FOX ENDURO PRO

£89.99

SPECIFICATION Weight: 323g (pair) • Sizes: XS-XXL • Contact: foxracing.co.uk

The Fox Enduro Pro kneepad is a lightweight sleeve with a large D3O insert. It’s built using a micro-lycra material, which is little thicker than the stuff used for roadie-style shorts, but it’s still very breathable and dries quickly. On the front of the pad are some sort of abrasion-resistant scales, which stop the material ripping during a minor off. On the back there is a large mesh panel to boost breathability and an elasticated strap to hold the guard in place. This strap does bunch up when you’re pedalling and rubs on the tendons at the back of the knee. The silicone gripper on the upper hems is also really harsh and a few testers had red marks on their thighs after testing the Pro.

As you’d expect from a £90 guard, the Pro has a smart insert. This orange D3O insert is malleable when riding but then stiffens during an impact. It’s also cut in a way so it can fold as you pedal and also features perforations to increase air flow. It’s removable too, which is handy because D3O doesn’t like being put through the washing machine, especially at higher temperatures.

The Enduro Pro has good protection but low bulk and can easily be worn under a trouser or pair of jeans. Build quality is on a par with the more expensive POC VPD tested elsewhere but its fit is way better. It also comes in the most sizes of any pad on test, but what stops us giving this a top mark is the high price. Obviously, most of the budget has been spent on the insert but there are similar guards – some of them in the Fox range – with regular padding and they’re just as effective and better value.