Fox Racing Enduro Knee Sleeve Review

Analysis and Test Results

The Fox Racing knee pads scored well in some very important categories. Fit, comfort, and pedal friendliness were obvious strong suits. That is what makes these pads such a fantastic option for long hours spent in the saddle. Protection and durability were categories that the Enduro Knee Sleeve didn't fare quite so well. These pads scored very closely with the Troy Lee Designs Speed Knee Sleeve with the Fox pads having an edge in protection and fit.

Performance Comparison

The Enduro Knee Sleeve, confusingly enough, are not really designed for enduro-level terrain.

Protection

The Fox pads take a minimalist approach to protection. It is clear they weren't designed for charging down rowdy terrain or hucking it big, that was never the intention for these pads. Instead, they offer a dose of protection while remaining extremely light, comfortable, and pedal-friendly.

The padding on the front of the knee pad is soft to the touch, and it extends from the top of the knee cap down the shin a little ways. In addition, there is some added coverage on the sides of the knee, which can prove critical. This padding is not a shell or an exterior armor like the Leatt Airflex or the Six Six One Recon, it's just a cushy sleeve. The layer of padding is quite low profile and not bulky. There is minimal information about the material on the Fox website. It doesn't appear to be a technical layer that firms up upon impact, just some simple padding.

We didn't crash while wearing these pads, but we did some very basic and simple impact testing. While the padding does take the edge off, you can still feel impacts through them. These pads, along with the Troy Lee Designs Speed Knee Sleeve, offer the least amount of protection in the test. They will take the edge off a crash and might prevent some cuts, scrapes, and bruising, that said, it will still hurt, and they won't protect you as well as more robust and protective models.

The sleeve itself is relatively long. It covers the leg from the short line down to the high shin area and delivers an element of sun protection. Also, this provides a bit of protection from thorns or branches that you might brush up against on the trail.

If you need a step up in protection but want to retain a pedal-friendly fit, the Six Six One Recon and the G-Form Pro X2 pads have a bit more protection. The Editor's Choice Leatt Airflex Pro offer the best blend of protection and pedal-friendliness.

These pads offer an excellent length and more protection than the Troy Lee pads.

Fit and Comfort

The Enduro Knee Sleeve offer a great fit and high level of comfort. The long black sleeve is pleasant against the skin. It isn't scratchy or irritating in the least. The pads are snug without feeling too tight. They don't cut off circulation, but they are tight enough to feel like they will not move. There is no excess or bulky material, and the fit appears to be well-designed and well-executed.

While the softer and thinner armored pads may detract from their overall protectiveness, they are exceptionally comfortable. Some of the other pads are a bit stiff and scratchy on the inside where they sit against the knee. Pads like the Kali Strike and Leatt Airflex Pro have a firm feel inside. The armored plate style pads like the G-Form Pro X2 and Six Six One Recon have somewhat of a textured and plated feel against the knee. The soft and foamy feel of the Enduro Knee Sleeve pads is exceptionally comfortable whether you are standing around or spinning the pedals.

Pedal Friendliness

The Enduro Knee Sleeve pads are tremendously pedal-friendly. These pads are our Top Pick for bigger and longer rides. If you are looking to do substantial amounts of climbing, these are the pads for you. They are comfortable, light, and do not restrict the pedal motion in the least. Another fantastic choice for top-notch pedal-friendliness is the Troy Lee Designs Speed Knee Sleeve. The Troy Lee Designs pads have a slightly shorter fit and don't offer the same levels of protection, that said, they are still exceptionally pedal-friendly.

One quirk about the Enduro Knee Sleeve is at the top of the pedal stroke. The one-piece pad doesn't quite sit flat against the knee cap at the top of the pedal stroke and it kind of squares off on-top of the knee cap. It is quite visible when looking down at the knee from the saddle. This isn't a serious problem, but it is a bit of a quirk. Since the knee pad is soft, this doesn't irritate the knee or cause any abrasion. It would be interesting to see if a multi-piece pad design negates this issue. The Troy Lee Designs Enduro Knee Sleeve share this problem to an extent, but they attempted to use a shaped pad to negate this. Since the pad is larger on the Fox, the issue is more noticeable.

Ventilation is impressive, the rear mesh allows heat to escape while the foamy padding on the front allows small amounts of air to pass through.

Ventilation and Breathability

These pads offer decent ventilation. The stretchy material on the sleeve wicks moisture away from the skin. If you catch a breeze in the right direction, you can feel some wind coming through the rear of the pads. The soft padding in the front of the pad allows more airflow compared to the hard shell options.

Given the nature of knee pads, they will never be as airy and cool as not wearing anything. That said, these pads have solid ventilation and given their lightweight construction, are cooler than the other pads we have tested save for the even more slender Troy Lee Designs Speed Knee Sleeve.

Durability

Throughout the testing period, we observed no signs of seams or stitching failing. The pads look the same way they did when they were brand new. We have no reason to believe these will not hold up for the long haul under normal use.

We do have serious concerns about how these pads will hold up in the event of a crash. The soft material and soft pads seem likely to rip and tear if you crash at speed. The majority of other pads in our test have some hard, outer layer in the form of a hard plastic cup or a plated style plastic armor. These materials can survive being dragged on the ground during a crash. The soft fabric on the Enduro Knee Sleeve or the Troy Lee Speed Knee Sleeve will not stand up to crashes as well as more robust models.

The pads can be taken on and off over your cycling shoes. It takes a strategic approach, but they are stretchy enough to get a shoe through. We recommend being careful as trying to shove your shoe through clumsily can put too much stress on the seams and fabrics.

Comfort, breathability, and pedal-friendliness are the hallmarks of the Enduro Knee Sleeve.

Best Applications

The Fox Racing Knee Sleeve is a great choice for riders who want to do substantial amounts of pedaling but seek a small element of protection. These are best suited for trail riders who aren't riding heavy doses of gnar and have the skills generally avoid crashing.

Riders who like the sound of a pedal-friendly knee pad but want some added protection should check out the Six Six One Recon or the G-Form Pro X2 pads. Want to take a serious step above that in terms of protection? The Editor's Choice Leatt Airflex Pro are killer pads that have far superior protection but can't come close to matching the pedal-friendliness. Generally, the more protection found in the pads, the less pedal-friendly they are.

Value

At $60, the Enduro Knee Sleeve are a decent value. Some folks may evaluate these pads and notice that they are straightforward and there isn't much to them. They are about as basic as can be. That said, they work well and offer great pedal-friendliness, which helps justify the slightly higher price tag.

The Enduro Knee Sleeves are a pedal friendly option that provide moderate levels of protection.

Conclusion

The Fox Racing Enduro Knee Sleeve are a great choice for trail riders seeking a lightweight and pedal-friendly solution. People who plan on grinding uphill for substantial periods will love these pads. Also, riders with the skills to keep the bike upright and their knees off the ground will especially love these. A notable downside to these pads is that they may not stand up to more than one crash given the soft material used in their construction.