So I bought the POD K4 knee brace and after using them well over 1.5 years here are my thoughts. - The frame is super strong - With long socks the fitment is great - It significantly reduces pain in my knees after a day of ripping trails - The patella cup is wimpy and by the least NOT confident inspiring. It's super thin and looks like it would NOT hold a minor fall let alone a crash. I feel like as if I should wear an extra knee guard over the patella cup for impact protection. If I would have known before hand that the patella cup would be so fragile I wouldnt have bought the PODs. Leatt will probably be my next brace. They are both medically certified (pods are too) but the main difference is that Leatt braces are also CE certified impact protection. This is something I do wish the PODS have had to. If POD would improve their patella cup by having it certified as CE motorcycle impact protective gear, they would be the best product in this segment. I've emailed pods about my thoughts but they seemed to ignore my recommendations and only said that impact protection was a major aspect during the development process of the PODS. Sadly this hasn't been translated into the patella cup and I don't feel confident while wearing the POD patella cup. Final verdict: POD knee ligament protection score by frame 10/10 POD patella cup impact protection score 2/10
Thickness alone doesn't justify the strength of a component though. The material used and the mechanics of the entire product contributes significantly. I trust their engineering process.
Are these better than the Leatt X-Frames in terms of protection? Also do you think they will work with impact shorts? Cant make my mind between the two braces - Thanks
They offer similar protection to the X-Frames and similar range of motion limit adjustments. However, the POD K4s fit bigger than the Leatt X-Frames. -DrewZilla
Hello. I am a short pilot with short legs and I have doubts about choose Pod k4 or Leatt c-frame. What do you think fits better with short legs? Thanks
Little confused here by your early statement. You say it’s for someone with a larger leg but they don’t have a 2xl so might not be that good for larger legs...what knee brace would you suggest for someone who people who have “tree trunk” legs as my wife so lovingly call them. I did see that the Leatt C Frames went up to a 2xl and it was adjustable...
I believe Spurgeon was only referring to the K8 model's size limitation, as the K4 model does go a bit larger. As for other options, Spurgeon, himself, wears and likes the best for his large legs are the Leatt C-Frames. Your inclination is indeed correct, and so I'd recommend the C-Frames for you as well. -DrewZilla
They're about the same, but both are definitely more comfortable when used with knee brace socks or base layers as intended. Also, understand that use are not designed to provide abrasion resistance. They're expected to be worn under motocross/dual-sport pants, so that all the parts of the knee braces stay in place in an impact. -DrewZilla
So I bought the POD K4 knee brace and after using them well over 1.5 years here are my thoughts.
- The frame is super strong
- With long socks the fitment is great
- It significantly reduces pain in my knees after a day of ripping trails
- The patella cup is wimpy and by the least NOT confident inspiring. It's super thin and looks like it would NOT hold a minor fall let alone a crash. I feel like as if I should wear an extra knee guard over the patella cup for impact protection. If I would have known before hand that the patella cup would be so fragile I wouldnt have bought the PODs.
Leatt will probably be my next brace. They are both medically certified (pods are too) but the main difference is that Leatt braces are also CE certified impact protection. This is something I do wish the PODS have had to.
If POD would improve their patella cup by having it certified as CE motorcycle impact protective gear, they would be the best product in this segment. I've emailed pods about my thoughts but they seemed to ignore my recommendations and only said that impact protection was a major aspect during the development process of the PODS. Sadly this hasn't been translated into the patella cup and I don't feel confident while wearing the POD patella cup.
Final verdict:
POD knee ligament protection score by frame 10/10
POD patella cup impact protection score 2/10
Thickness alone doesn't justify the strength of a component though. The material used and the mechanics of the entire product contributes significantly. I trust their engineering process.
I'm looking at buying the K8 V2
I like your guys reviews because you actually have the product on a person
Are these better than the Leatt X-Frames in terms of protection? Also do you think they will work with impact shorts? Cant make my mind between the two braces - Thanks
They offer similar protection to the X-Frames and similar range of motion limit adjustments. However, the POD K4s fit bigger than the Leatt X-Frames. -DrewZilla
Hello. I am a short pilot with short legs and I have doubts about choose Pod k4 or Leatt c-frame.
What do you think fits better with short legs?
Thanks
Little confused here by your early statement. You say it’s for someone with a larger leg but they don’t have a 2xl so might not be that good for larger legs...what knee brace would you suggest for someone who people who have “tree trunk” legs as my wife so lovingly call them. I did see that the Leatt C Frames went up to a 2xl and it was adjustable...
I believe Spurgeon was only referring to the K8 model's size limitation, as the K4 model does go a bit larger. As for other options, Spurgeon, himself, wears and likes the best for his large legs are the Leatt C-Frames. Your inclination is indeed correct, and so I'd recommend the C-Frames for you as well. -DrewZilla
Why is EVS not included in one of these reviews?
Great question!
EVS is garbage
I am in the tropics. I am going to wear shorts and a knee brace. Are these or the Leatt the most comfortable against naked, sweaty skin?
They're about the same, but both are definitely more comfortable when used with knee brace socks or base layers as intended. Also, understand that use are not designed to provide abrasion resistance. They're expected to be worn under motocross/dual-sport pants, so that all the parts of the knee braces stay in place in an impact. -DrewZilla
@@RevZilla q