G-FORM E-LINE KNEE PAD REVIEW

Words by Sourpatch

G-Form isn’t just a bike protection company, their catalog of protective products branches out too many other sports. Though their offerings are vast, they’ve been missing one crucial segment of mountain bikers by not offering an aggressive pad. That is until they released the E-Line series of knee and elbow pads.

THE LAB
Built to conquer technical terrain, the E-Line knee pads feature a quad-layer construction. From the outside in, G-Form uses an hard shell for anti-fiction fastened to a layer of Armortex (a Kevlar blend) anti-abrasion material, followed by the Smartflex protection pad. All of that is mounted to ventilated foam for ample comfort. All the layers feature G-Form’s Active Airflow design that is meant to keep the knees cool. The E-Line knee pads are also CE 1621-1 certified to ensure outstanding protection.

A pair of hook and loop fit Velcro straps offer a customized fit with plenty of security while also remaining comfortable. The E-Lines utilize a zipper system which allows you to take the pads on and off easily without having to take your shoes off as well. As with all G-Forms pads, these are machine washable and available in sizes small thru x-large.

THE DIRT
I’ve been a fan of G-Forms pads since their inception, and the Pro-X2’s have always been my go-to knee pads. I was excited to see the new E-Line knee pads finally come to market and couldn’t wait to get my hands on a pair. Even on the first zip, I knew it was love. The G-Form E-Line knee pads have got to be one of the most comfortable pads I’ve ever worn. So much so, that at times I’d forget I was wearing pads, even on 4+ hour ride days. They felt invisible whether I was on an eBike or riding the chair lift at Mt. Bachelor. My size mediums fit extremely well and don’t move around unnecessarily.

The hard-outer shell has proven to be quite durable for the few scuffs I’ve had with the ground and G-Forms Smartflex protection pad has done a great job mitigating any unwanted forces to my knees on impact. The extra section of to the outer knee area is a nice addition and provides a tiny bit more protection. Breathability is excellent and not once have my knees sweat in these pads, which is impressive given how thick they look.

What I love most about the E-Line pads is somewhat trivial, but I love being able to zip them on and off without having to take my shoes off. As someone who rides flat pedals and uses shoes with a traditional lace set-up, having to untie and retie shoes is kind of a pain in the butt… Yeah, I’m lazy sometimes.

The Wolf’s Last Word

The E-Line knee pads are exactly what G-Form was missing in their line-up, and they check all the boxes. Built for the aggressive, technical terrain shredding rider? Check. Perfect pad for all day e-ripping? Check. Provides ample protection while remaining cool and comfortable? Check. Allows you to be semi-lazy when gearing up? Check. I now have a new go-to knee pad in my gear bag. There is one downside to them however. I know you can’t put a price on safety, but they are slightly more expensive than some of the competition in the Hardshell / Hybrid knee pad marketplace. G-Form does have a 30-day return policy should you not like the pads after you give them a try though, but it only took me a few minutes to decide they were staying forever!

Price: $109.99
Website: G-Form.com