Bokkie

I'm not going into the big scene that needs maximum body protection but sometimes my feet slip and I end up with endless cuts on my legs from the studs on my pedals. I'm also type 1 diabetic so cuts can take a while longer to heal than most healthy folk. I'm looking at getting some leg armour, something basic that'll cover my shins and calves, and maybe protect my knees as well, but I don't know how that affects riding. Maybe it's a get-used-to-it thing? For you guys that are into this type of equipment, do you have any comments on it?

Maelstrom 

For anything I wear shin/knee pads. Just a habit and one I am used to. I have a lot of spills and a lot of slipping feet. Without my pads I wouldn't have lower legs...

I can't really recommend because I use 2002 661 pads (if I remember) and they are huge and bulky. Armour is a personal thing as most armour only fits certain people.

rasheed

i’ve got a pair of 661 race knee/shin guards and a pair of 661 race elbow/forearm guards. i haven't worn the elbow/forearm guards yet, but i try to wear the knee/shin guards whenever i go riding. i’ve wacked my shins a couple of times real good and i’m not a big fan of the pain involved with that or even the bits of flesh i'm missing after the wack. it takes a little bit of getting used to, but they aren’t that bad to wear. just be sure to get a pair that fits you just right cause i’ve read a lot of reviews on guards where the guys are complaining about having them slipping all the time or how the straps are either too short or too long. most of their problems come from not getting the right sized pads/guards.

i haven’t had any real problems with my guards except for maybe having them slip down a little every now and then or maybe not doing the straps up properly and having a little bit of skin pinched behind my knees. oh, and the bottom straps on my knee/shin guards are a bit long... but that's cause i got skinny ankles.

montlake_mtbkr

I think it depends on what your doing. Wear pads if it's appropiate for the situation. Playing in a rock garden pads are a godsend. Or in tight singletrack where thorns and tree limbs are licking you.
Climbing 2000ft. up a fireroad pads are just extra weight and make you sweat.
Since you have flat pedals definately get shin guards. I like the one's that wrap all the way around the calf, like Veggie wraps. I have the fox standard too but wouldn't recommend it. It slips down too often, and the knee guard flaps around. If you get knee/shin guard combo get a set that has a strap above the knee to prevent the knee part from flapping around.

dirtbikedude

Dito the above. All good advice. As for protecting your calfs, most of the lower leg protection that compleatly wraps around your leg will take some time getting used to the feeling and some of them, especially the Azonics (neopren sp?), will over heat your legs if you ride anything other then dh.

a2psyklnut

I have a pair of 661 knee/shin combo's, but only wear them when the temp drops below 80 degree F. There way too hot otherwise.

I wished I'd had them on a couple of weeks ago as I fillet(ed) a chunk of skin off my knee.

L8R

sscyco

I don't wear pads all the time - BUT, when I've crashed and had them on I was very happy, and when I crashed and I wasn't wearing them I wish I had been

killerasp

advice from a new mtb'r, armor is the best investment i made aside from my new bike. i cant count the number of times it has saved me from nasty cuts and scratches. Now that i have ZuZu platforms, i really need to use them b/c the spikes on them will tear apart my shin.

It reallly depends on what type of riding you are doing most often. I do alot of single track and find myself always pushing myself to do more technical things. most of the time i fall or i need to bail and my armor has helped me.

Cornish_Rdr_UK

Killer asp. How do those pads perform? Are they really hot? What are they like weight wise?

Maelstrom 

You don't notice weight. They are hot but you get used to them. I find they stay in place fine but my legs are huge, smaller legged people complain about slippage

Cornish_Rdr_UK

thats ok..... My legs are built like tree trunks.... that 3/4 of my weight lol

nikolajbaer

Unless you want tons of little sun ringle zuzu pin sized purple scars all over your right shin like me before I got a set of shin pads, get yourself a pair! Also, check out full face helmets, not only do they look way cooler, but considering that i am right now picking at the 8 stitches in my chin from the 1 day i didn't wear my full face.....

(i thought i was gonna go easy that day.. but dammit that rock was perfect for a nose wheelie!.. oh wait.. those leaves are hiding that divit.. woops.. tossed over the bars.. but its ok the ground is soft and covered with leaves.. wait nope, those are sharp rocks under the leaves!)

Consider yourself warned

Maelstrom 

Hahaha...nice play by play...sounds like 2 mistakes makes for a few problems

goalsccer

[IMG] use these ones the guy posted they have saved my left knee from utter destruction, and trust me pads are cheaper than stiches.

killerasp

just stop thinking and buy them already! my set cost me $85. just imagine how much i saved from long lasting pain and scars!

nathank

i am an XC rider who has been getting more and more into Freeride and "extreme" technical descents...

i bought Dianese knee guards August last year and love them! i wear them for just about all my riding -- except XC racing or rides i know will be non-technical

for long climbs (the Alps are my playground) i put mine on my backpack, but for up-and-down XC style i just wear them all the time ---- as where i am is not REALLY hot they're fine temperature-wise although occaisionally on long days (say 4+ hours on the bike) i might have a few tender spots where the pad rubs around my knee...

anyway, as was said: proper fit is important.

last spring i bought a full-face helmet (Casco) and just last month i bought arm guards (661) and the armour suit (661).

depending on what i ride i go as follows:
non-technical: regular bike helmet und bike gloves
basic XC: regular bike helmet, full-finger gloves, knee guards
technical XC: full-face, full-finger gloves, knee gaurds
technical XC/Freeride: same + arm guards
Freeride/extrme: full-face, body armour, knee guards, full-finger gloves

as for knee guards, i can definitely recommend the Dianese -- but get the VELCRO ones instead of the mesh ones: you can take them on/off easily, they cover the back of the calf (most of it) and they are light and not hot (my 661 arm pads are much warmer although the protection is good)

i think even riders who don't ride extreme stuff can benefit from knee guards as a) anyone can wreck and b) it gives a little confidence boost for learning

jcivic00

anyone ever notice that the day that you decide NOT to wear the armor, you crash? I found out yesterday. Cleaned a really hairy descent at a local park, which I had never done before, and then what happens? I nose over trying to go down an 8" high curb??? I accidentally tapped the rear brake which brought the front of the bike down hard and twisted the front wheel. Pitched me over. Got 2 purple and green kneecaps, and a swollen shin, and thanks to the full face helmet, a beautiful smile

H. Star

I have become a believer in shin pad & elbow pads. I ride the same trails every week, but every so often you screw up and end up bitting the dirt (or rocks) even though you know exactly what lies ahead. If I knew when I was going to crash, I would only wear the gear then, but since you never know, I think I will start wearing it all the time. Case in point, I went out for a noon ride today, and stuck my front wheel in a muddy hole at the bottom of a stairs stunt and went over the front hard. I've gone over these stairs dozens of times, but not today. Now I'm off to the lbs after work for a new helmet.