iXS Flow ZIP Knee Pads [Rider Review]

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Whether it's riding your local trails or hitting the bike park having a good set of knee pads is a good idea. If they can protect you but also be comfortable while pedaling is an added bonus. One of our valued customers shares some thoughts on the iXS Flow ZIP Knee Pads. Check it out!

Overview

I used to not really care about protective equipment. I'd throw on a half-shell helmet and call it good and then go shred around the foothills of Colorado. However, with great shredding comes great injuries - and I've taken one spill too many. I'd tried other knee and elbow guards in the past and one of the biggest complaints I've had about them is how restrictive they feel. Sometimes it feels like I couldn't really move my joints to their full range of motion. Or sometimes after pedaling up a hill with knee guards on, it just started to rub on my knee cap and bruise it to the point it was painful to wear them anymore and I'd just take them off - thus defeating the purpose of knee guards in the first place. That all changed when I got my iXS Flow Zip knee pads.

These things are comfy. I know a lot of knee guard manufacturers claim that and it's not always true, but they are.

They have a hardening foam on the inside that's comfortable to ride in - yet absorbs impacts when you crash hard. I’ve taken these through their paces both on the trail, bike parks, and the jumping track. I’ve yet to really damage my knees every time I’ve worn them and fell. They also feature a low-profile sleeve on the inside of the knee pad that allows you to take out the foam and clean it for all those sweat-inducing rides – although they also air out well enough that I haven’t really had to use that feature quite yet. To put them on you simply zip them up, tighten down one strap, and you’re good to go.

Perhaps my favorite feature of these knee pads though is the zipper. One of the biggest complaints I heard when I was researching these – before I bought them – was that the zipper was useless for putting on the iXS knee pads. However, a method I’ve found that works wonderfully is zipping them up while they’re on my shins, and then moving them up to my knees. Because shins are typically much skinnier than your lower quad and upper calf, this works out for me quite well. It’s especially convenient when you already have shoes on (who doesn’t) and don’t want to take them off before putting on your knee pads. This doubles inconvenience after a hard ride when you just want to just get them off. You undo two straps, unzip them, and your knees become free, allowing them to feel the cool breeze and absorb some of that sweet vitamin c.

Final Thoughts

For some people, these knee pads might not feel quite as comfortable based on ergonomics or genetics. However, I think that for the majority of people, these are definitely the knee pads you’re going to want on and off the trail. They combine safety, comfortability, and convenience all in one – and they don’t look too bad either.