REVIEW: Race Face Rally DH pads

[stuart@nsmb.com]

The latest review - Race Face Rally DH arm and leg armour. You know it, you love it, you want it... (And yes, it is the same as the Roach DH stuff).

Read about it here (http://www.nsmb.com/gear/raceface_armour_09_04.php).

Enjoy.

Stuart

[DaveM]

Great review, I wonder if the DH pads will work better than the FR ones. I'm going on my second time this summer having to have the straps sewn back on in the calf area. I have the XL and the straps are just too short, I figure they must be pulling too hard where they attach and are eventually pulling the stitching out. I have large calves, but they're not that much out of the ordinary.

The plus side is, even with 2 straps missing they still stay in place better than my old Dainese.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

I didn't think I was pinner, but apparently I am. :lol:

[some dude]

I bought a set of the XL Roach armour (arms and legs) this year. While they are a vast improvement over the old style Roach, I did find them lacking in fit and in quality control.

Fit: I'm 6-5 and I find the XLs to be way too short. I was surprised Stuart said he's 6-4 and liked the length. The legs are not too bad, but with the elbow cup around my elbow, the end of the arm pads sits way up my forearm. Then when I ride, the pad gradually slides down to my wrist and the elbow cup is in the wrong place. Cinching the pads up super tight only makes it worse because my forearm tapers as it goes down to the wrist (must be my Popeye forearms). I didn't have this issue with the old Roach.

Quality Control: I bought a set for my girlfriend too, and when she put them on we realized the knee pad on one was all crooked. I took it back to the store and saw that in all the pads they had, the postion the plastic cups are sewn on is not consistent from one pad to the next and a number of them were crooked.

A big improvement over the old Roach pads, and most people probably won't have the sizing issues I have, but still frustrating for me. I'll probably be looking for a different arm pad.

[DaveM]

My problem is almost opposite. I'm only 5'10". I like the length of the XL legs, but the straps don't work too well for me. As for the arms, I use the XL too, and they're a bit long on the wrist, but I can't even do the middle strap up, it's too short like the legs. Good thing is, like the legs, even with the middle strap off, these things don't move around at all.

My wife is going to get some velco and elastic and modify them to work better, it's worth the effort, cause these pads are so damn good.

I guess they can't make them fit everyone.

[stuart@nsmb.com]

I guess the moral of the story is that you have to try lots of different types of armour on to see what fits your body best.

Everybody's arms and legs are going to be different lengths and sizes around, so what may work for some people may not for others.

If straps are ripping out, though, I'd say go back to the shop and talk to them about a warranty.

In keeping with the modifying theme, we had to modify my GF's Beastgear jacket and sew on some velcro to keep the kidney belt from slipping up. Made a world of difference.

[DaveM]

Originally posted by placebo

If straps are ripping out, though, I'd say go back to the shop and talk to them about a warranty.



I talked to Raceface about warranty, they didn't have problem with it but there was a 4 week backlog. Corey hooked me up with guy who fixes them for really cheap, so I just go that route.

I don't want my issues to detract from the quality of these pads. Even with the issues I have, these are still by far the best pad I've ever worn. I'll happily make some modifications to make them work for me. I just wonder if they could make the size range a bit more.

The only thing I don't like about them is they don't make a small size for my wife to buy.

Buuuut, we're getting off topic here....

[peachy-B]

i'm 5'5" and nothing fits me. they should start making SMALL. especially since we probably have the largest concentration of kids and women riders (that requires armours) in the continent. :D

[some dude]

Yes, they can't make them to fit everyone. I admit, I'm probably in the 99th percentile in height and arm/leg length, but there seems to be very little difference in the three sizes. I compared a "Medium" (the smallest:???: ) to the XL and they weren't that much different. This is probably why the 5'5 person finds the "Medium" way too big!

I wish you could get a custom order like Roach did years ago before Race Face bought em.

Great pads otherwise though. I like the FR way better than the DH too.

[hampstead bandit]

gotta agree they're the best pads i've ever owned

my Dianese freestyle knee/ shin and Dianese elbowpads were useless...every crash they would slide off, or even when just riding they would slide down, i'd be constantly adjusting them on the trail, and they totally lacked coverage, the knee/shins only came 1/2 way down my shin, leaving a huge amount of exposed skin / ankle, and the elbow pads came 1/2 way down my arm?


got the Race Face FR knee/shin in the UK and got the Race Face FR elbows whilst in Whistler (much cheaper in Canada), they are excellent pads - they fit really good, with a deep grip, and never slide about or move, even with the straps kinda loose.

they're way burlier than the Dianese, the plastic shell is 3 times thicker and not "flexible" like the Dianese (you could push that in with your thumb), the padding is more dense and much thicker

the coverage is much better than other pads, the Roach FR knee/shin actually go all the way down my legs, just under the tongue top of my Oakley shoes, and the elbows go up against my glove's wriststrap, so there's no naked flesh showing

had some funky crashes and haven't lost skin like i did with Dianese

[Desloc]

Originally posted by davet
As for the arms, I use the XL too, and they're a bit long on the wrist, but I can't even do the middle strap up, it's too short like the legs. Good thing is, like the legs, even with the middle strap off, these things don't move around at all.




Same problem I have... calf and forearm straps are too short using the XL. I'm only 6'1" and 205lbs and I always thought my calves and forearm to be average. Other than that, they fit like a glove :)


Des

[PegCityThrasher]

My Roach Rally's have no knee stabilization cup. Or fancy air channels in the foam. Is that because I have a set of the orginal gen pads? Or is it a RaceFace only feature?

[SDK]

The knee cup and channeled foam are a feature of the Rally DH; the Rally FR has a lighter perforated foam liner; I'm guessing that you have the FR version?

[PegCityThrasher]

Ah. That's what I was told by a friend and I do indeed have the FR version. Thanks.

[Bryce]

My FR's rub alot against my knees when I'm pedalling in pants. But otherwise they're good

[PegCityThrasher]

Wear baggier pants?