How to choose the best knee brace︱Cross Training Adventure

http://crosstrainingenduro.com How to choose the best knee braces for dual sport riding or adventure riding? In a previous video we explored how to reduce knee injuries, and the options for knee protection when adventure riding or dual sport riding. No protection at all. Knee pads. Knee guards. And knee braces. Welcome to Cross Training Adventure, we are into all things dual sport and adventure on the east coast of Australia. Knee braces won't suit everyone. But the high level of knee protection is great for older riders, anyone riding aggressively or regularly in gnarly terrain, or riders with existing knee problems. So you have decided to buy knee braces for adventure riding. Here is our guide on choosing the best knee braces. Check out our reviews of various adventure bikes and dual sport bikes. First? Make sure they are actually knee braces! Some manufacturers trying to sell their basic knee guards as knee braces. EVS are the most blatant example, with these models. If you like dual sport riding in Australia then you might like our adventure riding vids. The worst problem? You need four very strong straps to secure a knee brace correctly. If you only have two or three straps, there is very little protection against hyperextension of the knee. The hinges and 'arms' are very strong on proper knee braces. There will be 'extension stops' that are adjustable to allow for the natural hyperextension of each rider's knee. Keen on adventure riding in Australia? Check out our vids. The knee cap will be very sturdy and not allow big gaps. The best knee braces for dual sport riding are built with carbon fibre or metal. The budget ones are predominantly plastic. The overall length is important too. Shorter knee braces will provide less protection against hyerextension. Focus on the correct fit, not the brand! Look around the forums and you will find guys saying Pods are shit but Leatt are brilliant. Then someone else will say Pods are fantastic but Leatt are crap. But once you are spending enough to buy quality knee braces, a good fit is generally more important than the actual brand or any features they have. Each manufacturer designs their brace to fit what they think is an average leg. So the less average your leg, the worse the fit. It can make a brace very uncomfortable, but more importantly a poor fit means a knee brace will only half protect you for adventure riding. Why? Any decent knee brace will prevent hyerextension of the leg extremely well, even if the fit isn't very good. However, knee braces have a limited effectiveness with reducing twisting motions, and impacts through the lower leg that can damage the meniscus. And to be effective at all, a knee brace must have a good snug fit of your leg and knee to give you some protection at all. So never buy braces without trying them first. A poor fitting knee brace will prevent hyerextension, but will do very little against other forces that can damage your knee. How do you ensure a good fit? First is getting those straps tight. If you don't, your knee brace is no better than a knee guard and it won't even protect you against hyperextension. Always start with the strap just under your knee. Next? The strap just above your knee. Then the lowest and highest straps. Run your hand along the straps to ensure there is no slack that can loosen the brace while riding. Next adjust the stops so that the brace doesn't dig too much into your quad muscle, or shin, when your leg is hyperextended in adventure riding. Bend your leg and check the gap around the knee cup. Some space is good for airflow when dual sport riding but you want good protection above and below the knee cup without huge gaps. Make sure that there is a firm pressure against the sides of your knee joint. This helps to reduce twisting, and top quality knee braces will provide adjustable padding here for this reason. Ditto for the top of the femur here, you want a snug fit and good braces like the CTi will provide extra padding to insert if needed. If you have very thin fat or muscular legs you may find the brace doesn't grip your leg well. If you can't find a brand that fits well then you may need to look at custom braces. Likewise if your legs bow in or out a lot. An off-the-shelf brace will be uncomfortable and not very effective for dual sport riding. This is one of our three channels, there's also a Cross Training Trials channel, and a Cross Training Enduro channel. All three are equally dodgy. We are the 27th most watched dirt channel in Uzbekistan. So called dual sport riding reviews are just glossy ads nowdays. Cross Training Adventure actively avoids sponsorship. Or don't subscribe to our Cross Training Adventure riding channel. The main thing is get out and ride while you can with dual sport riding or Adventure riding in Australia, Canada, Vietnam, Romania and beyond! So check out Cross Training Adventure.
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