I was 12 when Jackass first hit the screens and immediately decided to ignore all those warnings and attempt to jump my mountain bike off a home-made ramp. Unsurprisingly, the ramp immediately collapsed under my weight, locked my front wheel and sent me sailing over the handle bars, just like the boys on the show. Unlike those guys, I hit the ground and burst into tears: this is when I learnt that falling off isn’t funny - it’s painful and dumb. Luckily, I was wearing my helmet, but stupidly I was wearing shorts, and my poor knees took the brunt of the fall. I still have a scar on my right knee 20 years later, and what I have learnt is that safety apparel is important.

The Scarabeo range from Dainese is designed for youth (see how they make it sound cooler by avoiding the term ‘Children’s range’). Both the elbow pads and knee pads are available in JS, JM, and JL (Junior Small, Medium and Large). They are both extremely lightweight and weigh just 160g. The protective pads are black whilst the fabric that wraps around the arms and legs is red, creating a kind of cool, hopefully less offensive Deadpool effect. The Pro Armor pads have been specially designed to fit skinny legs and. at the same time, still meet the rigorous European standard for adult limb impact protectors, because why shouldn’t they have the same level of serious protection? The knee and elbow pads are flexible to allow for a full range of movement whilst riding a bike, and they soften up further overtime without compromising the protection. The fabric is super-stretchy and perforated for ventilation, the pads have an adjustable fit thanks to the Velcro closure system, and the material is very thin between the pad and the elbow. This has the potential to cause some discomfort, and a little light padding wouldn’t go amiss here.

The Scarabeo elbow and knee pads are tough and protective - perhaps not the most comfortable, but most kids will be back inside and on the Xbox within a few hours anyway. Whilst they are wearing them, it should give them to confidence to take on new challenges without the fear of getting hurt. RRP £45.95

Current Cheapest Price

3.5 out of 5

Pros

Lightweight

Flexible

Breathable

Adjustable Velcro closure

Cons

Padded lining between elbow and pad would provide more comfort