Elbow Pads

Elbow Pad Buying Guide

Elbow injuries are the second most common upper body injury in mountain biking after collarbone fractures. A scraped or bruised elbow keeps you off the bike for days. A broken olecranon (the bony point of the elbow) keeps you off for months. Elbow pads are cheap insurance.

Soft vs Hard Shell

Soft-shell pads (G-Form Pro-X3, POC VPD Air, Race Face Indy) use materials that are flexible during normal riding and stiffen on impact. They're thin, breathable and barely noticeable while pedalling — the type you'll actually wear every ride. Hard-shell pads (Fox Launch, Leatt 3DF, IXS Carve) use a rigid cap over foam padding — more protective against sharp impacts on rocks but hotter, bulkier and more restrictive. Match the protection level to your riding — soft-shell for trail, hard-shell for DH and park.

Slip-On vs Strap-On

Slip-on pads (most modern elbow pads) pull on like a sleeve and stay in place with a silicone gripper band. They're more secure than strap-on designs and don't have buckles that dig in. The downside: you need to take your jersey off to put them on. Strap-on pads wrap around the elbow with velcro — easier to put on mid-ride but more prone to shifting during crashes.

Sizing

Elbow pad fit is critical — too loose and they slide off during a crash, too tight and they restrict blood flow and movement. Measure around the elbow with arm slightly bent. Most brands publish size charts based on this measurement. If you're between sizes, go with the smaller size for slip-on pads (they stretch) and the larger size for strap-on pads (they don't).