Review: POC vs FOX vs 661 vs SCOTT

The knee battle.

I have been on a lot of knee pads these last few years, and been doing some reviews as well, but not anything in such a "grand" scale as this review. 4 different pads. 4 very different pads, if I may add so. All tested for at least 6 months, because long term testing is where its at. 

There is a clear winner, and a clear looser, so sit back, and dig into this knee-pad shootout.

The contenders:

661 - Evo Knee Pad
Fox - Launch Pad Pro
POC - VPD2 Knee Guard
Scott - Grenade Pro II Knee Guards

661 - Evo Knee Pad
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Fox - Launch Pad Pro
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 POC - VPD2 Knee Guard
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Scott - Grenade Pro II Knee Guards
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Actual Weight. All size M.

661 - Evo Knee Pad - 526g
Fox - Launch Pad Pro - 387g
POC - VPD2 Knee Guard - 574g
Scott - Grenade Pro II Knee Guards - 602g

So what do these numbers tell? Well, the 661, POC, and Scott are not that far from each other when it comes to weight. The one that stands out is the Fox Launch Pad Pro, its about 40% lighter than the Scott Grenade  Pro II. But does weight matter for a knee pad, in this weight class? My short answer is NO. These pads do not feel heavy, and weight is definitely not the decisive factor, whether its a good or a bad knee pad.

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Each pad is scored by the level of comfort, protection, ventilation, durability, and value for money. Lets get to it.

Comfort:
661: 3/6
Fox: 5/6
POC: 6/6
Scott: 4/6

My initial thoughts on the 661 Evo Knee pad where very positive; they where very comfortable  and the bed-in time is at just a few hours. Ill forgive its bulkiness, because these really are pads you forget that you wear after 30 minutes of use, and there is no cloth chafing. They did develop issues after long term use, read about that below.
The Fox pad is very resistant to unwanted movement because of a silicone strap in the top, and it sits very nicely on the leg. Note that the Fox Launch Pad Pro takes considerable more time to "bed in" - expect 5-10 rides.
The Scott pad feels good, and even tho it doesn't have a elastic strap, it follows the knee very nicely, but note that they get uncomfortable in hot temperatures, and that detracts from overall comfort-score.
POC takes a few rides to bed in, and requires that you select the perfect size for you, don't scale up or down when choosing size. But what you get, is a pad wraps discreetly around your knee, in a comparably, very comfortable manner, with no cloth chafing. A thick line of rubber at the top and bottom is resting against your skin, elimination almost all unwanted movement. 

Long term testing notes regarding comfort:

661: 7 months into the testing, the elastic back sleeve is getting a bit loose, making the pads more prone to sliding down the knee. This detracts from overall comfort-score. 

Fox: After a year of use, the pad began to irritate my upper knee. That was after a year of intense use and therefor does not detract from overall comfort-score, a year is a long time for a knee pad that's been used extensively. In addition to that, I will add that the silicon strap doesn't do well after washing, it disintegrates. 

Scott: Nothing to note - pad is doing great. 

POC: Nothing to note - pad is doing great.

Protection:
661: 2/6
Fox: 4/6
POC: 5/6
Scott: 6/6

Fox has good protection in the upper and lower front, the padding on the sides is thick as well. The knee itself is protected by a semi-soft plastic shell, its not a pad I would use for DH/FR, but for everything else it definitely does the job.

The 661 Evo knee has its D3o material, and while it does cover a alot of the knee, even down the shin a bit, its just scary thin, and I don't see it absorbing impact from sharper objects like rocks or similar. Blunt force is where this pad is doing its job best - but its without a doubt the least protective pad of the bunch. If you ride in rocky conditions, then stay away from the 661 Evo Knee!

The Scott is just a tank; big and thick, and you get a feeling that it can take some heat - because it can. The padding is thick, and has multiple layers besides the D3o, the pad itself is long and offers great side-protection as well. Put it to use for FR/DH - and get away with it, these pads are tough. Can be expanded with a shin-protector.

POC has to be the biggest surprise, it doesn't really look like its heavy on the protection side, but once you get it on, you appreciate just how much it does protect. The entire knee is covered with a thick layer of the VPD2 material, and it has a smart "hinge" system that allows the pad to follow your knee movement. You feel protected while wearing this pad. VPD2 is a "dough" that transforms impacts to the entire pad, instead of just concentration it into the impact zone, it also gets more flexible when warm, allowing it to bend around the knee when you use it. Can be expanded with a shin-protector.

The Scott Grenade Pro II is a tank. Its big, and thick, just the way the ladies want it.

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Its a whole different story with the 661 Evo Knee Pad. Thin, and...well just don't hit a rock.

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Ventilation:
661: 3/6
Fox: 4/6
POC: 4/6
Scott: 2/6

Fox, 661, POC - I don't feel much difference between the three to be honest. I do however think that there is room for improvement, for all of these brands. They do get hot on the warmest days in the summer.

Scott is definitely the hottest pad, great for winter, fall and early spring, but as soon it gets much warmer, these pads get way too hot - I wouldn't put them on, on a summer day.

Durability:
661: 6/6
Fox: 5/6
POC:6/6
Scott: 6/6

All pads tested are pretty tough, even after months of use, crashes, and what not, there is barely any scratch or malfunction. Fox was the only pad that did show some signs of wear, but its also the pad that I have been using the longest time for this review.

Value for money:
661: 2/6
Fox: 6/6
POC: 5/6
Scott: 4/6

The Fox is the least expensive of the bunch, but is a very good kneepad, so it wins big time in this department.

The 661 Evo knee is one of the most expensive knee pads on the market, only beaten by POC to my knowledge, and considering that the elastic back began to get more and more loose after just 7 months of use, the value for money isn't particular high.

Scott fares better. The price is somewhat similar to the 661, but Scott offers way more value; better protection and better comfort - just keep in mind that they do very hot on warm days.

POC might be the most expensive pad in this review, but its a pad what does pretty much everything right. Outstanding comfort, surprisingly protective, durable, and a ventilation that's comparable to the rest. Yes you pay more, but you get more as well.

Overall best pad:
POC VPD2 Knee Guard.

The POC VPD2 Knee Guard is getting top marks in almost all categories, and for good reason. Its very comfortable, has a very good level of protection, a good durability, and that puts it in a high score regarding value for money - you get a great knee pad. Its not perfect, the ventilation could have been better, but its not beaten by any competitors in this test either.

POC has obviously given this knee pad some thought, and that tells. Go get this pad, if you are into a upgrade, or just want to try something different, you will most likely not be disappointed, just be sure to get the right size for you.

Got questions, or a comment? Shoot away in the comments section.

Oldie but Goldie #6

"Oldie but Goldie" series will be my tribute to the "old days". When 640mm bars where considered wide, carbon was fragile, and adjustable seatposts didn't exist. And I'm doing it, for the fun of it.

Afterhours was a 2008 film-project that Erik and I was working on, it never released however, due to other projects. But I did a trailer for Afterhours, and recently found the file on my old discarded pc by accident. I thought it would be fun to post it here.

I actually like the edit itself, it came out the way I wanted it to, but it sure took a lot of "cutting". I don't like the misspelling at the end tho' *facepalm*

Anyway, enjoy:

Watch in HD HERE

Review: Canfield Brothers Crampon Magnesium Pedal

Just concluded my review of the Canfield Brothers Crampon Magnesium Pedal. Its a pedal that builds on the successful original Crampon pedal. Canfield Brothers did some improvements, and this is the result, but how does it fare? Well, I have been testing it in and out of bikeparks these last few months, and here are my concluding thoughts. But first the basics:

106mm x 106mm, chromo axle, DU bushings, laser etched logos.

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Claimed 282 grams, actual weight is 285g, pretty close imo.

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Thin 6-10mm magnesium body. Its just crazy thin.

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Replaceable dual sided pins. Long, but a tiny bit more fat than the ones on my Podiums, and my experience tell me that thin pins are key to grip on FiveTen shoes .

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 Crampon Magnesium VS Point One Racing Podiums. Podiums are noticeably bigger, they feel bigger as well. My Twenty6 Predator are way bigger than both tho'.

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So while these pedals are thin and lightweight, they are on the small size, and the grip isn't that good to be honest - compared to the Twenty6 Predator pedal (review pending). What did surprise me however, is how tough these pedals are - didn't expect that from a magnesium compound. The pins are easy to swap even if you bend or break them, that's a huge plus.
I have to be honest and say that these pedals stand in the shadow of the Twenty6 Predator pedal, everything this pedal does, the Predator does better in some way. I wish the crampon pedal was at least 1cm larger in both directions, and had thinner pins, that would address my main issues. Its not a bad pedal, but there are better option out there.

The Good:
-Thin
-Lightweight
-Laser etched logos, and a tough finish
-Easy swappable pins
-Surprisingly tough

The Bad:
-Platform is a bit too small
-Grip is so-so

Score: 3/6

Bottoms up!

Its been a while since a did a single post on a single ride, last time I did that was on the hangovers ride here and here. Anyway, I joined up with Jan and Henning and had a 3 hour ride. We sessioned some jumps, had a good crash, and hucked - hard.  Check it out.

Henning going full throttle into the trail gap.

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Speaking of Henning, he a major spill while trying to whip a jump, he didn't succeed. What he did succeed however, was twisting his seat and stem in different directions.

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Post-ride beer is soooo 2012. Mid-ride beer is the new black. (followed by post-ride beer)

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While it might not look like it in this picture, this new drop is 2m+ (6.5 feet+). And the 2m barrier is finally broken in this particular forest. HOWEVER. The landing is not steep enough, and entry speed is a bit slow, this result in a furious bottom out. Here you see me barely having any travel left in the front and back, and my body is squashing in. Ough.

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Henning giving it a go. His poor trail bike blew through all the travel and he told me afterwards, that he felt that the frame itself flexed in different directions. : )

The biggest killer however, is that this was supposed to be a drop that boosted you into a jump, but so much force goes into the landing, that it actually has no boosting effect at all. I highly doubt that this drop continues to exist in its current form. Good times tho' :)

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Very Random Stuff

Seriously random stuff this time around! Check it out.

Well this sure was money well spent : / It just happened one day, while the bike was just standing there...over-tightened? Its a Renthal Integra stem by the way.

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The crash-dude from this post, landing a table. He didn't crash every time ; )

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Got a new pair of shoes for the fall and winter. Its the FiveTen - Diddie Schneider model. A heavy duty FiveTen shoe that tackles a good shower without problems, it has a hard toe cap, and actually has grip on moisty ground. The build quality and overall feel is very nice, its definitely a shoe that has a flagship model feel to them.  Fiveten calls it the trail-builders shoe, but I'm just happy to finally have a pair of Fiveten shoes that are almost waterproof, something I've been wanting for a while. Expect a review early 2014.

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Testing a new jump. It took you a bit higher than expected..

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My Casio hi-speed cam died a week ago (for the 5th time?). Probably the most fragile camera in existence - and I'm all out of warranty. A new improved version is on its way, stay tuned for some test-footage.

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Now it might look as if Karl is taking a dump(enlarge the pic, its priceless), but its much better than that. He slammed his balls into the top-tube on a flat section. So much so, that he had to take a timeout...a long one. Plenty of time for me to take out the camera. His voice was somewhat changed after this incident..

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Run...run...RUN LIKE THE WIND!! : D

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Some dude eating it in Schulenberg Bikepark

Schulenberg Bikepark, Harz, Germany.

Hitting a 4.7m(15 feet+) roadgap is one thing, tricking it, is a whole different ballgame.

This guy did it 3 times in a row, but third time he did it, he crashed - and I had my camera rolling at 240 fps...

240fps. Simple edit. No sound. 32 sec.

Mad props to this guy. Besides some scratches and bruises (and a twisted wheel) he was ok.

Seat in one direction, bar in an other, actual frame in a third : )