There are quite a few knee pads on the market ranging from about $35 to over $100. Smith Scabs Elite knee pads have been an extremely popular option for years and I personally used them for about 5 seasons, so when I heard that Smith came out with a Roller Derby specific knee pad I was excited!I noticed a few things right off the bat:
- At $40 for a set, they are at the lower end of the knee pad price range. The other knee pads in this price range I've tried didn't hold up well to the rigors of Roller Derby, so I was a bit skeptical.
- They wrap around your knee with a butterfly type enclosure (like the Smith Scabs Elite or 187 Pro Derby knee pads) which is a huge plus!
- They come in a wide range of sizes, from Small to XXL for adults and 2 junior sizes.
Like many knee pads, these start off fairly stiff but after a couple practices they relaxed and felt more comfortable. The padding isn't as nice as higher-end knee pads, but it took me falling on my knees pretty hard before I noticed a difference.
The only issue I have found so far with these knee pads is that the sizing runs fairly small. Be prepared to go up at least 1 size than with other knee pads.
Overall, I definitely think Smith Derby Knee Pads are worth trying if you are in the market for new knee pads.
Until we skate again! Shocker
