Top Hard Enduro Elbow Guards

Hard enduro falls are mostly slow. The bike stalls on a step, the front wheel drops off a rock, or you tip over in a rock garden. You put an arm out, or you land on the side of it. The elbow is the bony point that hits first.

An elbow guard does three things:

1. Spreads a blow on the point of the elbow, the olecranon. Alpinestars places the shells of its Bionic Pro Plasma "strategically positioned over the olecranon" (Alpinestars).
2. Covers the forearm on longer designs, against rocks, branches and your own handguards.
3. Takes the scrape when you slide on rock. Some guards add a hard outer cap for this.

How much it matters

One long-run data set is a 12-year study of European motocross competition (15,870 riders, 1980 to 1991). Of 1,076 bruises, 27.9% were in the upper limbs. Of 450 fractures, 50.9% were in the upper limbs. The authors name wrist and collarbone fractures as still common despite better gear.

Our view: elbow guards are worth wearing, but they are not where your money goes first. The 12-year data above is why. The upper limb takes a large share of injuries, but the fractures the authors single out are at the wrist and collarbone, which an elbow guard does not cover. The same study found ligament injuries mostly in the lower limbs, especially the knee, so fund knee protection first.

Elbow guards are certified to the same standard as knee guards: EN 1621-1:2012, the European standard for motorcycle limb joint impact protectors. Our knee protection guide explains the full test and label. The short version:

• The test. A 5 kg striker falls from about one meter, for at least 50 J, and the lab measures the force that gets through (REV'IT!).
• Level 1: mean transmitted force below 35 kN. Level 2: below 20 kN (Knox). Lower is better.
• Type A or B: the size of the protector. Type B is larger (Alpinestars leaflet).
• T+ and T-: the protector also passed optional hot and cold tests.
• E on the label means elbow. Alpinestars' leaflet lists the area codes: S shoulder, E elbow, K knee, H hip.

In the EU, these protectors are Category II PPE under Regulation (EU) 2016/425. Article 19 requires an EU type-examination by a notified body for Category II. So an elbow guard labeled EN 1621-1 has had its design checked by an independent lab.

Two things the label will not tell you: how well the guard stays in place, and how it feels after four hours in the heat. That is the rest of this page.

Elbow guards come in three broad builds. The picks on this page cover all three.

What each build does well

• Hard shells slide. A hard outer surface skids on rock instead of gripping it. Leatt says the hard cap on its FlexMesh guard "protects during slides" (Leatt).
• Soft armor bends. Leatt describes its ReaFlex gel as "soft and flexible but extremely tough under impact" (Leatt).
• Sleeves wrap the arm. A sleeve holds the guard along its length. A strap-on guard holds at its straps.

For hard enduro, a slim sleeve with a hard outer plate is the best all-day compromise. The reason is how the sport is ridden. It means long, hot days of low-speed riding and pushing, where comfort decides whether you keep the guard on. It also means rock, where a hard plate slides rather than snags.

A guard that has slipped to your forearm protects nothing. Fit it before you ride, and check it again once you are warm and sweaty.

Sizing

Makers size elbow guards differently. Alpinestars sells the Bionic Plus and Bionic Pro Plasma in S/M and L/XL. Leatt sells the ReaFlex Hybrid in S, M, L, XL and XXL, and calls it "single sizing for perfect fit." Fox sells the Titan Pro D3O in S/M and L/XL. Use each maker's own chart.

How it should feel

1. The cup sits on the point of the elbow with your arm bent in the riding position, not with your arm straight.
2. The top holds on the upper arm. Leatt uses "silicone printed, non-slip cuffs." Fox uses an internal forearm sleeve with a bicep hook-and-loop strap (Fox).
3. Straps are snug, not tight. A forearm strap you can feel on the throttle is too tight, given how much work your forearms do on the clutch and throttle all day; see our arm pump guide.
4. It works with the rest of your kit. Check the guard under your jersey and with your chest protector. Some body protectors take their own elbow armor: Leatt sells a CE Level 1 elbow insert for its Body Protector AirFit Evo (Leatt).

Test it off the bike

Put the guard on, bend and straighten your arm twenty times, then grip a bar and push your elbows out as you would standing on the pegs. If the cup drifts off the point of the elbow, change the size or the model.

Rocky terrain and frequent tip-overs benefit most. Sleeve-style flexible guards improve all-day comfort and ventilation. In more detail:

• Rock gardens and boulder sections. This is where elbows meet stone. Wear guards for any event or trail with sections like the ones in our logs and rocks technique guide.
• Tight woods. Our view: a longer guard with forearm coverage suits tight woods, because trunks and branches strike a standing rider on the forearm as well as the elbow.
• Learning new skills. Practicing splatters or hill climbs means more falls. Wear the guards.
• Hot, open trails. On fast, open trails in heat, a slim sleeve or a vented strap guard is easier to keep on than a hard, fully hinged guard. This judgement comes from heat build-up during long days, not from any lab data.

What to trade off

Cleaning

• Fox Titan Pro D3O: machine wash cold on a gentle cycle with gentle detergent, line dry. No bleach, no iron, no dry cleaning (Fox).
• Removable protectors: Alpinestars says clean them with a damp cloth and soapy water, do not submerge them, and never use strong cleaning agents or solvents (leaflet). The Bionic Pro Plasma has a removable protector, so take it out before washing the chassis.

Store guards dry and away from direct heat and sunlight, with nothing heavy on top. Alpinestars says to avoid bending protectors in storage.

When to replace

From Alpinestars' EN 1621-1 leaflet:

1. After a severe impact, "particularly if the plastic has lightened in colour at the impact point."
2. When degraded, cracked, chipped or delaminated.
3. Every 5 years under normal use. Alpinestars "strongly recommends" it.
4. When it no longer fits correctly.

After a smaller hit, Alpinestars says to have the protector checked by an authorized dealer before further use. Do not repair it or add paint or stickers.

1. Buying uncertified "pads." Look for EN 1621-1 and an E on the label. Without it, you have no independent impact figure to compare.
2. Fitting with a straight arm. You ride with bent arms. Fit the cup in that position.
3. Cranking the forearm strap. Snug holds the guard. Tight works against your forearms all day.
4. Choosing Level 2 you will not wear. Alpinestars notes Level 2 can bring weight and restriction penalties. A Level 1 guard on your arm beats a Level 2 guard in your bag.
5. Ignoring the chest protector. Check the two together before a race. Some body protectors have their own elbow armor.
6. Riding a cracked shell. Replace it. Alpinestars lists cracks and chips as replacement triggers.
7. Soaking removable protectors. Alpinestars says do not submerge them.
8. Skipping elbows and knees to fund one premium item. Certified knee and elbow protection together is worth more than a top-tier version of either. Why: the motocross data above spreads injuries widely, and knees, upper limbs and trunk all take a share.

For the full label guide, see knee protection. For the rest of the kit, see our hard enduro gear guide and gear methodology.