Specifications:
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL
- Adjustment: Hook and loop strap at the top, silicone grippers at the top and bottom
- Ventilation: Breathable fabric
- Pad Type: Full length
- Washable: Hand wash
- Recommended Use: All types of trails
Pros
- Mess sides and mesh back allow it to breathe
- Hook and loop straps
- Strong knee cap protection
Cons
- Only one velcro strap, ideally I prefer two.
Our Verdict
The Kali Protectives Strike knee guards are some of the best mtb knee pads you can get. They’re from an alternate brand to the usual big names but they provide a lot of safety to your knees and shins and look great while doing it.
The Kali knee pads are comfortable to wear and allow free movement so pedaling is easy. Air flows well through the knee pads so legs stay cool and there are no hot spots.
The knee protection is EVA foam which does a good job of absorbing impact and distributing it to less the impact on your knees and shins. The foam goes nearly the length of the knee pads, and the knee cap is protected by a Xelion cap that is very strong.
These knee pads come with a 3 year warranty which is far beyond many other brands which lets you know these are durable and will last. Many other manufacturers come with only a 1 year warranty.
The Protectives Strike knee pads are excellent knee pads that are great for just about any trail riding, whether it’s enduro, XC, or trail. These I consider within the lightweight mtb knee pads category so I would use them for just about any riding except dangerous downhill runs. Some of those with jumps many feet in the air or drops of many feet in my opinion would warrant the strongest possible knee pads. The Kali are perfect for 90% of off road riding situations and have style while doing it (is it just me, or does it look like they have bow ties on them?).
They are a good price for the level of protection they supply and I believe are a better deal than many at this price and protection level.
Product Evaluation
The Kali Strike knee pads work very well for their intended applications. They are lightweight and a pleasure to wear. I consider this one of the better knee pads, but let’s look at the different aspects specifically.
Design
The Kali knee pads is designed to be used on enduro and trail riding. They are lightweight knee pads that are ideal for most mountain bike riders.
These knee pads feature Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) Foam surrounded by breathable fabric, with a very breathable mesh back. The knee cap has specific protection with is a Xelion knee cap cover which can take most blunt hits.
They are a slip-on knee guards that has gripping closures to keep it in place, with an additional velcro strap to tighten if necessary. They are meant for all kinds of riding, from XC riding to bmx cycling. They are adult knee guards that come in black as shown.
Protection
The knee cap on the Protectives Strike knee pads is a molded Xelion knee cap that will take a direct hit on hard surfaces and absorb it to keep your knee safe and sound.
EVA foam pads provide protection for around your knee and your shins. EVA is short for Ethylene Vinyl Acetate which is a foam rubber. It is excellent at absorbing the impact and disbursing it to protect you. It’s actually one of the big reasons these are some of the lighter knee pads that provide great protection.
EVA padding is also really great at protecting your shins if your shoes slip off of the pedals. If you’ve ever had the metal on the pedals hit your shins you’ll know exactly what I am talking about.
Both the front and sides have the foam padding so your knees are protected from many different types of possible hits.
They provide plenty of protection for most trail and enduro riding which is their intended application and are comfortable while doing it. If you’re familiar with the Kali Mission knee guards, then you’re not doubt familiar with the level of quality and protection you get from this manufacturer. Well, the Kali Protectives Strike take it a step further and give you far more protection than even the Mission guards did which is really saying something.
When you take on more exciting riding like downhill jumps and such, the Fox Racing Launch D30 knee pads or G-Form Pro X2 knee pads are an excellent option.
Fit and Use
These Kali knee shin pads are slip-on sleeves that have silicone grippers at the top and bottom to keep it in place. Additionally, there is a hook and loop, or velcro, strap at the top to tighten it a little extra to keep it in place. As with all knee sleeves, it is recommended to measure carefully and ensure you order the correct size so it fits and stays in place correctly.
The airflow through these knee pads is phenomenal and it goes a long way to keeping the legs cool. Air flows through the material on the front and sides, and especially the mesh back helps quite a bit.
The mesh back on these knee shin pads really serves two purposes. The first is that they allow air to escape easily, and helps the back of your knees from getting all sweaty and itchy. The second is that the mesh material compresses down more easily, so it allows your legs easier movement and won’t bunch up behind your knee under some movements.
They are comfortable to wear and there is no pinching and they allow plenty of movement. They are comfortable to wear for hours.
Ventilation
The Kali Strike knee shin guard is designed to be used for all-day riding. The material on the front and the mesh material on the back allow ample amounts of air to flow through and keep your legs from getting hot and itchy.
The moisture-wicking material is the best you can get and I was impressed to see that level of engineering and shows the professional quality level of these. These are easy to wear regardless of temperature for year-round usage.
Riding Performance
The Protective Strike pads are very flexible and allow for plenty freedom of movement whether pedaling uphill or downhill. They have padding on both the front and sides so having this much free movement is an excellent sign.
The mesh backing material is thinner so it doesn’t bunch up behind your knees, and it allows the back of the pads to actually feel open. Air flow is excellent, and they are comfortable to wear. They are lightweight mtb knee pads so they can fit under shorts, workout pants, or jeans quite easily.
Product Value
When the Kali knee pads are compared to other knee pads with either this level of knee and shin protection or against others in this price range, these pads are a far better deal. They provide better protection than typical lightweight knee sleeves, and these also come with an additional warranty so you know that you’ll get years of use out of these no problem.
A real nice bonus is that these come with a 3-year manufacturer warranty. That shows real confidence from Kali that these will hold up and you know that at a minimum you have a solid set of knee pads that are good for at least 3 years. The warranty coupled with the performance is likely the reasons these knee pads have received such positive reviews online.
The regular price of the Kali Protectives puts them into the upper half of prices so these are not budget shin guards, but they also provide very high levels of protection. Looking at the protection-to-price ratio, you really are getting a solid value and some serious protection. Couple these with an elbow guard set and you have plenty of protection for any riding.
Conclusion
The Kali Protectives Strike knee pads are well-made lightweight mountain bike knee pads that are comfortable to wear both in the material and the air flow keeping your legs cool. They have very strong knee and shin protection, and they are an excellent deal from a company that really prides itself on quality products. So much so that they come with a 3 year warranty.
So if you’re looking for new enduro or off road trail riding knee pads, definitely consider these as they are highly recommended. I hope this knee pad review has helped you to determine if these are the right ones for you.
