How to choose your MTB protective gear?

While they do not prevent all injuries, protective gear can help avoid a great deal of damage! Current technologies make them increasingly comfortable, lightweight and suitable for long rides.

FEATURES

• Types of protection:
  • Upper body: vests, back protectors, elbow pads, neck protectors, wrist guards
  • Lower body: shorts / under-shorts, knee pads, shin guards, ankle guards
• Materials: so-called smart foams, i.e. memory foam, rigid shells, with or without a sleeve
• Fastening / adjustment type: velcro straps, clips, elastics, micrometric

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MTB PROTECTION

TYPES OF PROTECTION

Upper body

• Protection vest

Dedicated to the most committed disciplines, the vest provides very comprehensive protection. It often incorporates a mix of foam and rigid protectors to cover the back, shoulders, elbows and forearms, the chest and the waist.
Some models rely exclusively on smart materials that harden on impact. The protective elements are connected to each other by lightweight, breathable mesh fabric. A true suit of armour, adjustable at strategic points!
Some vests come without elbow pads or even without sleeves, either to give you the choice of wearing elbow pads separately, or to suit a more moderate style of riding.

• Back protector

A lighter version of the protection vest, the back protector protects only the spine and leaves the rider free to choose their own protection for the rest of the upper body. It is secured via shoulder straps and a wide waist belt, or integrated directly into a zip-up jacket. Back protectors are also sometimes integrated directly into a backpack.

• Elbow pads

Elbow pads now come in different ranges. From the most heavily reinforced models, with possible forearm protection, to lightweight and flexible sleeve-style models, every rider can find their ideal protection.

• Neck protection

An articulated neck support or "neckbrace", made for example from fibreglass, protects against the infamous whiplash without interfering with a full-face helmet. Specific to the most extreme disciplines!

• Wrist guards

These protective items limit the consequences of direct impacts on a joint that is highly exposed in cycling, or provide support for fragile wrists.

Lower body

• MTB shorts

A short with soft protective inserts forms a first barrier against impacts. The abrasion-resistant fabric reduces the risk of skin burns.
The under-short is the bodybuilder version of the classic cycling bib short! It features various reinforcements firmly held in place, particularly on the outside of the thighs. This area is highly exposed in the event of a fall and, without protection, bruising forms easily, even at low speed.

• Knee pads

They are now accessible to all riders, particularly with the emergence of lightweight and well-ventilated models that do not hinder pedalling.
MTB knee pads come in many forms: soft or reinforced with a rigid shell, they can cover the knee only or protect the shin at the same time. Some wrap all the way around the leg and are pulled on like trousers, while others only cover the front and sides.
To improve comfort and eliminate friction, some manufacturers offer under-knee sleeves that are worn underneath the protection.

• Shin guards

Shins often bear the brunt of pedal strikes. Shin guards prevent many a stitch! Some models take the form of a high sock with integrated protection, thus serving a dual purpose.

• Ankle guards

Ankles can be exposed to violent pedal strikes or unfortunate encounters with rocks. Ankle guards protect bones that can sometimes be fragile!

MATERIALS

In recent years, MTB protective gear has evolved greatly thanks to the introduction of so-called smart materials, such as D3O, SAS-TEC and 3DF technologies (registered trademarks). These padding materials harden on impact. They absorb and dissipate the shockwave before quickly returning to their normal state. Protective gear is thus becoming more flexible, more comfortable and lighter while still performing its role perfectly.

Discover the technologies

Rigid shells are not forgotten either. Manufacturers make maximum use of breathable and ventilated technical materials to limit perspiration build-up. Soft fabrics and flat seams are favoured to prevent irritation. Antibacterial and odour-resistant treatments are sometimes incorporated.

FASTENING / ADJUSTMENT TYPE

Protections can be adjusted and fastened via velcro straps, clips, elastics or a combination of several techniques. Micrometric buckles are rare but do exist on certain models.

Knee pads or elbow pads that wrap completely around the limb can be pulled on (sleeve-style), or they can also close on the side via a zip. Handy so you don't have to remove your shoes. Silicone grip strips often help keep the protection in place.

In all cases, it is essential to follow the manufacturers' recommendations to choose the right size. A few simple measurements taken yourself guarantee a perfect fit — neither too tight (uncomfortable) nor too loose (reduced or zero effectiveness).

WHICH PROTECTION FOR MY DISCIPLINE?

Shape, type of protection (rigid or soft), fit. Each rider can adapt their choice to their discipline:

Hiking

The hiker can confidently choose lightweight and breathable knee pads and elbow pads compatible with pedalling. They resemble sleeves and their elasticity allows for a precise and comfortable fit.

Cross-Country

In Olympic Cross-Country format, no rider wears protection other than gloves and a helmet.
In Raid or Marathon formats, in the mountains, some riders opt for caution and take along very lightweight knee pads that fit like a second skin and protect against abrasion or light impacts in the event of a fall.

All-Mountain

Wraparound knee pads, elbow pads and even a back protector are all welcome on long technical mountain rides!
The latest technologies give the All-Mountain rider a choice of flexible and highly effective protections that are easy to slip under clothing. For convenience, the back protector can be integrated into a backpack. This allows you to "free" your back with a simple gesture during breaks.
Finally, some riders get into the habit of loosening their knee pads before tackling long climbs: make sure you choose a fastening system that is easy to operate with one hand, such as velcro straps.

Enduro

Here, protection comes first. Knee pads, elbow pads and a back protector, or a full back protector vest, help you prepare for high-speed falls, which are frequent in the discipline.
A mix of rigid and variable-density foam protections can be chosen. That said, comfort and breathability should not be overlooked: you must not overheat during the liaison sections ridden under your own power, and you need to retain good freedom of movement to feel your bike handling.
Finally, extras such as ankle guards help avoid a great deal of unnecessary pain!

DH / Freeride

No compromises in DH / Freeride: extreme gradients, jumps and speed leave very little room for error. In the event of a fall, protective gear represents a last line of defence against injuries and can sometimes make all the difference. Rigid knee pads with shin guards, a full back protector vest, shorts/under-shorts and possibly a neck brace are recommended.
Geared up like this, the rider can quickly overheat — but that's an advantage when the breeze blows on the chairlift rides back up!