PressCamp '16: G-Form

In recent years, the demands of XC and trail riding have steadily increased as our bikes and equipment have gotten more capable. Compared to when I first got into mountain biking, I’m now riding more technical terrain, and I’m also going a lot faster too (or at least it feels like it…). With an increase in speed comes an increase in risk. And an increase in risk comes with an increased chance of doing yourself some proper damage on the trail. Body armour may have just been for hardcore freeriders back in the day, but it’s becoming increasingly necessary for XC and trail riders like me too.

G-Form is a relatively new company on the body armour scene, having emerged back in 2012 when they debuted their innovative knee and elbow pads. G-Form prefer the term ”body protection” rather than “body armour”, because they believe many riders associate armour with the idea of wearing heavy, uncomfortable pads with hard plastic outer shells. I would put my hand up and say I’m one of those riders, and it’s for this reason why I don’t typically reach for knee and elbow pads even if I’m riding on steep and rocky trails. If it ain’t comfy and it’s going to piss me off on every climb, I’m not interested. G-Form are hoping to address those concerns by building lightweight, flexible and breathable body armour that encourages riders to reach for it more of the time. So how have they done that?

At this point in time, G-Form produces a range of elbow, knee, shin and ankle guards, all of which are built around their unique XRD padding. They also produce a full suit as well (seen above), which is available in both mens and women’s versions. The XRD padding is the most distinctive element of G-Forms products thanks to its futuristic look and split-panel construction. The idea with this XRD material is not to deflect impacts like a polycarbonate shell does, but actually absorb that impact energy so your skin and bones don’t have to. Here’s how it works:

G-Form adapt each pad depending on where it’s being used. The elbow pads use some of the thinnest padding in the range, while the full knee/shin guard employs the thickest XRD padding. In each case, the padding is separated into specific zones, which aids flexibility for the rider, while actually allowing the pads to deform more easily so they can absorb more impact energy. Each XRD pad is sealed with a TPU skin, which makes them waterproof and adds durability to the foam within. Because they’re waterproof, G-Form state that you can put them in the washing machine with all your other stinky bike gear.

One of G-Form’s most popular products is the Pro-X Knee Pad. These feature a full XRD pad assembly over each knee cap, with additional padding that reaches a little way down the top of the shin. The padding is arranged in an articulated design that offers maximum flexibility whilst pedalling. The padding is fused to the yellow base layer, which is then stitched to a Lyrca tube that slides on over your legs, just like a knee warmer. The pads come as a pair, and they’re available in sizes XS through to XXL. G-Form’s products are made in the US, though as production demand has increased, they’ve begun to make some of their garments in the Dominican Republic too.

The Lycra sleeve uses a light compression feel, and the fit feels similar to what you’d expect from any other Lycra garment, such as a knee warmer. Because of this tube-design, no Velcro straps are required on G-Form pads, which makes them a whole lot more comfortable, and a whole lot easier to deal with when putting them on. During PressCamp, I had the opportunity to try out a set of knee pads on the trail, and I gotta say I was very impressed. In fact, they were so comfortable to wear that I only remembered I had them on when I knelt down on the trail to shoot some photos after climbing to the top of the mountain. The pads move very little while pedalling, and I had no issues with them moving around or causing any untoward friction on my skin.

It’s pretty clear from looking at the G-Form pads that they’re going to be a relatively comfortable and flexible piece of kit. But if you’re wondering if they give up any protection due to their slim padding, you may want to think again. Independent 3rd party testing has shown G-Form’s pads to offer up some of the most impressive impact absorption numbers compared to the likes of POC, 661 and Troy Lee Designs. Also of note is G-Forms impressive athlete roster, which includes Enduro champ Tracey Mosely, and more recently, Brian Lopes. That said, I believe it’s the on-trail comfort that is their biggest plus, because it means you’re more likely to put them on in the first place.

Along with their existing line, G-Form will be adding in several new products for 2017, with a pair of bib shorts on the way. Designed to be run underneath your existing baggy shorts, the G-Form Pro-B Bib Shorts will use a full Lycra construction, high quality padding from Elastic Interface, and two separate XRD panels, with one covering each hip bone. Given how little flesh and muscle sits between your hip bone and the hard rocks you might come in contact with when you hit the deck, this particular product makes a lot of sense. Lord knows I’ve had my fair share of bruises on my hips and upper thighs. And unlike other full-blown body armour products, the nice thing about the G-Form Pro-B Bib Shorts is that they use a slim fit and are unnoticeable underneath baggys.

We’re still awaiting pricing and availability information on the new G-Form Pro-B Bib Shorts (and will update you as we get it), but for information about the current G-Form range, get in touch with Pushie Industries.