Doing away with straps, the lightweight (247g per pair, large) POC VPD Air Flow Knee guards are claimed to be both secure and comfortable, taking design cues from road cycling bib tights.
Their slip-on design uses a long sleeve that extends up the thigh – and down the shin – with a bead to help it grip your skin and remain in place.
The protection cup, which is made from POC’s visco-elastic polymer dough – hence the name VPD – hardens on impact but remains flexible and soft when manipulated. The pads have been given a level one EN1612-1 protection rating.
There are only two seams – one on each side of the pads, further boosting comfort.
All this minimalism comes at a cost, however, with the VPD Air Flow pads retailing for £130.
Five sizes are available, from extra-small to extra-large.
POC VPD Air Flow Knee performance
The VPD Air Flow pads need to sit lower on your knees than you’d expect. If set too high, the lower shin portion’s elastic lacks the strength to keep it from lifting off your leg on each pedal stroke.
Not only is this distracting, but it also causes the pads to twist and move around when you ride.
Relying on the long, smooth and silky-feeling thigh sleeve, which isn’t as compressive as you’d expect, to keep them positioned slightly lower than other knee pads is key. Once set like this, the lower portion doesn’t lift off your leg as much.
Although any pad instability is quelled, the short lower hem – that lacks any silicone beading for extra grip – bunches up into the bend of your knee. Fortunately, the pad’s soft, thin material prevents any discomfort or hot spots from gathered material.
The POC pads are significantly more stable on the downhills, however, with most of this unwanted movement limited to pedalling.
Generally, comfort is good, too. They’re impressively flexible and lightweight, boosting all-day performance; they don’t constrict or compress your legs, instead they sit on them. But the trade-off for that impressive freedom of movement is a reduction in how protective they feel.
The pads could be extended further down the shin with a limited weight penalty to improve this. Considering the protection on offer, I’d say these are best suited to lightweight trail riding.
How we tested | MTB knee guards
Alex tested the pads back-to-back and wore them asymmetrically between brands, left-to-right, to highlight each model's differences.
He went out on long rides to test for all-day pedalling comfort, and pushed himself on high-tempo rides to see how they performed when they were sweaty and wet.
He scuffed them and put them through the wash multiple times to see how well they lasted. Unfortunately, he couldn’t intentionally crash-test them; we’ve just got to take the manufacturer’s protection rating at face value.
Knee guards on test
- Bluegrass Aura
- Fox Launch Elite
- G-Form Mesa MTB Knee Guards
- Endura MT500 D3O Ghost Knee
- Pearl Izumi Summit
- POC VPD Air Flow Knee
- Race Face Indy Knee
- Scott Soldier Knee Guard
- Troy Lee Designs T-Bone
POC VPD Air Flow Knee bottom line
Prioritising comfort and weight over protection has perhaps led to one compromise too many.
These pads don’t extend far enough down your shins, and the lower section tends to lift off your legs when you pedal, with the hem bunching up behind your knee.
However, if you’re after some of the lightest EN-rated pads going, the POCs are a good bet.
Product
| Brand | poc |
| Price | 140.00 EUR,130.00 GBP,140.00 USD |
| Weight | 247.0000, GRAM (L) - per pair |
Features
| Features | Sizes: XS, X, M, L, XL Colours: Uranium Black Certified to: EN1612-1 protection rated LEVEL 1 |
