Alpinestars Moab Knee Guard's - Reviewed

For a while now I have been looking for a suitable knee shin guard to help offer my legs a little more protection than my well used 661 knee pads. After doing my research, I decided to hand over my hard earned cash for a pair of Alpinestars Moab Knee Guard's, which retailing at £74.99 are far from being the cheapest pads out there, but their thoughtful design and construction seemed to help me justify the price.

First look at the pads and it quickly becomes clear that Alpinestars have gone that extra step than some other manufacturers to create a knee shin guard crammed full of nice features and a high level of protection. The Moab guard is very slim, thanks to its low profile design so they don't feel overly bulky and has also helped to keep the weight down. The adjustable dual strap securing system used by the Moab uses a padded velcro strap that sits on your leg, with a second adjustable velcro strap attached to the buckle that then clips into the side of pad for extra security. The dual strap securing system also allows you to put the pads on and take them off without having to take of your shoes.

After several months of use and numerous crashes the Moabs have remained in place and in good shape.

At first the shin guards felt a bit odd when standing or walking around in, due to the guards having a pre-curved fit to them, a feature you would find in some of Alpinestars moto gear. In the first few outings on my bike, the top edge of the knee caps felt a bit uncomfortable due to formed knee cup, but with a few adjustments to the straps and a bit of breaking in time the Moabs felt very comfortable. The thermoplastic protectors that cover the knee and shin area offer great protection, and with extended foam padding above the ankle and around the edges of the plastic guards offer that bit more protection. After several months of use and numerous crashes the Moabs have remained in place and in good shape. The adjustable dual strap system combined with the silicone printed interior has helped the guards stay in place while riding or sliding in sliding in a crash.

One small issue I have found with the Moabs is sometimes the large velcro straps at the back of the pads get caught up in the lining of my shorts. I had noticed some riders already using Moabs had combined them with a knee sock that Alpinestars make, which can be installed over the knee guard which would stop the velcro from getting snagged on my shorts. They would also help to offer a little more protection around the side of the knees, which my old knee pads had. Overall these are excellent knee shin guards, which offer CE certified rated protection, with a adjustable and flexible fit which should offer a better personal fit to a wider variety of rides.

The durability of the pads seems excellent aided by the construction and materials used, helping to justify my investment in the Moabs.

Price: £74.99
Sizes: S/M & L/XL
Colour: Black & White

Website: www.alpinestars.com
UK Distributor: www.extrauk.co.uk