7IDP SAM HILL HOLOGRAPHIC KNEE PAD REVIEW

Words by Travis Reill  |  Photos by Drew Rohde

7iDP took their beloved Sam Hill Knee Pads and put a holographic twist on them for their limited edition holographic lineup. One would think that wearing knee pads designed by three-time EWS champion Sam Hill might make them a little faster—with even more speed added from the holographic decals. While I have immensely enjoyed using the 7iDP Sam Hill pads, I regret to inform Loam Wolf readers that I did not win any world level enduro races in them. All joking aside, I was excited for my first go with the 7iDP brand, and the chance to try these limited edition pads.

ABOUT THE 7iDP SAM HILL HOLOGRAPHIC KNEE PADS

Aside from the shiny, holographic logos and branding that come on these knee pads, they are the same Sam Hill pads that have been in 7iDP’s protection lineup for a while now. The overall knee sleeve is rather long, covering from mid-thigh down to mid-calf, measuring roughly 17 inches (43 cm) long. While the knee sleeve retains its subtle black color, the typical blue branding is replaced by a much less subtle glimmering holographic silver 7iDP logo. The cuffs on either end of the knee sleeve are roughly 1 inch wide (2.5 cm), with the silicone gripper measured at about ¼ inch (63 mm).

Most of the sleeve is made from a very stretchy, compression material with a mesh strip running the length of the back of the sleeve. This mesh strip helps an already light and breathable pad allow more airflow. The front of the knee sleeve sees a reinforced and coarser material, where the knee would make contact with the ground. This reinforcement wraps around to the side of the leg nicely, providing quite a bit of extra protection to the sides of the knee. Inside the knee sleeve, the pad is easily removable, making the sleeve and pad easy to wash.

7iDP uses a Level 2 SAS-TEC knee pad in the Sam Hill Pads. The pad is made from visco elastic foam, which SAS-TEC claims has excellent shock absorption values, with a “residual force <20kN.” While still a rather dense and firm foam, the pad is curved and molded to fit the knee well, and further molds and bends with the rider as worn. For 7iDP, all of this equals a pad offering high-level protection that can comfortably be worn all day.

THE DIRT

To be honest, most Level 1 knee pads I wear on many trail rides aren’t offering much in the way of protection. And for good reason – I don’t necessarily need them to. On an average trail ride, I’ll most likely be looking for some blue/black flow trails; hit some good jumps and hope to find some more manageable techy sections that still allow for carrying good speed. My hope in a knee pad is that they are first and foremost comfortable and, secondly, that they protect my knee when I inevitably lose my front tire around an off-camber corner.

When wearing a Level 1 pad, I am more worried about skinned knees than larger impacts. When I cross over onto the more rowdy trails and worry about my knees finding rocks, I start to get concerned about the level of protection on offer. Many pads that offer more protection are frankly uncomfortable, so I typically lean toward comfort and wear fairly minimal pads that likely won’t help much when it comes to rowdy and rocky trails. Of course, like many of us, I’m searching for that “Goldilocks” pad—the one that can withstand big impacts, but wears like a minimalist trail pad. And it seems like 7iDP and Sam Hill have done a pretty good job balancing those two things.

While the Sam Hill Knee Pads don’t feel precisely like a thinner, Level 1 knee pad, they are pretty damn close. Undoubtedly, I could feel the much thicker, much denser pad inside the knee sleeve. However, I did not find the pad uncomfortable or hindering my riding. The pad was noticeably there, but without the bulky feeling that other pads with a Level 2 certification typically have.

When I first put the sleeve on, it seemed as if the edges of the pad would come into contact around my knee and shin uncomfortably, but they never did. The pad is allowed to somewhat form to your leg as you ride, much like how a quality insole will conform to your foot. And the more I rode in the Sam Hill Knee Pads, the more the pad seemed to mold to my knee and upper shin.

The knee sleeve’s length and compression fit could make the pads a bit tricky to get on, especially for newer riders. Those of us who have used these types of pads over the years know it can be a bit of a process. I would have liked bigger cuffs on the Sam Hill pads with a different silicone grip pattern. As they are, the Sam Hill pads have a roughly ¼ inch silicone ring around the top and bottom of the cuff. While this gripped okay, I’ve found that I prefer a larger, more spread-out silicone pattern – like dots – as it seems to grip better and be more comfortable. I did have to stop to adjust the top cuff on several rides because the top cuff wasn’t sitting just right, as it seemed to have moved or rolled down a bit. The cuffs weren’t necessarily uncomfortable, just more of a hassle that perhaps could be solved with a bit more coverage at the cuffs.

The Wolf’s Last Word

The 7iDP Sam Hill Holographic Knee Pad offers significant protection and flashy style, but wears like a more minimalist trail pad. For enduro races, bike park laps, and more aggressive trail rides, 7iDP’s Sam Hill Knee Pad is the one to reach for.

Price: $109.99
Website: 7idp.com

WHERE TO BUY
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