Review: Racer Gloves & Joint Protection

Sep 8, 2023
by Matt Beer  
Racer has been making ski gloves for nearly a century, and in 2015 the French company entered the mountain bike market. Since then, they’ve expanded their range to include more apparel and protection for the gravity and trail riding segments.

We got our hands, knees, and elbows on some Racer products to let you know how we felt about them on the trail and how they compare to other popular choices.




Racer Protection

Racer Protection
Racer Protection

Racer Profile Knee Guard Details
• Gravity focused knee guard
• D3O T5 energy absorbing foam insert
• Aramid abrasion-resistant front panel
• Silicone strips inside cuffs
• Top and bottom velcro strap adjustment
• MSRP: $124.95 USD / $149.95 CAD
racer1927.com


Construction

At the top of Racer’s catalog when it comes to leg protection, and price, is the Profile Knee pad intended for gravity riding. These are slip-on style pads that use silicone strips and two velcro straps to hold them in place.

We’re all aware of the shock-absorbing benefits of D3O inserts by now and the Profile Knee uses a mat of those orange polygons in the front panel, as well as around the side and top sections. Like most D3O pads, you’ll want to remove the special foam when washing the outer material. Small slits inside the knee sleeve allow you to remove the D3O inserts without too much wrestling.

That’s all wrapped up by an Aramid material on the front panels that won’t latch onto pedal pins or tree branches. They have an uncanny resemblance with another popular, heavy-duty knee pad, the Race Face Ambush, minus the smooth laminated front layer - you'll only find this on Racer’s lighter-duty knee pads, oddly enough.

Fit

The Profile Knee only comes in three sizes; MD, LG, and XL. Racer provides a sizing chart and based on those measurements, I chose the “large”, which is stated to have a thigh and calf circumference of 44-47 and 37-40cm. I undershot the sizing since those numbers aren’t in reference to any specific distance from the knee itself.

Compared to a Fox, Race Face, or Akta knee pad, that I’d choose in size large, they are much tighter overall. There weren’t any acute pinch points, but in general, they are a very tight fit for a size large. I’d be better off moving into an X-large pair.

In terms of volume, they aren’t the slimmest, but not as bulky as the Fox Launch Pro D3O, with their optional plastic knee cap. Fitting them under most pants shouldn’t be an issue, except for those ultra-skinny trousers.

Performance

Important abilities, like flexing, breathing and staying in place rank high for the Profile Knee pads. Around the back, the rear panel is a thin, four-way stretch mesh that lets out the hot air. No bunching occurred either, even with the tight fit. I’d be totally happy to pedal in these all day long, provided I upsized to an XL.

I’d rank these pads as more of an enduro knee pad than a full-tilt downhill race pad. The lack of a plastic cap to cover the knee or extended shin coverage does leave a little to be desired if these are supposed to be the burliest knee pads in Racer’s lineup. With that said, I think they’re a solid all-around option, particularly for clipless pedal riders who don’t need shin coverage.




Pros

+ Proven D3O padding and tough Aramid cover
+ Breathability is high considering their level of protection
+ Flexible for pedalling all day


Cons

- Shorter length may not appeal to flat pedal riders
- Undersized and only three fit options
- Not quite up to downhill racing protection levels




Racer Protection

Racer Protection
Racer Protection

Racer Mountain Knee 2 Guard Details
• Trail focused knee guard
• D3O padding
• Abrasion resistant laminated cover
• Mesh vent on inner panel
• Silicone strips under elastic cuffs
• MSRP: $89.95 USD / $119.95 CAD
racer1927.com


Construction

For riders seeking a lighter option, Racer has the Mountain Knee 2. This redesigned pad takes a minimalist approach. Although there’s still a D3O insert, this version is backed with EVA foam and neither is removable. The lycra and mesh material mean that they use a single, non-adjustable elastic strap and silicone grippers on the cuffs to hold them in place.

The Mountain Knee 2 is CE level 1 approved and has little side coverage. Basically, they will only reduce the severity of impacts directly from the front, and possibly the top.

Fit

The light, lycra body of the Mountain Knee 2 pads could be what makes them fit true to size, compared to the burlier Profile Knee guards that use the same sizing guideline. They’re long enough to eliminate any thigh gap too.

The fit and coverage is reminiscent of the Fox Enduro Pro pads, however, the padding is not quite as flexible and doesn’t wrap around the sides of the knee quite as well.

Performance

For a light-duty knee guard, these Mountain Knee 2 pads use comfortable and durable materials in key areas. The silicone strips on the inside of the elastics hold them in place without the need for bulkier velcro straps. Behind the knee, an extremely light mesh material keeps air flowing well.

On the front of the padded panel, an abrasion resistant laminate didn’t tear from pedal pin scuffs., much like the Ion Ion K-Sleeve Amp. My only complaint with the Mountain Knee is that the generously thick pad they’re very two-dimensional. Thankfully, I never hit the ground with these, but they don’t conform enough, leaving the sides of your knee vulnerable.



Pros

+ Ample padding for weight
+ Tough laminated front layer


Cons

- Padding doesn't conform around knee as well as competitors
- Elastic strap below calf muscle is redundant - above might help contour and stabilize the pad more.




photo

photo
photo

Racer Mountain Elbow 2 Guard Details
• Trail focused elbow guard
• D3O padding
• Abrasion resistant laminated cover
• Mesh vent on inner panel
• Silicone strips under elastic cuffs
• MSRP: $74.95 USD / $99.95 CAD
racer1927.com


Construction

I’ll admit, it’s been a while since I’ve used elbow pads of any sort. The Mountain Elbow 2 pads are a light, slim-fitting option that won’t make you feel like Robocop. They use identical construction to the Mountain Knee 2 pads, excluding the stretchy, non-adjustable strap. Instead, they rely exclusively on the silicone lined elastic cuffs to hold them in place.

Fit

In terms of sizing, these seemed to be the most accurate as I found myself wearing a set of medium sized pads comfortably. Even without any adjustment, they fit snugly without sliding around. The thinner padding also matched the curvature of the elbow joint more appropriately than the knee pad version did on the lower leg.

Performance

Who hasn’t tried elbow pads and been disappointed by them sliding down or being too restrictive? This pair from Racer is able to avoid either of those problems. The slim design is sleek enough to fit under long sleeve jerseys without causing any mobility issues.

On cooler days, it did take the silicone a few minutes to heat up and stick them in place. From there on out, they stayed put and never caused any arm pump, which is one of the most crucial factors when it comes to elbow pads being up to snuff.

The padding is slightly thinner and less bulky than the Mountain Knee 2 pads, but still gets a D3O stamp of approval. Likewise, they could still do with enhancing their 3D shape. Bending you elbow does mildly make them fold and expose the top and bottom of the joint. Basically, they offer enough padding and abrasion resistance to take the sting off of a slide-out.



Pros

+ Silicone elastic cuffs hold them in place without causing arm pump (once body temperature increases)
+ Ventilation is superb


Cons

- Curving the pad three-dimensionally would improve coverage
- Upper cuff could be longer to fit above bicep, reducing the chance of pads sliding down before silicon heat activates




Racer Equipment

Racer Equipment
Racer Equipment

Racer Factory Glove Details
• Light construction
• Stretchy cuff w/o velcro
• Lambskin palm
• MSRP: $46.99 USD / $59.99 CAD
racer1927.com


Construction

If you’re a fan of minimalist gloves, or no gloves at all, the Factory Gloves from Racer are worth a serious look. They use a lambskin palm with no unnecessary stitching on the palm that would otherwise interfere with the contact on the grip.

You won’t find any velcro closure on the cuff. To aid in pulling them on, the palm cutout tapers into a pull tab with a rubber embossed logo for extra grip. Up top, a silicone pattern might just be for looks, but there is a functional suede sweat wiper on the top of the thumb. The entire glove is extremely soft, thin, and stretchy.

Fit

Like the rest of the Racer equipment, it would be best to try before you buy. I found the stretchy gloves to fit on the larger side. Typically, I’ll wear a size medium pair of gloves from most brands. At first, these seemed to fit just fine. Then, they grew slightly over time as sweat broke them in. I’d advise dropping down a size due to the amount these stretch out to.

Performance

Although I’m a glove guy, I prefer minimalist gloves with just enough material to increase grip, as long as they don’t bunch up. The Factory Gloves from Racer are well constructed and fit well. That is, until they become wet.

The grip is still there, but the amount of stretch makes them disconcerting. At times, I felt like my hands were sliding around in the glove. Sizing down would be the play here.



Pros

+ Sleek construction
+ Grippy palm with sweat wiper


Cons

- Materials stretch out quickly
- Fits larger than stated




Pinkbike's Take

bigquotesRacer is producing quality gloves and pads that should suit a wide variety of trail users. The fit across their equipment line deviates from traditional brands - some products are larger, while others are extremely tight for their given size. With that said, when you do find the correct fit, the performance is there across the board.

Overall, the protection offered by all of their knee and elbow pads is on the lighter side than they're intended for, but their function aligns with plenty of competitors.
Matt Beer


Author Info:
mattbeer avatar

Member since Mar 16, 2001
360 articles

35 Comments
  • 66 0
 Every time I see elbow pads I think of one thing...

"Two kinds of people wear elbow pads, smart people and pussies... and I ain't either one of them." - Kelly McGarry

RIP Legend.
  • 7 0
 guess i have to choose between my diamondback db8 and my elbow pads then. RIP mcgazza
  • 3 0
 I resembel that kwote!
  • 1 0
 I remember this quote but would often see him riding around with one elbow pad only...
  • 1 0
 @pdxkid: he hurt one elbow and didnt want to risk reinjury
  • 14 0
 3 scenarios that could make someone stop and think about having the word Racer on their gear:

1. They're a racer.
2. They're not a racer.
3. They're baked.
  • 5 0
 haha like KISS putting "rock" in 75% of their song titles!

...you think I don't remind everyone within earshot that my TLD helmet is made "for the world's fastest racers" every time I put it on?
  • 7 1
 I don't really understand the current mtb gloves. CrashProtection - zero! Knuckle protection (scraping along some rough bark/branches) zero. I call them five o'clock tea gloves. Might as well go without.
I use motocross gloves. Good fit, very decent protection, price ok.
  • 7 1
 As someone that usually puts my hands out in a crash, I find that even thin unpadded gloves make a huge difference in not shredding my palms when I hit and slide along the ground. Had a few baddies back in the day riding gloveless. Knuckles can take care of themselves.
  • 3 0
 @VtVolk: I thought that too - till I scraped along (at full tilt) some very rough bark. I was VERY glad for the Carbon pads covering my knuckles.
  • 1 0
 You must not have sweaty hands, the struggle is real
  • 1 0
 Fox bombers with carbon knuckles have saved my hands on more than a few occasions. Just wish they were cooler during California summers.
  • 1 0
 I still run some ancient qranc usa dhs gloves from the 90's or something. Fox bombers look good, otherwise it's mx/motorcycle gloves I guess.
  • 8 3
 $60 for baggy gloves that stretch out too fast. Probably works out to about $10 a ride before they're relegated to gardening duties. I'll stick to my $2 hardware store gloves, available everywhere.
  • 16 0
 MTB glove prices are ridiculous. Everything MTB is priced ridiculously. You can buy "moto" gloves for half the price of "MTB" gloves. Seems once something becomes "MTB specific" it gives these companies license to price gouge.
  • 1 0
 @sofarider1: Best moto glove recommendations? I used to use MechanixWear but even those have crept up in price
  • 1 0
 @mkul7r4: Go to Rocky Mountain ATV.com. They have tons of gloves of all types and brands.
  • 2 0
 @sofarider1: not to mention that the moto gloves somehow last at least twice as long, for the same weight of glove
  • 3 0
 But you'll be the fastest gardener ever and the envy of all at the HOA meetings.
  • 1 0
 I might be the only one but I have those and they are the most durable I have ever worn (tried 661, TLD, RaceFace, 100%, Fox). For me the real deal on these gloves is the leather for the palm. It's so grippy and comfortable, it feels really like (sorry for the usual commercial b@llshit sentence) a second skin. I've fallen on them, wear them for like 2 years now and still they are in perfect condition. They have not stretched and the sizing did match what I was usually wearing. Just be careful as it's leather, you can not just put them on the washing machine.

*Edit: I totally agree with the pricing and managed to get them with a significant discount
  • 1 0
 100% gloves are the best in my experience. They are well fitting and don't go baggy after a few rides. Big variety of different models and colours too
  • 7 0
 RaceFace's legal team are getting a slight stirring in their loins
  • 5 1
 Those gloves are a joke, as are nearly every other pair I see. For heavy duty you can get Mechanix gloves, and MX gloves are available for half the cost in multiple variations. Same thing for elbow and knee pads.
  • 1 0
 What do you recommend for MX gloves?
  • 2 0
 @mkul7r4: ive been using Thor spectrum gloves for about 15 years, i think im on my third pair
  • 6 0
 I just put my joints in a tube
  • 5 0
 Expensive and ineffective. I'll take 2 of each!
  • 1 0
 After using a number of knee pads I'd say a CON is for slip-on; easy install open back straps are the way to go.
  • 1 0
 If I start a company called Individual Who Rides for Fun will I be able to appeal to a larger segment of the market?
  • 2 0
 Looks like a Race Face.
  • 2 0
 $50 for gloves !!!
  • 1 0
 I’d rather buy a sleeve for a joint than a joint cover
  • 1 0
 Expensive
  • 1 0
 Racer Face........
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