SixSixOne’s excellent D3O equipped EVO Elbow and Knee soft pads got updated with their Padlock technology and include a D3O insert, a front Kevlar layer, and Velcro straps on top for an improved fit. They have a CE 1621:1 rating, come in S-XL sizes, and retail for $99.99.
For further information, refer to sixsixone.com
Features
The soft armor 661 EVO Knee pad was designed for high impact protection and features the D3O polyurethane energy-absorbing material, which stiffens on impact yet remains flexible while riding. D3O absorbs and dissipates the energy from impacts and spreads it across a wider area, reducing the amount of force that gets transmitted to the body. The pads feature Kevlar front panels for improved abrasion resistance and protection. Surrounding the D3O/Kevlar system are four foam pads, two above the knee and two along the outer calf, which combines for additional side protection and safety.
Both the Kevlar knee cup and removable molded D3o foam pads have a pre-curved 3D design for increased security. There is one adjustable Velcro strap at the thigh to offer a secure and stable fit without any excessive movement or sagging.
The main body of the pads utilizes a double-faced material with an internal perforated foam core for breathability. The rear cutouts behind the knees provide additional comfort and flexibility, as does the neoprene material at back top and bottom.
Impressions
The pre-curved 3D Kevlar knee cup and D30 foam pad offer greatly improved comfort, fit, and function, and helps keep them in place during a crash, tumble, and while pedaling. The perforated primary material that sits behind the D30 and padding covers most of the front and side of the interior was comfortable and pliable, significantly adding to the pedaling characteristics and plushness of the armor. Along each side is a set of calf pods and knee pods which offered increased impact protection, and they were functional when taking a sliding digger during a crash, hitting the top tube of your bike with your knee, and when bashing through bushes. The rear cutouts behind the knees provide additional comfort, flexibility, and pedaling characteristics.
They’re comfortable and flexible, making even long pedaling sessions pleasant, though after 3-4 hours of pedaling they can become slightly uncomfortable, though that’s outside of their design criteria. I sometimes would carry them on my pack when climbing long fire roads and singletrack, and put them on at the top of a climb. I did find after long rides that the very bottom of the lower hem could irritate my shin, so it would be nice if they featured a softer and broader finishing.
The pull-on armor has a comfortable elastic body, and even though they don’t have any silicone grippers at the hems, they rarely drooped downwards, and if needed, a quick tug brought them back into position. The Velcro adjustment at the top offered lots of fine-tuning, though I rarely found I needed to alter it once I was riding, and it was comfortable without any binding and pinching. I do wish the attached Loop (soft) side of the adjuster was longer since when I had it locked down for my somewhat skinny thighs, it snagged on the soft perforated material.
They haven’t shown any undue signs of wear and tear and have been extremely durable, and even with my occasional washing and drying of them, and some mild tumbles. The sizeable front Kevlar panels have much helped with the pad’s longevity, and even the usually fragile Neoprene material at the back hasn’t shown any degradation. Even with the primary body materials extensive perforations, and the 15 holes in the D3O, it only offered adequate ventilation, so it can feel a bit warm on hot days, though it provided enough wickability never to get overly damp when sweating.
The pads feature their PADLOCK connection system, which allows you to attach them to their matching protector shorts. PADLOCK is their newest technology that inner-connects protection pieces (EVO Jackets and shorts), so their elbow and knee pads won’t migrate while riding or in the event of a crash.
Bottom Line
I found the 661 EVO Knee II pads to be extremely comfortable and flexible, with great pedaling attributes for such a beefy piece of soft armor. The pre-bent shape of the knee cup and D3O material kept them in place without any excessive movement, and the single upper Velcro adjuster worked fine. I could pedal and wear them for an extended period without any real issues, though on long rides, the lower hem sometimes caused some irritation on my shin. I didn’t find them overly warm except on the hottest days, and they wicked moisture decently for a relatively beefy piece of armor.
The 661 EVO Knee II pads are a perfect blend between minimalistic soft armor and full-on storm-trooper gear, offering better protection than their softer counterparts and more comfort and pedaling performance than downhill gear. The superb D3o material and Kevlar front panels offered improved protection and longevity, and the soft side foam pods provided additional safety when needed.
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