The BEST & WORST knee braces

GoggleFiend904 6/12/2023 4:50am
6/12/2023 4:50am

How’s the fit in the knee cap area on the mobius these days? I bought some first gens after my patella fracture, and it didn’t fit well around my now extra wide knee cap so I sold them. I’ve had the same pair of pods since 15 and I wouldn’t mind upgrading. They have been solid and replacing parts has been easy

kopfjaeger
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kopfjaeger 6/17/2023 1:59pm
6/17/2023 1:59pm
cwel11 wrote:
You’ll get a million answers here from my brand is the best to don’t wear any at all. Research them on the companies site, buy whichever...

You’ll get a million answers here from my brand is the best to don’t wear any at all. Research them on the companies site, buy whichever one seems best to you, but make sure you can return them if the fit or brace isn’t comfortable. It doesn’t matter how good it is if sits in your gear bag. I’ve had a few different ones, and returned a set or two because they pinched my skin or hurt like hell to wear. Currently just started wearing the new asterisk carbon cell and really like them but I need to get the tether system hooked up this week to get the maximum benefit. However you could buy them and hate them so it doesn’t really matter ha. Good luck 👍🏻 

kopfjaeger wrote:
I am always amazed at the people who refuse to use the anti rotation tethers. I was told not to when I first got my *...

I am always amazed at the people who refuse to use the anti rotation tethers. I was told not to when I first got my * years ago. They were the older ones with the "corset" type back. Anyway, rode practice, tweaked the same mcl, went home installed the tethers and refuse to wear one without it. Only reason i have never tried another brand like Pod

cwel11 wrote:

Actually just got them all hooked up tonight. Super easy to do. I think guys just don’t want to take the time to do it honestly. 

Yep. I just use one of the buckle screws as opposed to drilling and riveting the tether in

racerhansen 6/17/2023 3:20pm
6/17/2023 3:20pm

I had a set of custom Donjoys made after i completely ruined my right knee a couple of years ago. Worst money I ever spent! While the fit was great because they were custom made, they were really bulky and the quality of these really sucked. My first brace literally broke in half the first time i used it, but Donjoy replaced it without any hassle. I paid about 3000€ for the pair, and after a season they were completely worn out. I kept replacing parts on these things non stop, as something would break all the time. After two seasons the hinges were so worn out and the rest of the brace looked and felt like shit, so i decided to bitte the bullet and get a set of Ortemas instead. Best decision ever. 

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Jaybird67k
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Jaybird67k 6/17/2023 3:23pm
6/17/2023 3:23pm
Thisusernameisavailable wrote:
Let’s discuss..  Real world experiences of knee braces.    Im getting close to going back out on track after knee surgery last August.  (yes, I know...

EBB011AF-7B7A-4B6F-BF2E-FCA820B212D9.jpeg?VersionId=Let’s discuss.. 

Real world experiences of knee braces. 
 

Im getting close to going back out on track after knee surgery last August. 
(yes, I know, ample time but I’m in no rush) 

My knee problem has been going on several years, with a partial tear of the ACL a few years ago, resulting in a full tear, meniscus problems and a fracture in May last year. (Here in the UK we have to wait for surgery on the NHS, so I didn’t have it repaired until four months later)

At tye time of injury I was wearing POD K4 braces, however my knee was already pretty cooked, so I’m not in anyway saying the PODs didn’t do their job. Anyone, I sold those braces after realising I was going to sit out a year+. 
 

But I’m ready to buy new, so let’s discuss the best and worst options out there. 
I’ve noticed Donjoy are making some bold claims about ACL protection- are they all they’re claiming? Better than everything else? Or is it just marketing? 
Tell me of your experiences.
 

 

I have used them all for lots and lots of hours of training and racing. (Except for CTI).

With that said the Pods were great because they were light and I ran them for many years but have settled on the Mobius braces. Best all around off the shelf in my opinion.

The Shop

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wadam1313
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wadam1313 6/17/2023 3:47pm
6/17/2023 3:47pm

I love my Mobius knee braces. I’d agree with Jaybird67k that they are the best off the shelf knee braces on the market.  

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mattmatt300
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mattmatt300 6/17/2023 5:10pm
6/17/2023 5:10pm
Chaser503 wrote:
I have custom fitted Don Joy and while they are bulky, I got used to them very quickly. I have the MX cups, too. Very solid...

I have custom fitted Don Joy and while they are bulky, I got used to them very quickly. I have the MX cups, too. Very solid protection. My thinking: if they're good enough to protect NFL lineman knees, then good enough for my needs. I'm also a believer that strength training, mobility, flexibility can help prevent injury. No silver bullets and no guarantees, but overall risk reduction.

What model of the DonJoy do you have?  I’ve been looking at them. 

rawjahdesigns
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rawjahdesigns 6/17/2023 10:57pm
6/17/2023 10:57pm

i tore my left knee wearing POD, and then next year i tore my right knee wearing Mobius.

I think its more ironic than them being bad braces.   

 

I will however be going bck to custom CTi from here on out again like the rest of my career one i get my legs fully to size where i want to get them custom sized for myself. so take that with what you want.  i think its truly all just part of it.  i dont think we can point fingers, even with how much we see eachouther adjusting and pulling up our braces while we walk around theres no change they are always in the perfect position they need to be...  Thats another big problem with people having braces that are NOT customer.   They should never slide, and if they do in any walking around motions etc, its not the right set.

hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 6/18/2023 5:12pm
6/18/2023 5:12pm
WarrenMX wrote:
I'm not a knee brace hater but I'm also not convinced they work that well. I don't see any data that would suggest knee injuries have...

I'm not a knee brace hater but I'm also not convinced they work that well. I don't see any data that would suggest knee injuries have declined since the introduction of the knee brace. I have also yet to see any brace that truly prevents the leg from twisting. As an engineer, I just don't see the mechanics in any brace that would prevent this. 

That said, I do wear mobius knee braces. I tried running knee pads (TP199) and actually found them less comfortable during the course of the day than my mobius knee braces. I can't say if my mobius knee braces have ever prevented a ligament injury, but I can say that they have protected my knee/leg extremely well in a couple of cases where I went down and my knee was caught between the bike and hard packed dirt. So for these reasons, I see no reason not to wear them.

Most braces out on the market have extension stops to stop hyper extending, but the Asterisk is the only brace that works rotationally. Problem is you have to cut your pants and rivet a tether system that attaches the brace to your boot. Too much work for the average rider.....

To each their own, but I enjoy having something in between me and the bike. I wouldn't feel comfortable riding with basic knee cups. I have no issues with efficiency (bending my knees or getting on the balls of my feet) while riding with braces either. 

Landonious217 6/18/2023 5:18pm
6/18/2023 5:18pm

Knee/shin pad combo. As a guy with an ACL surgery under my belt I would 1000% rather tear it again than break a femur.

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yz763
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yz763 6/18/2023 7:36pm
6/18/2023 7:36pm Edited Date/Time 6/18/2023 7:45pm

Been wearing Mobius for 8 years now. I had my fist scare with them this past season. I got high sided in a sandy, whooped out section during a hare scramble. I landed backwards on my ass between two whoops then the bike followed and landed right on top of my knee. My knee buckled. I ended up hyper extending my knee pretty bad and it hasn’t been the same since. I’m pretty sure this was a freak accident that no brace would have prevented. I think the main thing that caused this was my knee cap floats in the patella region of the brace. It doesn’t matter how tight I get it, the knee cap does not fit snug into the patella cup. Whether that’s what it’s supposed to do or not, couldn’t tell you. I think my knee was just the weakest link in the extended leg and it buckled. I might try something different this year or just get some custom CTI’s.

I did also smoke a tree earlier in the season in premodern so hard it sheared the radiator off and broke the clutch perch clean off. My knee was the last point of contact head on with the tree. A little bruising on my knee cap but all was safe. 

ToolMaker 6/18/2023 8:43pm
6/18/2023 8:43pm
WarrenMX wrote:
I'm not a knee brace hater but I'm also not convinced they work that well. I don't see any data that would suggest knee injuries have...

I'm not a knee brace hater but I'm also not convinced they work that well. I don't see any data that would suggest knee injuries have declined since the introduction of the knee brace. I have also yet to see any brace that truly prevents the leg from twisting. As an engineer, I just don't see the mechanics in any brace that would prevent this. 

That said, I do wear mobius knee braces. I tried running knee pads (TP199) and actually found them less comfortable during the course of the day than my mobius knee braces. I can't say if my mobius knee braces have ever prevented a ligament injury, but I can say that they have protected my knee/leg extremely well in a couple of cases where I went down and my knee was caught between the bike and hard packed dirt. So for these reasons, I see no reason not to wear them.

" I don't see any data that would suggest knee injuries have declined since the introduction of the knee brace."

I don't know where I got it from, but when we went to the doctor to get signed off for custom cti kne braces for my son, I brought a study that showed a reduction in knee injuries for riders wearing braces. However the doc was fully on board without even showing the study. Insurance paid for both.

PFitzG38
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PFitzG38 6/20/2023 7:07am
6/20/2023 7:07am
NorCalRedRyder wrote:
I wear a set of Bodyglove neoprene braces with a metal rail on either side of the knee. I also wear a tall mid thigh Alpinestar...

I wear a set of Bodyglove neoprene braces with a metal rail on either side of the knee. I also wear a tall mid thigh Alpinestar riding socks. Also a pair of EVS hard plastic knee/shin guards. I've raced and played competitive soccer and baseball my whole life. I'm in my early 40s now and literally have never woke up with a single physical pain in my life. 

Never been injured?!? This is motocross. Sounds like you need to up your game or try harder, or something 

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hawk101
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hawk101 6/20/2023 5:33pm
6/20/2023 5:33pm

I'll give another plus one for the Mobius. I looped the bike on a jump face and the frame crushed my knee when I landed. Back then I only had basic Thor knee pads and the plastic cup was split afterwards. I had knee instability for about a year (parents didn't care much for hospital visits, so no idea what was damaged). Took probably 5-6 years before the knee healed/strengthened to where it wouldn't twist, pop, and hurt.

Several years after the injury I picked up the Mobius and my knee stopped being sore/hurting after riding. They are comfortable to wear and I feel like the overall protection front and side would prevent my knee being crushed again.

It's hard to imagine riding without them.

 

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fourfourone
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fourfourone 6/21/2023 7:54am
6/21/2023 7:54am

+1 for mobius. They resized mine 2 times for me at no cost when I first bought them. They were super helpful when making sure the fit was proper. 

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30secboard
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30secboard 8/21/2023 11:36am
8/21/2023 11:36am
studworx wrote:
I had custom DonJoy's after my full knee reco. They are extremely protective, just not great for moto. Very bulky, so much so the modern extra...

I had custom DonJoy's after my full knee reco. They are extremely protective, just not great for moto. Very bulky, so much so the modern extra tight moto pants don't even fit over them. I switched to Mobius braces, and while they aren't near as protective they work better for moto.

I don't like any knee braces, but I refuse to ride without them now. I have tried CTi's and they are a decent balance of protection similar to DonJoy's while being a bit less bulky like the Mobius.

do you know if you had the short or long calf? 

was the brace going inside the boot? 

thanks

 

30secboard
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30secboard 8/21/2023 11:37am
8/21/2023 11:37am
StillSmokin wrote:
Huge fan of the don joy style knee braces. I have a blown acl and mcl in my right knee. The difference between wearing and not...

Huge fan of the don joy style knee braces. I have a blown acl and mcl in my right knee. The difference between wearing and not wearing one is night and day. When you have good knees, you will think knee brace don't work, when you have bad knees you will KNOW they work. That said i have a set of pods that im unhappy with. I went back to the Don Joy style brace.

are you using short or long calf don joy model? 

are they going inside the boot? 

thanks

30secboard
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30secboard 8/21/2023 11:38am
8/21/2023 11:38am
Chaser503 wrote:
I have custom fitted Don Joy and while they are bulky, I got used to them very quickly. I have the MX cups, too. Very solid...

I have custom fitted Don Joy and while they are bulky, I got used to them very quickly. I have the MX cups, too. Very solid protection. My thinking: if they're good enough to protect NFL lineman knees, then good enough for my needs. I'm also a believer that strength training, mobility, flexibility can help prevent injury. No silver bullets and no guarantees, but overall risk reduction.

using long or short calf model? 

are they going inside the boot? 

any issues there? 

thanks

crt32
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crt32 8/21/2023 11:51am
8/21/2023 11:51am

I use Mobius on my torn ACL and EVS Pastrana style on my other knee. I tried the PODs but they put so much pressure on my shin that I could not even ride. Maybe I'm just unique, fairly skinny and tall, because I have buddies that say they can't even tell they have the PODs on. 

Pit Row

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Chaser503
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Chaser503 8/21/2023 12:55pm
8/21/2023 12:55pm
Chaser503 wrote:
I have custom fitted Don Joy and while they are bulky, I got used to them very quickly. I have the MX cups, too. Very solid...

I have custom fitted Don Joy and while they are bulky, I got used to them very quickly. I have the MX cups, too. Very solid protection. My thinking: if they're good enough to protect NFL lineman knees, then good enough for my needs. I'm also a believer that strength training, mobility, flexibility can help prevent injury. No silver bullets and no guarantees, but overall risk reduction.

30secboard wrote:

using long or short calf model? 

are they going inside the boot? 

any issues there? 

thanks

The bottom of my brace on the calf hits the top of the backside of boot. The bottom of the brace sits about 2 inches below knee crease.

The optional knee cup/ shin guard does extend slightly below top of boot, which has to be tucked in. No issues when all buttoned up. Size 12 SG12 for reference.

30secboard
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30secboard 8/21/2023 1:08pm
8/21/2023 1:08pm
Chaser503 wrote:
I have custom fitted Don Joy and while they are bulky, I got used to them very quickly. I have the MX cups, too. Very solid...

I have custom fitted Don Joy and while they are bulky, I got used to them very quickly. I have the MX cups, too. Very solid protection. My thinking: if they're good enough to protect NFL lineman knees, then good enough for my needs. I'm also a believer that strength training, mobility, flexibility can help prevent injury. No silver bullets and no guarantees, but overall risk reduction.

30secboard wrote:

using long or short calf model? 

are they going inside the boot? 

any issues there? 

thanks

Chaser503 wrote:
The bottom of my brace on the calf hits the top of the backside of boot. The bottom of the brace sits about 2 inches below...

The bottom of my brace on the calf hits the top of the backside of boot. The bottom of the brace sits about 2 inches below knee crease.

The optional knee cup/ shin guard does extend slightly below top of boot, which has to be tucked in. No issues when all buttoned up. Size 12 SG12 for reference.

thanks. 

they have a short calf (yours) and a long calf option. 

they do thay b/c of sports like ski where the boot is completely tight. my wife uses donjoy after a ski crash. doc said nothing better than donjoy. 

now Im looking to buy a pair for mx. 

but wondering if the long calf fits inside the boot, since they are a little big. 

my thinking (right or wrong) is that the boot would help keep knee from spinning. 

but hard to test, so asking you moto guys for input. 

for what Ive seen, the protection and technology is far superior than other brands. 

thanks @Chaser503

 

studworx
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studworx 8/21/2023 1:32pm
8/21/2023 1:32pm Edited Date/Time 8/21/2023 1:33pm
studworx wrote:
I had custom DonJoy's after my full knee reco. They are extremely protective, just not great for moto. Very bulky, so much so the modern extra...

I had custom DonJoy's after my full knee reco. They are extremely protective, just not great for moto. Very bulky, so much so the modern extra tight moto pants don't even fit over them. I switched to Mobius braces, and while they aren't near as protective they work better for moto.

I don't like any knee braces, but I refuse to ride without them now. I have tried CTi's and they are a decent balance of protection similar to DonJoy's while being a bit less bulky like the Mobius.

30secboard wrote:

do you know if you had the short or long calf? 

was the brace going inside the boot? 

thanks

 

They are the short calf defiance 3’s with the impact guard. That’s the best MX setup they recommend. Just too bulky for the MX pants of today. 

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Chaser503
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Chaser503 8/21/2023 2:08pm
8/21/2023 2:08pm

Yeah. I have defiance 3, now that I'm thinking about it. Love them. Took some getting used to but can't ride without now. 

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30secboard
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30secboard 8/21/2023 2:24pm
8/21/2023 2:24pm

thanks @studworx and @Chaser503

interesting they recommended the short calf. 

my thinking was: if put inside the boot, it would help keep the knee in place on a crash. avoiding it from spinning. 

the asterisk knee brace comes with a part to even attach the knee brace to the boot to help with that. 

 

Thisusernameisavailable 8/21/2023 2:51pm
8/21/2023 2:51pm

IMG 8146.jpeg?VersionId=ukyX0I tried a pair of Leatt C-Frame pro carbon and they felt nice. Just short of £600 here, so they’re not the most expensive by far.

at the moment, I’m happier with the fit than I was my old Pod K4s. Two rides in, it feels good!

Thisusernameisavailable 8/21/2023 2:53pm
8/21/2023 2:53pm

IMG 8146.jpeg?VersionId=ukyX0I tried a pair of Leatt C-Frame pro carbon and they felt nice. Just short of £600 here, so they’re not the most expensive by far.

at the moment, I’m happier with the fit than I was my old Pod K4s. Two rides in, it feels good!

JoJmoto
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JoJmoto 8/21/2023 4:40pm
8/21/2023 4:40pm
WarrenMX wrote:
I'm not a knee brace hater but I'm also not convinced they work that well. I don't see any data that would suggest knee injuries have...

I'm not a knee brace hater but I'm also not convinced they work that well. I don't see any data that would suggest knee injuries have declined since the introduction of the knee brace. I have also yet to see any brace that truly prevents the leg from twisting. As an engineer, I just don't see the mechanics in any brace that would prevent this. 

That said, I do wear mobius knee braces. I tried running knee pads (TP199) and actually found them less comfortable during the course of the day than my mobius knee braces. I can't say if my mobius knee braces have ever prevented a ligament injury, but I can say that they have protected my knee/leg extremely well in a couple of cases where I went down and my knee was caught between the bike and hard packed dirt. So for these reasons, I see no reason not to wear them.

My son wore Mobius, popped both ACLs in ruts. The surgeon said its 50/50 no matter if you are wearing them or not.. I threw my hands up on the third ACL the first ride back, dabbing his foot.  

Boggins
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Boggins 8/21/2023 5:28pm
8/21/2023 5:28pm

Just got the Mobius Braces, have to say the Brace, straps, feel, protection are 1st class.  I have CTI, Asterisk carbon fiber, and Leatt.   The mobius' dont slip down while riding, great tension strap across the back of the knee.  Well done Mobius!

dedi684
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dedi684 8/21/2023 5:35pm
8/21/2023 5:35pm

I wore asterisk for years had a few sets and could never find anything that I liked better but never liked them much either. I've got new Alpinestars ones and have been loving them so far compared to my asterisk maybe not quite as sturdy though but much lighter and comfy

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rawjahdesigns
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rawjahdesigns 8/28/2023 9:24am
8/28/2023 9:24am

Tore my Left ACL wearing PODs, right ACL wearing Mobius

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