Alpinestars Fluid Tech Carbon Knee Brace

What it is

• Alpinestars top of the line carbon knee brace.

The Fluid Tech Carbon knee brace is Alpinestars’ top of the line knee brace constructed from a carbon polymer compound to assist in injury prevention of the knee. They are a high-end set of braces that may cost a bit more than some wish to spend but they feature some of the more expensive materials such as carbon frames. The carbon polymer compound provides a stronger brace to help prevent hyperextension of the knee as well as lightweight in design. The extension stops can be swapped out from 0 degrees to 5, 10, 15, or 20 degrees to limit how far your leg will straighten before hyperextending. Spacers are also placed on the inside of the braces to narrow/adjust the width are also available in 1mm, 2mm, and 3mm sizes to further customize the fit of the brace. Further adjustments are in the Velcro straps and buckles. Braes are available in sizes S/M/L and XL/2XL and in one color: Anthracite/Red/White. The price is $349.99 for a single brace or $699.98 for the pair.

How it works

• Very simple to use and adjust the straps.
• Lightweight design induces less fatigue after long period of time.
• Very comfortable and don't create any uncomfortable feelings.
• Multiple ways to adjust the performance and fit.

After recently testing a couple different knee braces, the Alpinestars’ stand out in their comfort, fit and design. When riding, the braces were unnoticeable, a great thing in my line of work/fun. Some interfere when riding which can be a concern for potential knee brace owners as you don’t want it to affect your ability to concentrate. Gripping the bike with my knees wasn’t a problem as they are skinnier than some other knee braces. Also, the straps and the knee cups never got hung up on my pants while riding. As a result of the carbon frame, the braces remain lightweight which helps keep your legs as light as possible when needing to lift them in corners and in turn saves a tad bit of energy while riding.

The S/M/L knee braces have a very nice fit, they don’t create any uncomfortable feelings or cause an increase in pressure over any area. With the use of the foam for the liner they didn’t irritate my skin by being overly abrasive and braces never came out of place and slipped down my leg. Additionally, the Velcro straps are easy and fast to attach and keeps the braces in place without irritation. The two middle straps buckle into the brace with a sleek design where it can’t come unbuckled while also being very simple to use.

With the adjustable extension stops, I found for my young knees the best setup was utilizing the 0 degree extension stop that comes installed in the brace standard. The others limited the mobility of my knee too much and without having any previous knee injuries, I preferred maximum range. In addition to the extension stops, they also come with spacers that can be placed inbound of the hinges to adjust the width of the brace holding the knees. Again, I preferred using the installed setup and not employing any of the spacers.

The Fluid Tech braces held up very well over the months of use they endured. The Velcro straps don’t have any wear and the foam liners are staying intact. After changing out the extension stops a few times and inserting/removing spacers, no malfunctions occurred with the braces. Also, the liner has a few different area’s of mesh mixed in to offer some air flow and helped keep my legs as cool as possible.

The Fluid Tech Carbon knee braces are a $700 investment you hope to never have to cash in on. But in the event you need that extra protection and hyperextension prevention while riding without sacrificing comfort, even when walking through the pits, it will be all worth in the end. The lightweight, slim design doesn’t affect the performance of a rider when squeezing the bike or cornering and it is very simple to use. The straps do a great job of keeping the brace in its position and attaching/removing the braces remains one of the most simple and easy with the use of the two buckle system. Lastly, they come with several different options to adjust the fit and feel as well as the performance of the brace. I don’t any reason for me to stop wearing braces even though my knees are still young and undamaged, I prefer to keep them that way.

Rider Opinions