POC Joint VPD 2.0 Knee Pad Review

About POC

POC is a Swedish company, built on a strong mission; to do everything we can to possibly save lives and to reduce consequences of accidents, for gravity sports athletes, by developing and renewing what personal protection is all about. POC has in many ways already set a new standard when it comes to technical solutions, construction, material combinations and engineering, with patented solutions, to increase the degree of protection.

POC works in a cross scientific way, from the office in Saltsjöbaden outside of Stockholm.
The organization involves competences from different fields, such as engineers, material specialists, industrial and graphic designers, neurologists and back specialists. Stockholm is an important centre for some of Europe’s leading research and development experts in the areas of safety, medicine, health care, advanced product development and testing

"It´s our mission to do everything we can to develop protective gear that can save lives and reduce the severity of injuries."

All our products have been tested by top world gravity sport athletes and then further refined to perfection. Our athlete friends love to go flat out but without suffering cuts, bruises and headaches, or in the worst cases, risking back or brain damage as a result of crashes that sadly happens to even the best athletes. The end result is a line of lightweight, high performance gear that offers the ultimate protection against injury thanks to superior impact absorption and penetration resistance.

When developing a product at POC, we do it in the spirit of doing the best. We never compromise in choosing materials or construction, and we never compromise safety, quality or performance.

POC VPD 2.0 Knee Pad

"The true multipurpose knee pad; light and cool enough for all day trail riding but still offering state of the art shock absorption for hard core DH riding. The target was to solve the constant tradeoff between freedom of movement and real protective properties. Focus has been to optimize both fit and coverage at the same time. Polygiene anti-odor treatment included. Sizes: S, M, L

THE NEW VPD 2.0 offers even better shock absorption properties than the original VPD series, which gives us completely new situation when it comes to the traditional trade-off situation between flexibility and real protection. Due to the ability of transition from soft to hard when needed and the extreme shhock absorption properties, you no longer have to choose between freedom of movement and proper protection."

Features

• Kevlar Reinforced Stretch fabric
• Super Stretchy And Robust Back Sleeve
• Contoured To Secure Position
• Optional Elastic Strap rests On Calf muscle To Give Extra firm And Secure Fit
• 3D Molded VPD 2.0 Knee Protector.
• Perforated For Heat And Moisture Control

 

VPD Explained

"Our VPD protector works progressively, adapts itself to the force of the impact and is the most flexible back protector out there.

VPD - Visco-Elastic Polymer Dough
POC USES A COMPOUND and technology for our most shock absorbing back protector called VPD (Visco-Elastic Polymer Dough). This protector is one of few on the market that reaches the highest standard (Level 2 “High performance”) of the CE 1621-2 motorcycle standard.

THE MATERIAL IS HIGHLY DAMPENING, using a modified Polyurethane foam that is soft, comfortable and adapts to create an individual fit. However, when exposed to impact the material stiffens and has extreme energy absorption properties. Most of the protector systems available on the market are designed to just pass the specific CE-Norm test. However, this means that low energy impacts are transferred almost directly to the body. Our VPD back protector functions progressively and adapts itself to the force of the impact.

TO FURTHER IMPROVE properties the back protector uses a dual density combination, with extra protection covering the spinal area. This way we maximize both the freedom of movement and the shock absorbing characteristic of the protection."

Having used Dianese armour for a very long time just going to knee pads was unusual. The POC knee pads are easy to get on that is pretty obvious compared to a full body suit. Their padding is simliar to say a memory foam or the bottom of 510 shoes. Pressing on it will cause it to mold around your finger and it will regain shape after pressure is releived. They fit pretty well but seemed to breath just okay.

I did two mellow rides on them in faster rock trails in the area. They seemed to saty in place fine. Lucky for me I did not have any falls while riding with them. If riding very rough terrain I would probably run the knee guard covers like the 661 to make sure the pads do not move in the event of a fall. When putting the pads on make sure to have the legs wraps spread apart. If too close they can move a bit while pedaling.

Overall the POC VPD 2.0 pads were pretty good. If looking for new knee pads I would hard pressed to decide between these and the 661 EVO. It would come down to fit and which seems to stay in place better. Having never used the 661 knee pads I cannot say which is better but have heard good things about them.

IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION THAT UNDER COLD CONDITIONS THE KNEE PADS HARDEN UP. SO IF IT IS SUB 60 DEGREES IT IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

Comments

[dap365]

I just got a pair of POC VPD 2.0 knee pads and even after the VPD foam warms up it is just about as hard as regular plastic. I was wondering if that's how the stiff the VPD foam is, or are mine defective?

[Editor]

dap365

I never noticed the pad foam being stiff. If they get cold like in the vehicle at below 50 or so degrees they firm up but once back to room temp. they are again soft and pliable. I will bring them to work and get them warm and see how they act after that.....in fact our garage is about 58 right now and they are FIRM just a very small bit of squirm on the skin of the pad but the majority feels close to frozen. I will put them in car now will run heater on them on floor and see how they react.