Choosing accessories and new gear for the sport you love is one of life’s greatest joys. Aside from the sport itself, of course. Hours and hours spent browsing sites, magazines, forums and so on. Comparing different models, key features and the best prices. Whether you’re looking for a new set of brakes, a carbon handlebar or your next protective gear, looking after your passion is a pleasure and never a chore.
Is it better to go for a modular brake or a powerful one? Should you opt for a soft knee guard or a rigid one? There is no right or wrong answer. Everyone has their own particular preferences, and rightly so. Our choices are also often influenced by specific factors, such frequency and type of use, skill level and terrain.
Thanks to developments in technology, manufacturers of bikes, accessories and clothing have achieved results that were unthinkable until a few years ago. Increasingly high-performance mountain bikes and increasingly lightweight and durable gear have quickly aged materials and vehicles that are not even ten years old.
And clothing is no exception. In the early days of mountain biking, the purpose was simply to provide the rider with optimal coverage and protection. However, things have moved on considerably since then. We are now able to combine seemingly irreconcilable characteristics, such as powerful protection and a lightweight feel, by drawing on the benefits of our natural surroundings, which have always been a source of inspiration for Dainese. Dainese therefore offers a wide selection of mountain bike knee guards spanning a range of different models, with features to suit various types of users and uses.
For those who love rides that include challenging uphill and downhill sections, Dainese has developed Trail Skins Pro. A light and breathable soft knee guard, it is the perfect companion when spending entire days in the saddle, pedaling uphill before enjoying the downhill. Once you put it on in the morning you forget you’re wearing it. Like the entire family of protectors, Trail Skins Pro was created to leave the rider free to ride without any distractions.
The Pro-Shape 2.0 protective front panel is built with Auxagon technology, inspired by the forms of auxetic materials. The geometries of auxetics present in nature, applied to the design of a knee guard, give the material the ability to stiffen when it suffers a shock and expand in all directions as a result of traction, faithfully tracing the knee’s movements and allowing significant freedom of movement.
Designed for riders who want to ride for long periods and seek optimum ventilation without sacrificing safety, Trail Skins Air is the protector that maximizes the passage of air, to the point of being imperceptible during an uphill climb, regardless of air temperature. Dainese has created a protector that guarantees unparalleled airflow by means of Auxagon technology, which makes up the Pro-Shape 2.0. Owing to this construction, 55% of the surface of Trail Skins Air is perforated. It therefore combines certified protection with continuous airflow, even at low speeds.
Trail Skins Lite is the lightest and most compact knee guard in the entire Dainese range. It is designed to be quickly put on and removed, due to its construction without Velcro fasteners. The new feature introduced with Trail Skins Lite is the possibility to fold it in on itself. Complete with practical strap, the rider can quickly secure it when needed or before facing a particularly long ascent.
Just like its Pro and Air siblings, it features the Pro-Shape 2.0 protective panel with Auxagon technology that can stiffen in case of impact but has a structure that promotes ventilation. Trail Skins Lite is the perfect protector for those wanting to ride for an extended period and be safe in all situations, on any mountain bike trail, without even sensing the presence of a knee guard. Its strength lies in its simplicity.
When our riding style becomes more aggressive and the trails more challenging, we often feel the need for a thicker, more rigid protector. The Enduro 2 knee guard has been designed and manufactured in collaboration with athletes in the Enduro World Series. Enduro 2 ensures both great protection and ease of pedaling. It has been specially designed to trace the form of the knee during all phases of movement, so that it doesn’t feel heavy or constricting, even uphill.
Enduro 2 is a hybrid knee guard that combines rigid ABS panels to protect the kneecap and tibia with more flexible Pro Armor panels that cover the side areas of the knee and shin. It’s the perfect knee guard for anyone who wants to push themselves to their limits downhill, whether you’re racing or training, whilst enjoying the ability to move freely as you pedal without having to move the protector down.
When the trail gets steep, Armoform Pro is ready. Armoform Pro is a rigid knee guard specifically designed to offer maximum protection on the most technical of descents, from the days at the bike park to downhill. Inspired by the geometry of natural fractals, the two front polyethylene plates ensure that impact force is spread over a large area for minimum shock to the knee. The sliding plate structure guarantees excellent freedom of movement at every stage of the descent, whilst providing optimal protection in the event of a crash. Armoform Pro is an evolution of the legendary knee guard that saw Danny Hart crowned Downhill World Champion in 2016.
Whether you prefer to pedal the 1,500 meters above sea level, hitch a ride on the shuttle bus, or take the ski lift, Dainese has the perfect protection for you. Comfort, rideability, protection. Know your requirements, trust in your tastes, and the choice will be obvious.
