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Bluegrass Skinny D3O knee pads


These ‘premium’ versions of Bluegrass’s Skinny pads use a D3O knee cup – which hardens upon impact – to boost protection without affecting comfort. With no straps, they rely on the tightness of the sleeve to keep them up, along with silicone grippers at the top and bottom. The mesh back helps keep everything in place and stops the pads flaring when your knee is fully bent. It also stops things getting too sweaty. We found the pads comfortable even on long days in the hills – but only once we’d pulled the lower opening up so that it sat above the calf muscle rather than across it. The pre-shaped D3O knee cup conforms to the leg nicely, wraps around the knee and offers a decent amount of coverage. It never once restricted movement on the bike. While its high volume means that it doesn’t feel as tightly pressed to your knee or as secure as the D3O cups on some other pads in this category, it stays put well enough without constant readjustment.

HIGHS
- Comfy for all-day stints in the hills
- Nicely shaped, with a decent amount of coverage over and around the knee
- Don’t get too sweaty

LOWS
- Some will find the lower pad opening needs adjusting to get it comfy
- Knee cup’s high volume means you don’t feel as ‘locked into’ these pads as some others

Decent coverage and comfort at a competitive price

Price $127
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