Scott Grenade Evo knee pads

We’ve long been fans of Scott’s Grenade pads and the improvements made to the latest ‘Evo’ version mean that’s not likely to change any time soon. A heavily-formed, reassuringly-thick D3O cup covers your knee and the surrounding area, while chunky foam inserts are dotted above and on either side for extra protection. Possibly our favourite thing about the Grenade Evos is the strap placement. While the upper Velcro strap runs just below the top opening – nothing out of the ordinary there – the lower one is designed to hook up and over your calf muscle. This means the pads stay in place without you having to crank the straps up particularly tight. Even though they’re fairly heavy duty, you can still pedal in them with no discomfort, thanks in part to the airy mesh back panel. While the Grenade Evos are a touch slimmer than their predecessors, they’re still on the bulky side, which won’t suit everyone.

Price $120

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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