Mountain bike elbow pads for adults and kids

Why wear elbow pads on a bike?

In a crash on a mountain bike or a BMX, the reflex to break your fall puts your arms out in front, and your elbows often take the first contact with the ground, stones or roots. An elbow pad prevents deep wounds and cushions impacts on the bone, which is barely protected by the skin at that point. Elbow pads make sense first of all for enduro, downhill, bike parks and BMX, but also for children learning to ride on trails and for anyone starting to tackle technical sections.

Soft or hard shell: which protection should you choose?

• Soft elbow pads house a foam that moulds to the elbow and absorbs impacts in a stretch fabric sleeve. Light and ventilated, they are easy to forget on the climbs, which makes them the choice for enduro and trail.
• Hard-shell elbow pads add a rigid shell that slides along the ground instead of snagging. Offering more coverage, and often extended over the forearm, they are aimed at downhill, bike parks and BMX.

Between the two, many models combine soft foam with an abrasion-resistant reinforcement on the outside of the elbow.

Size and fit: an elbow pad that does not slip

An effective elbow pad stays in place during a crash: too loose, it rotates on the arm or slides down onto the forearm at the first impact. Measure the circumference of your arm above and below the elbow, according to the brand's size chart, and try the elbow pad on with your arm bent, in your riding position. Silicone bands or adjustable straps improve the hold. Soft elbow pads are worn under a long-sleeved jersey, hard-shell models over or under a loose-fitting jersey.

Knee pads and other protection for cyclists

Elbow pads often go hand in hand with knee pads, which protect the most exposed joint in mountain biking. For the chest and back, see chest protectors and the protection vests presented with the hi-vis vests. The cycling protection page brings together the whole range.

Which elbow pad brands to choose?

7iDP, whose stated aim is to make mountain bike protection comfortable to wear, offers the Transition elbow pad.

Leatt, a protection specialist, offers soft elbow pads such as the FlexMesh and the ReaFlex UltraLite, and the 3DF 6.0.

Endura fits its MT500 elbow pad with D3O protection, a material that absorbs impacts, and offers the Strack in adult and kids' sizes as well as the SingleTrack Lite II.

Fox Racing offers the Launch, Launch Pro and Launch Elite elbow pads, as well as the Enduro in micro-lycra, also available in a kids' size.

POC offers its Joint VPD elbow pads, in Air and 2.0 versions, the Oseus VPD and the Pocito VPD Air for children.

Shot Race Gear, a French off-road equipment brand, offers D3O, Airlight and Optimal 2.0 elbow pads.

Mountain bike elbow pads on sale

Elbow pads from previous collections go to protection clearance; the most recently added elbow pads are flagged in new arrivals. The opening of the bike parks is the right time to complete your protection.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need elbow pads for mountain biking?

They are not compulsory, but they are highly recommended as soon as you ride fast downhill, in enduro or in a bike park. On easy tracks, many mountain bikers do without them and make do with knee pads.

Can you pedal for a long time wearing elbow pads?

Yes, with soft, ventilated elbow pads: they follow the movement of your arm and can be worn for a whole ride. Hard-shell models, warmer and bulkier, are best kept for descents and bike parks.

Which elbow pads for a child?

Elbow pads in their size, easy to put on and that do not slip: several brands offer their models in a kids' version. Measure the child's arm rather than going by their age, and check that they can bend their elbow without difficulty.

How do you wash elbow pads?

Remove the foam or the shell if they are removable, then wash the sleeve by hand or in the machine at a low temperature, in a mesh bag. Leave to dry in the open air, away from any heat source that would damage the foam.

When should you replace your elbow pads?

After a heavy crash, inspect the foam and the shell: a cracked shell or crushed or torn foam no longer protects properly. A stretched sleeve that lets the protection slip is also a reason to replace them.