EVS Vision Knee Braces

What it is

• Low-cost leg protection that bridges the gap between cheap knee guards and pricey knee braces.

Introduced in the mid-2000s and revised in 2009, the EVS Vision knee braces prevent hyper-extension via a framework controlled by anatomically correct dual-pivot hinges on both sides of the leg. Patella cups and thigh/calf impact panels provide full-length leg protection, while dual Velcro straps and neoprene liners hold the braces in place. Leather panels at the upper and lower inner edges prevent damage from abrasion and exhaust heat. Available in youth sizes S and L plus adult S, M, L and XL, in any color you want as long as it's black.

How it works

• Easily donned and secured by two Velcro straps.
• Hinged lockout struts prevent knee from bending in the wrong direction.
• Full leg padding plus patella cup ward off the elements.

I've worn a variety of knee braces since tearing my MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) and having surgery circa 1990. Those were early days for sports orthotics, and at the time the only knee braces available were custom-fit. CTi was a pioneer, but its braces were prohibitively expensive and not covered by my health insurance, so I went with a single prescription brace from Orthotech. Although I'm sure that brace was approved by four out of five doctors, it gave me a quick (and painful) lesson in everything a brace shouldn't be: It was difficult to put on and take off, it chafed and pinched my skin, and it was so thick in back that I couldn't bend my knee far enough to slide forward on the seat nor kick-start a bike. There was no such thing as an electric-start dirt bike then.

In the ensuing 25 years there has been an explosion of motocross-specific knee braces, some of which work very well indeed. The two things most have in common, however, are high price and complexity—I hate having to get to the track a half-hour earlier just to put on my gear!

That's not the case with the EVS Vision braces. Simply lay the brace atop your leg like you would a regular knee guard, secure the two Velcro closures in back and you're ready to go. Naysayers will point out that these braces don't offer the same degree of protection from hyper-extension that more expensive braces do, and they'd be right. But in my experience they offer ample protection, and because they're padded from top to bottom do a better job of warding off dirt clods, rocks, handlebars, and whatever else might fit through the gaps in an open web-style brace. The hinges also aren't adjustable like on more expensive braces, but I found they worked just fine as they are. On top of that, they're comfortable enough to be worn against the skin, even if I usually wore them with thigh-high socks.

Although the Vision braces feel like oversized knee guards, they're noticeably thicker due to the hinges on the sides; this makes bikes feel slightly wider than they are. While I'm complaining, I'll point out that the ends of the Velcro straps sometimes got caught on my pants liners, resulting in a tug-of-war against an invisible opponent. I haven't been beaten yet!

Many knee braces are hard on bikes' graphics, but thanks to the neoprene sleeves around the Vision's hinges, they don't shred decals too badly. As you can see by looking at the accompanying photos, however, those sleeves tend to wear out; fortunately they're replaceable. Likewise the plastic patella cups tend to crack at the louvers, and while replacements are available, that never bothered me enough to, um, bother. Oh, and by the way, I've been rocking these same Vision knee braces since 2009 and I'm not one of those once-a-month riders. Probably the Velcro will wear out before the braces themselves do.

As for price, the Vision braces can't be beat. At $275 per pair, they cost about half of what most braces cost each. For the mathematically challenged, that makes them about one-quarter as expensive. Sadly, EVS has discontinued the Vision knee braces but they are still readily available from online retailers such as Chaparral and on eBay. Grab a set before they're gone...

Help support this site by purchasing through this link: