Sweet Protection Knee Guards Review

The Sweet Protection Knee Guards were an easy choice for our Best Buy Award. We have tested numerous pairs of super minimalist knee pads over the years. While other options are equally thin and a touch lighter, the Sweet Protection pads offer the best protection and the highest comfort level compared to similar options. The most impressive metrics were certainly Pedal Friendliness and Fit and Comfort while Protection was a pleasant surprise within the intended application. Riders who like to log miles and spend hours on their mountain bikes will be thrilled with these pads.

Performance Comparison

Protection

As a minimalist knee pad, the Sweet Protection Knee Guard offers a light level of protection with a focus on providing a high level of pedal-friendliness and comfort. These pads offer minimum amounts of protection compared to other options and are best suited for riders who just want a little knee coverage for infrequent crashes.

The Sweet Protection Knee Guards have a fairly short sleeve length. The main armor patch is approximately six inches long. The armor is about 3.5-inches wide at the knee cap and tapers down towards the upper shin. The SAS-TEC armor is thin and very flexible. When manipulated with your hands, the armor plate is pliable and slow to rebound. SAS-TEC, like the popular D30 material, is soft to the touch but designed to harden upon impact. The main armor patch is covered by an Aramid layer intended to resist tears and cuts.

On the trail, these are not the most confidence-inducing knee pads. This should not come as a surprise. The marketing copy on the manufacturer's website states these pads are designed for riders who are “into long-distance biking and want some protection, without bulk”. We find this to be an accurate assessment. These are a great choice for riders who want to do significant amounts of pedaling and climbing and simply want a touch of protection in the event things go sideways. Skilled riders on short to mid-travel trail bikes who crash infrequently will love these pads. Enduro and gravity riders will probably be better off looking into beefier options.

Fit and Comfort

The Sweet Protection Knee Guards boast an extremely high level of comfort. The short sleeve paired with a low-weight and soft armor patch is a recipe for success.

Once we slipped the pads over our feet and into position, we were instantly impressed. The armor plate feels extremely pleasant against the knee and throughout the pedal stroke, it remains comfortable and soft. The fit through the sleeve is consistent and there are no pockets of excess material, bunching, or hot spots. At 222 grams, the Sweet Protection Knee Guards are very light. When walking or riding, they feel airy and absent of any bulk.

These knee guards come in sizes XS-XL. We tested a set of large pads and found them to fit true to size. The pads were snug enough to stay in place on multi-hour rides while remaining easy to take on and off. There is an elastic material on the inside of the upper cuff to help keep the pads in place. The overall sleeve length is relatively short. Riders who are concerned about a gap between the top of the knee pad and the bottom of their shorts should be cautious with these knee guards.

Pedal Friendliness

The Sweet Protection pads offer an extremely high level of pedal-friendliness. If you love long rides with boatloads of climbing, these are the knee pads for you. We have tested a handful of ultra-light and minimalist pads and these are a clear favorite. The low weight paired with the short sleeve length makes it easy to forget about these slim and low-profile knee guards.

In the saddle, the pedal stroke is beautifully unrestricted. The small and soft SAS-TEC armor patch conforms to the knee beautifully. At the top of the stroke, the padding remains relatively flat against the knee. Other lightweight pads we have tested can have a tendency to lift off the knee at the top of the stroke which can be annoying and potentially irritating to your skin. The Sweet Protection Knee Guards are the closest thing to wearing nothing at all.

Ventilation and Breathability

The Sweet Protection pads offer excellent levels of ventilation. They breathe exceptionally well and we would have no problem reaching for these on a scorching summer ride.

There isn't much in the way of fancy ventilation features to be found on these pads. Instead, the minimalist design, short sleeve, and low weight work to create a pretty airy experience. The lack of a huge bulky armor plate and excess materials help keep the rider cool. The thin armor patch paired with the Aramid fabric allows some air to pass through the front of the pad. Should you get the Sweet Protection pads wet or ultra-sweaty, we found that they dry out quickly.

Durability

Throughout testing, we observed no signs of premature wear or breakdown of materials. The stitching remained perfect and all seams appear to be tight and tidy.

We did not crash while wearing these knee pads. We do, however, have some concerns about how these knee guards will stand up to crashes on rocky or loose surfaces. The main armor patch is covered with an Aramid fabric to add an element of toughness. Still, this material seems like it could be relatively easily torn in the event of a high-speed crash. Knee pads with a plastic or rubberized material on the kneecap tend to stand up better to high-speed crashes, especially if rocks are involved.

We have mentioned a few times that these pads are best suited for skilled riders who are not likely to crash often. As a result, we aren't too worried about these pads getting torn within a few weeks of ownership. Still, it would be a bummer to see these pads shredded after one or two crashes.

Value

We feel the Sweet Protection pads represent a great value. Yes, these pads are simple and minimalist. That being said, they offer a high-quality fit, are exceptionally comfortable, and are tremendously pleasant when pedaling. We feel the price tag is easily justified by the quality and comfort.

Conclusion

The Sweet Protection Knee Guards are the most pedal-friendly pads in our test class and they also represent an outstanding value. They are light, simple, and offer an unrivaled pedaling motion. Riders who want a minimalist and sleek option for long rides and hefty climbs will love these pads. The protection level is fairly modest, and these pads are best suited for riders who crash infrequently and want a little peace of mind for the occasional tumble.