Swiss brand iXS specialise in the production of technical clothing and protection for motocross and mountain biking. Straight away, the FLOW EVO+ knee pad stands out from the test field with its olive-green colour. Tipping the scales at 143 g, it’s one of the lightest pads in the test. Compared to its competitors, it’s rather compact and features a relatively short sleeve with only a small portion of fabric extending over the thigh and calf.
Click here for an overview: 14 trail knee pads in test
Fastening System Velcro Strap hollow of the knee | Lab Test Results 20 kN at 3.6 ms
Manufacturer’s website
The front side is lined with a sturdier, anti-abrasion material while the rear section consists of a light mesh. A printed silicone strip around the top cuff prevents it from sliding and is complemented with a Velcro strap at the back of the knee. With a price tag of € 89.90 the FLOW EVO+ sits bang in the middle of the test field and the Level 1 certification with 20 kN residual force at 3.6 ms is average too.
The iXS FLOW EVO+ on the trail
Thanks to its compact dimensions, the iXS FLOW EVO+ is easy to put on and take off. The short sleeve takes a little getting used to and leaves a small gap between your shorts and pads – but this can vary depending on the shorts’ cut. Once you get used to the fit, the FLOW EVO+ ensures a high level of comfort – so comfortable in fact, that you’ll forget you’re even wearing knee pads! Moreover, the iXS FLOW EVO+ is the only model in test that employs a well-thought-out and functional knee strap that actually works: it’s conveniently short and allows you to secure the knee pad properly – awesome! The Velcro closure stretches over the entire length of the strap, allowing you to adjust the length to suit your anatomy and preferences. The iXS FLOW EVO+ offers an excellent fit both on epic pedalling sessions and long Alpine descents. But there’s also a downer: with some testers, it rubbed against the shins while pedalling, so we recommend pulling the pads down on long monotonous climbs.
Tops
- Secure fit
- Well-thought-out strap at the back of the knee
Flops
- Pressure points on the shins
- Short cut is a matter of taste
You can find out more about at ixs.com.
The test field
Click here for an overview: 14 trail knee pads in test
All kneepads in test: 100% Teratec Plus (Click for review) | Alpinestars Paragon Plus (Click for review) | AMPLIFI Havok (Click for review) | Chromag Rift Knee Guard (Click for review) | Fox Launch D3O (Click for review) | Ion K Lite (Click for review) | iXS FLOW EVO+ | Leatt AirFlex Pro (Click for review) | Ortema GP5 Knee Protector (Click for review) | Pearl Izumi Elevate Knee Guard V1 (Click for review) | POC Joint VPD 2.0 Knee (Click for review) | Rapha Trail Knee Pad (Click for review) | Scott Soldier 2 (Click for review) | Troy Lee Designs Stage (Click for review)
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Words & Photos: Simon Kohler
