Mobius X-8 Knee Braces

What it is

• High end knee brace offering from Mobius.
• Multiple sizes available from XXS-XXL.

Mobius is still a fairly new company that produces knee braces used by several top riders like Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey, Kailub Russell and others. They currently produce one knee brace model in the X8. The injection molded shells are claimed to be more flexible allowing for a more conforming fit with added stability. In addition, a few parts are constructed of aluminum for maximum strength while the EVA foam padding conforms to the leg while still providing a good grip to prevent any movement up or down the leg. Similarly, the Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Fiber cable attached to the Tendon Back Plate is claimed to reinforce the main ligaments of the knee while also gripping the leg along with the Velcro straps. The X8 model is available in two colors: White/Acid Yellow and Storm Grey/Crimson. Additionally, the sizes range individually from XXS-XXL.

How it works

• Slim and comfortable fit doesn't hinder performance on the bike.
• Easy to set-up and adjust to fit your leg.
• Occasional slipping with excessive sweating.
• Pants occasionally got stuck in the knee cup when bent.

I’ve been wearing a couple different pairs of knee braces for almost a year now and the Mobius X8’s are some of the best braces I’ve tried. They provide a comfortable fit and feel and don’t have any pressure points. Also, the slim fit allows you to squeeze the bike with your knees without feeling too bulky or hindering your performance which is a common concern with knee braces.

What really stood out on these braces were the EVA foam padding and the Tendon Back Plate. When first feeling the foam, I was a bit skeptical that it would be too slippery, especially when sweating, allowing the brace to slip down my leg as time went on. However, the braces have been very good about staying in position for the entire ride. Some testers experienced some movement during excessive sweating in 2+ hour races in hot conditions and we recommend wearing knee brace socks to prevent this from happening. However, some benefits from the EVA foam is it provides a very soft and comfortable fit and it didn’t irritate the skin or cause any chafing.

The back plate on the knee brace is a unique design that covers a large area and is tightened with a dial. When tightened, it spreads out the pressure over a larger area than the typical strap would do which adds to the comfort level and helps keep the brace in place. The dial is very simple to use and it never slipped or came unwound on us. One very minor drawback to this design is the top straps on the plate would get caught on the foam causing you to lift it over the foam instead of letting it scrunch together. Also, the Velcro straps which are numbered in order of how they are supposed to be put on did a good job of keeping the braces in place.

The X8’s offer a good amount of adjustment for any rider-they fit different sized legs easily. They come with two different sized sets of patellar pads which allow you to customize the fit even more. I tested a medium size brace and found that using the pads that came installed provided the best fit for my legs. In addition to the patellar pads, Mobius offers the brace in 7 different sizes which already narrows the brace down to a specific size leg. Additionally, they came with a few different sized extension stops to prevent hyper-extension. I found that using the standard/smallest extension stop was the best for myself since I haven’t had any previous knee injuries and prefer to have a full range of motion.

Although the Mobius braces are a great product, producing a perfect product without any flaws is just about impossible. Our testers experienced their pants inner material getting caught in the knee cup when bending in the knees and preventing them from extending their legs back out. Putting a sock over the cup helped fix this problem. Another thing about the braces is they are just slightly heavier than some other ones. Most of this appears to be as a result of the added material to offer better protection over the entire leg. There are minimal cut outs in the shell and a full coverage knee cup which is a welcomed feature and something we will sacrifice for an added minuscule amount of weight.
Overall, the Mobius X8 knee braces are a great form of protection that can prevent long term injuries. The unique design boasts comfort and performance with its slim structure and protection offered. They may not be the cheapest pair of knee braces out there, but they certainly aren’t the most expensive pair ranging from $399 for the XXS-XS and $599 for S-XXL. Not having the proper protective equipment often times leads to more serious and expensive problems in the long haul. Although we didn’t fully “test” the braces with any real injury-style crashes, we did some simulated stressing and felt confident in the brace’s abilities. We believe that it will do its job in protecting the knee from expected damage.