The Importance of Knee Braces when Adventure Riding
Should you be wearing knee braces for adventure riding? In short, absolutely. Although, as with most additional protective equipment, it really comes down to the application of riding you're predominantly taking part in, however knee braces are always beneficial over knee guards or nothing at all.
Equipping yourself with a set of knee braces is a big investment, but the investment is well worth it when they save your knee from needing a full reconstruction, which will put you back thousands of dollars and most likely sideline your from work for a number of weeks. The most expensive set of knee braces off the shelf will still be cheaper than your initial MRI for any knee injury.
Obviously, there's no guarantee of 100 percent prevention (which we all understand with protective equipment), although they are one of the most effective solutions for preventing a serious knee injury.
Image source: Pod Active - Website
The Purpose of a Knee Brace
The essential purpose of a knee guard is to offer protection in the form of reducing abrasion and the initial impact of a crash or fall, but they don’t offer any of the benefits of a knee brace. A knee brace not only provides advanced protection in these areas, it also offers support throughout the knee to prevent harsh lateral or sideways movements when twisting your knee, which can cause extensive injury to the ligaments or cartilage in the joint.
In most instances, these injuries aren't even the result of a crash - they're generally the result of dabbing your leg on the ground through corners or in challenging sections of trail where your feet can get caught and twist your knee.
Reduce Impact on Your Joints
Knee braces have a solid external frame with a hinge design at the knee joint, which replicates the movements of the knee, allowing it to soak up the forces of impact and reduce the strain on your body.
Along with the extensive support of your knee - and leg for that matter - the regular full-length construction of a knee brace also offers above the knee protection, which is an added bonus for impact protection. I've actually found the top half of the knee brace has provided impact protection from the bars during a fall on too many occasions than I’d like to remember.
One of the biggest gripes I hear with knee braces is how they feel and fit, as they do provide a unique feel when you've never worn them before. Knee braces take some getting used to, and within a matter of rides, you'll forget you're even wearing them.
There's no questioning they're uncomfortable to start off with, but don't let this be a deterrent, as you will adjust to them when you're on the bike. One hot tip though: a pair of knee brace socks or compression garments will go a long way in the comfort department.
Some Professional Advice
My best advice is try on some of a number of different brands see which one fits and feels best on your knee. As for sizing, you don't want anything that's able to loosely move around while strapped, while you'll know if a knee brace is too small, as it will be very tight and uncomfortable.
We always advise to come in store and get fitted up correctly - a knee brace that's not fitted correctly will hamper its ability to protect and support your knees.
There's a huge selection of knee braces on offer, and some are drastically better than others. If there's one thing I can recommend, it's to stick to the brands who have invested years of research into developing knee braces, and brands where knee braces are their predominant focus.
Our Recomended Knee Brace Brands
Image: Pod K4 Youth
The companies I would look at are PODMX, Mobius, Alpinestars, Leatt, and EVS - they are the leading brands in the knee brace industry, which are all specifically designed for motorcycle riding on and off the road.
Personally, I've been wearing POD knee braces for over seven years now for both racing and leisurely riding, and I simply won't step on a bike without them if I'm heading off-road. I find POD's offering extremely comfortable and they've certainly saved my knees on various occasions, giving me peace of mind every time I'm on the bike.
If you’re taking adventure bike anywhere off-road, then wearing a pair of knees braces is highly advisable, as the smallest of slip ups or twists could end up with heavy consequences.