your shins, which makes them great for meaty descents.

I didn’t have the pads long enough to comment on their environmentally friendly credentials.

G-Form Mesa MTB Knee Guards bottom line

Chunky with plenty of protection to boot, the Mesa knee guards are great for gnarlier riding. Despite their weight, a leg-hugging design boosts comfort on longer rides.

But three straps per guard means tuning the fit can be tricky, and having multiple internal panels reduces comfort.

They lack the refinement of the best knee pads and those that use a sleeved design.