7iDP Covert Knee Pads - Review
When it comes to knee guards, there's a sea of options on the market these days, everything from barely-there, glorified knee warmers that help protect from minor abrasions, to offerings intended for downhill usage that employ thick layers of energy absorbing foam to minimize the carnage that can result from rag-dolling off the trail. 7iDP's (iDP stands for Intelligent Design Protection) Covert knee pads fall somewhere in the middle of that spectrum, but possess increased versatility thanks to the fact riders can customize the level of protection the pads provide by adding or removing one of the foam layers that reside inside the polyester / spandex sleeve.
There are a total of three layers that protect the knee – two pieces of foam, one that's slightly thicker and less dense than the other, and a pre-curved 2mm plastic cap that sits on top. The sleeve itself has an elastic cuff on the top and bottom, and uses a strip of silicone inside the top cuff to help keep the pads from slipping down. With all of the padding and plastic shell in place the pads exceed the CE EN 1621-1 standard which is used for motorcycle armor, although removing a layer or two does diminish the amount of protection. Available in sizes S, M, L, and XL, the Covert pads retail for $89.95 USD. Weight: 416 grams (pair, size M). 7protection.com
The sleeve on the left houses two layers of foam and a plastic cap.
A fully assembled view of the Covert pad's internals.
Pinkbike’s Take:
 | When I first pulled the Coverts on I was struck by how differently the shaping of the foam makes them sit - the center of the pads contact the leg from the upper shin to above above the knee cap, but the sides stick out slightly rather than fully wrapping around the leg. Despite the unique shape, the pads remained unobtrusive out on the trail, and there wasn't any chafing or discomfort during extended rounds of pedaling. Even with all of the padding in place, a setup I used for more gravity oriented days when the extra bulk was worth the peace of mind it provided, the Coverts do a stellar job of fading into the background. They're there if needed, but are light and form fitting enough that they were never a hindrance. For longer pedal sessions I preferred to run them with the wider, more pliable foam layer combined with the plastic cap, removing the denser foam layer that usually sits in the middle. This gave them a more low profile fit, while still offering what I found to be enough protection for most situations. Temperatures were fairly mild for the majority of the test period, but the mesh on the back of the leg does seem to help keep things from getting too steamy, and it's easy enough to slide the pads down for longer stints of climbing. Performing the role of a real life crash test dummy is something I try to avoid, but after only a few rides with the Covert pads I took a massive spill that involved me tumbling through the trees, narrowly missing a boulder, and breaking my thumb somewhere along the way. The good news? The pads didn't slip down in the slightest, keeping my knees free of the scrapes and bruises that ended up scattered about the rest of my body. It was an abrupt end to what was supposed to be an epic ride, but it certainly proved that the Covert pads could hold their own when it mattered. Fortunately, the rest of my rides with the Covert pads went much more smoothly, and they continued to perform without any issues. Overall, the Coverts are an excellent addition to 7iDP's line of protective apparel, a lightweight, versatile, and well constructed set of knee guards that work as intended. - Mike Kazimer |
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@timlake Thanks its good to know those pass CE I had a very bad crash 12 years ago and was wearing kyle straits which at the time did not pass the CE mark (These are what I was referring to) and were still being sold in europe, I am still living with the injury today so little bitter. I was told that had I been in a good CE approved pad the impact would have been reduced considerably and I may not have had these issues. As I said above hopefully they have tested to CE as in referring to the rage pad, Its great that it now passes as the standards are there for a reason. Hadn't looked at 661 in 12 years but may give them a look in possibly.
Almost all protection is CE certified these days as it's illegal to market an item as protection if it does not have CE certification.
Thanks!
Me: "Hi, do you carry the 7iDp4000x26c's?"
LBS Guy: "What?!"
Me: "Nevermind"
Well they are called 7protection. I didn't make the name up or how it looks but 7iDP stands for 7protection.
7protection.com ------- read the url.
wp.me/p4HYH0-M