The tuff stuff you want when you may be taking a beating from gravity.

I've been playing around with Pro Designed gear for a bit and had to go through a couple designs, aswell as design changes to find the right stuff for the agility needed for tweeked grabs, comfort while hiking, and overall harsh abuse in terms of durability. What I got from this, the best pads I've found so far.

Now right up I'm going to come out and tell you that the price of Pro Designed gear is a bit steeper than anything else out there with the exception of medical braces, casts, splints, hospital bills... you know the deal. It's a bit more expensive but it take the most abuse.

Okay, where to start, where to indeed. I started out by hitting up "WILD" Bill Walker of Pro Designed gear and right off the bat he had a few questions of his own. For example, sizing; what are my measurements? Pro designed gear isn't the best stuff I've found because it's all generic, it's the best because right off the bat it's custom tailored to YOUR dimensions, to YOUR body. This means it's going to fit YOU... not Large, not Medium, and not Small It means that it's going to fir YOU.

Sure, the pads in the picture above are jagged out in custom print, but the pads come standard in a very strong black and constructed of 100% cotton duck with cordura. The custom print is one of many offered to custom your own style. In testing out the special print as opposed to the standard fabrics there was one small problem that was quickly taken care of. The hard plastic cap on one of the elbow pads got ripped out of it's place on a nice little impact and I figured it needed a bit of improvement. So, I called up Wild Bill and asked him what the next step might be. He said not a problem and he'd fix that sucker up better than before. He didn't know the harsh falls I may be taking... but hey, it's me. I fall more than I stay on my feet. These things were getting PUNISHED!

After a reinforced cotton duck got placed under the custom fabric the pads held even stronger than before. The problem had been that the custom fabric print just wasn't strong enough by itself. The standard fabric was what the pads were designed with and holds up to the limits for sure. The leopard print as seen above just needed a little help.

Pads in review, knee, wrist, and as noted the elbow.

Let's jump into the elbow since already on topic. After the custom fabric flaw was fixed up they pads were back to be great for protection. A lot of pads just don't have not only front impact protection but SIDEWALL protection. Hey to me this is important. I ride sideways and if I'm taking a dive, odds are I'm not landing straight forwards, or straight backwards but more so on my SIDE. With heavily cushioned sidewalls the pads absorbed more of the impact and spread it out within the pad instead of a new found scar to be. The elbow pads are also a bit longer than any others I've tried out with exception to built in forearm guards. They even help protect against those massive dirt kisses that seem to build up on a mountainboarder's forearm. In a rating AFTER the repair out of a 0-5 scale with 5 as the best I'd have to give these suckers a 4.5 and as so some really nice pads. The deduction from a perfect score is the price, but a half a point raise for awesome customer service. What could be changed on them? Well, it already has been. Don't worry about the price though, I'll mention my thoughts on that later on in this review.

On to the knee pads, ON YOUR KNEES! Okay, and as humorous as that wasn't we'll just chuckle at wallaby's and move on.

Out of two types of knee pads tested... from the bajillion types offered for your style and comfort, I scoped out two different versions of the Mini Ramps design. Yeah, two versions of this one design to suit your needs, how much more custom can you get? Side tracking out for a second here but there is so much customization, and Pro Designed takes care of you right away that you really de get the best. It's a bit more expensive but you really are getting the best stuff I've found. This doesn't just come from me, but I've even heard it from unnamed competitors that this stuff simply IS the BEST. Okay, back onto the knee pads.

First pair, I'd have to say this style was great in protection, no, awesome in protection, adjustability, and durability... but it lacked one small bit of comfort. When I am wearing my knee pads right up against my skin, I need something that won't chafe. I'm a delicate little boy, you know? I have soft delicate skin because I bathe in buttermilk.

The first pair is the fully adjustable Mini Ramp design. It come sized to your dimensions and allows you to set it up for your own comfort aswell. If you wear it outside of your pants it works the way it is intended and boy howdy how it works. Knee pads are almost all designed to work with the hard shell on the exterior as when you take a hard hit the shell allows you to slide instead of absorb the impact. This design holds up as an incredible pad for people who wear their protection outside their pants. You can take it off without taking off your shoes, it unbuckles and unstraps from the back. The best feature just like the elbow pads I will say is the SIDEWALL protection. I will say it again, I love having that side protection. I don't always fall like an inline skater, sometimes I fall like a mountainboarder... imagine that. Wow, who would have known. I'll give these guys a 4.2 out of 5 and definitely say these pads are worth the price. There were a couple concerns about when I wore these pads directly up against my skin, however. They chaffed behind the knee. They got a little over a point taken back because of this and the price, but point addition because Wild Bill took them back, adjusted them for comfort and sent them back out to me to try. The customer service once again always is factored into the points and these pads protect against some serious impacting.

You want pads right up against your skin, comfort is a huge factor because you're just not in the best mood if you're uncomfortable. Well, Bill called me up and said, try this one out, neoprene backing and this pad is SWEET!

The second kneepad I tried out may not give the ajustability as the fully adjustable but seeing as how I don't ever wear my kneepads the way they are intended to be worn this pad just seemed more my style. It is comfortable, it is incredibly well padded on front and sides, it is made of strong materials, it is custom fit to my knees, and it came to me really quickly. The price is even a bit lower. Right off the bat I have to give these knee pads a 4.7 out of 5 and the only drawback is ... well... do I even say the price still? I mean, for the most comfortable pads, the best protecting I've found out of HOW many, I don't know, I don't think price should be an option. Well, not everyone can afford the best protection and I have to leave it in as a mark for everyone's needs.

The second kneepad was once again a miniramp design but on the backing it has a neoprene sheet to protect against rash or uncomfortable riding. Shown here next to one of the cheaper kinds of knee pads you would find at a sporting goods store, you can straight up see where the materials cost comes from. The pads are thicker, made of better materials, and built to last instead of wear down and buy another pair. The Pro Designed are the black ones. The other brand is deep blue and smaller in comparison.

The Second style I tried has to be my favorite so far as I can wear them under my pants. Now, this is not how knee pads should be worn as instead of sliding off with the hard shell on the outside, you tear up your pants. But when I ride it's all about looking cool. I don't care about having fun or you know ... "knowing how to ride", it's all about looking cool so I wear my protective gear under my pants. No really, I do. For my style it's just more comfortable that way I guess. Either way you ride, two knee pads I would recommend to look into for sure. I've not had any problems with the neoprene backed pads in a lot of abuse given to them.

They are also Cotton and pull a bit if heat away from the body while riding. Hey, it's a small added plus down here in Southern Southern California.

Last but certainly not least are the wrist guards. Now some of you may know of my quest for the best in wrist protection, well this is right now seated at numero uno. I am still on my quest and will not abandon it, but for now I will be sporting a pair of Pro Designed because it just is the best I've found in quality, ajustabilty, comfort... which is hard to find in a good guard, durability, and customer service.

The spoon shape design of the plastic shell helps disperse weight out to the full hand, instead of some of those guards that just push into your palm possibly injuring you in the process. The fabric is strong, as powerslides can chew gear up in a flash. The drawbacks to the pads are the size and even the way it fits your hand perfectly. The only way this is a drawback is that you can not fit a standard glove over it and only small duty gloves under it. For massive freeride, get some heavy duty gardening gloves and you can eventually get them over the pad. It is much better in protection from slams and that's where it takes to the high marks. What could be changed? Maybe a replaceable plastic shell on the total exterior for heavy duty street carvers and powerslide fanatics. The Pro designed wrist guards. get a mark of 4.5 and a whole lot of love from me. I've taken some heavy wrist hits and ones I know any other guard I've tried to date would have torn into me yet again.

Overall on the review, it was long, wasn't it? Well, I tried to be through for you all. The gear from Pro designed is not only said to be the best from my taste, but the most comfortable and best from other riders having tried it, and even competitors in the market.

The pads are a bit more expensive, but if you're doing something and taking heavy hits I'd say get the best. It's your body you're throwing around there and why not get the protection that will help you ride longer and enjoy your sessions more?

Well, long to short, I recommend the gear. Customization to your fit, protection on big hits, comfort, choices, and customer service. It's all there and then some.

-Unit