Bliss ARG Vertical Extended knee pads

AS THE NAME suggests, the ARG Extended knee pads offer a bit more coverage than most, stretching down and covering at least half the shin as well as the knee.

Bliss have opted to use just one Velcro strap, around the upper opening. Although the sleeve itself fits tightly, we had problems with the top of the pad slipping down. We found the best way to secure them in place was to hook the bottom cuff up and over the top of the calf, suggesting that a lower rather than upper strap could be the way forward here.

When it comes to pedalling comfort, the ARGs don’t chafe or slip down even when caked in mud and soaked right through. We always felt well protected, and the extra length is handy for pedal strikes.

Price 112$

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

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KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

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SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

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