Endura MT500 D30 Ghost knee pads

We came across these knee socks at a bicycle shop, although we had spent ages looking for exactly this product from one of the motorcycle clothing companies. Basically, they are what are known as a knee sock; and they are aimed at those who, for whatever reason, would prefer to wear their protectors directly on their knees rather than in the pockets of their riding pants. 

Now you might want to do this for a number of reasons. If you ride off road, and your pants are wide, there is a scenario where, if you come off, the armour might have twisted, and not actually be protecting the knee. When you wear a knee pocket, the armour will never move; it will always cover the knee.

Some people may choose to wear a knee sock in something like a protective jean or chino because they don’t want to wear armour when they get off the bike; and frankly it is easier to take a knee pocket off than it is to take the armour out of a a trouser.

This might be the preferred solution for somebody who commutes into work on a bike, but who doesn’t want to wear armour in the office. Pop into the loo when you get in, take the knee pockets off, and you’re ready for the day ahead. When it comes time to go home, pop into the loo again, and slip the socks on again.

I wore a pair of these knee socks on a recent motorcycle tour in South Africa. We were due to do a mix of on- and off-road riding. I wanted to ride in jeans, and because packing room was at a premium I envisaged wearing the same jeans of an evening, and so I decided that it would be easier to wear these knee socks during the day, and then whip them off when we got the hotel of an evening. For me it worked well. I only needed one pair of riding jeans.

There are potentially all kinds of reasons why you might want to ride with a set of knee socks, but one of the benefits of the Ghost knee pocket is that the armour is going to be particularly low profile. You will barely feel as though you are wearing armour. And, of course, nobody will be able to tell that you are either.

The knee pockets are held in place by means of a silicone band. Once the knee pockets are in place, they will not slip. They come in three sizes that are dictated by the circumference of your thigh.