AirFlex Combat Knee Pads are protective knee pads for Combat Pants from Crye Precision and other pants compatible with integrated knee pads.
If you have ever worn regular knee pads for a long time, then you should know that this is not a very comfortable pleasure. If you tighten the adjusting straps to protect your knees, they will eat into the fold of the knee joint, squeeze blood circulation, sometimes legs go numb and the like. If you loosen the lines so as not to pinch your legs, the knee pads slide down, and you have to constantly tighten them. The more you move and change your position, the more often you have to correct. In addition, the dense material of the knee pad is poorly ventilated, the legs sweat underneath, the pants get wet, and so on.
You, apparently, also saw how knee pads go down the legs, right down to the boots when they are not needed. This solves the problem of blocking circulation and damp knees, but does nothing to protect your kneecaps in the event of a sudden drop, or a change in level between standing and kneeling on uneven ground.
Realizing all these problems, while designing the Combat Pants, the American company Crye Precision decided to abandon the usual elastic lines that hold the knee pads on the legs. Instead, they chose to restructure the pants so that the knee pads were held in a special pocket on the knees of the pants, rather than on top of them. This solution gave life to integrated knee pads, revolutionized field uniform design, and made Crye Precision synonymous with innovation, comfort and quality in the world of tactical gear.
In January 2018, Crye Precision announced the fourth generation of the Combat Apparel uniform (G4 Combat Pants, G4 Combat Shirt) for which the AirFlex Impact Combat Knee Pads were also redesigned. However, the most common now are the third generation shirts and trousers (G3 Combat Pants, G3 Combat Shirt), which includes the AirFlex Combat Knee Pads. Although they do not have a damper with a combination of two layers of foam of different density, they can offer the following advantages.
- Reliable protection of the kneecaps.
- Combination of hard plastic shell and soft foam damper.
- Ergonomic shape, does not restrict knee and leg movements.
- Horizontal indentations in the sink so that it folds with your knees and pants.
- Velcro for better fit in the pockets of compatible trousers.
- Dimensions (cm.): 15.5 x 26 (width \ height).
- Available colors: Black, Khaki, Green 15.
- Made in the USA.
The following review features Crye Precision AirFlex Combat Knee Pads in Khaki.
From the packaging of the Crye Precision AirFlex Combat Knee Pads, only a transparent plastic bag has gotten without any markings or special marks.
Inside you will find two knee pads for further integration into the pocket of compatible trousers, and a paper instruction. The knee pads are made by combining two main parts: a plastic hard shell, and a soft foam damper. But before you get to know them, let's quickly go through the information sheet.
The Crye Precision AirFlex Combat Knee Pads manual describes and demonstrates the step-by-step algorithm you will need to follow to fit them into your pants pocket. This manual is valid not only for Crye Precision products, but for any trousers that are compatible with integrated knee pads.
The shells of the knee pads are made of medium density plastic and have a maximum dimensions of 12 cm x 15 cm (width / height). The conch shape is close to an inverted trapezoid, which provides maximum protection in the lower part of the kneecap. It is on this section that the maximum weight and load falls when moving to the level "on the knee".
The third generation Crye Precision AirFlex Combat Knee Pads have three horizontal indentations in the upper third. These grooves were not present on the knee pads of previous generations, which is why, when bending the leg at the knee, the shell did not bend and pulled the material of the trousers with it. Excessive rigidity led to the fact that the shells could shift in height. Or they overload the area of the pants just above the sinks, leading to premature wear. Thanks to the deepening, the shells bend in accordance with the change in the position of the leg, do not shift and do not stretch the trousers.
Also in the photo above, you can notice the Crye Precision logo in the center of the bottom edge of the sink, and a note about the patent rights for AirFlex Combat Knee Pads owned by Crye Precision.
Crye Precision AirFlex Combat Knee Pads are located under the sinks. They are made of foam and are larger than shells. If the shells protect the knees from contact with the surface and irregularities (stones, fragments from bricks, etc.), then the main task of the dampers is to extinguish excess inertia during the transition between the "standing" and "kneeling" levels. So that this energy does not return to your bones and muscles, and does not destroy the tissues of the joint, the dampers receive and distribute it.
In the lower part of the damper, two recesses with holes 6.5 cm high are clearly visible. They act as ventilation holes through which air circulates inside the pocket with knee pads. They are just struggling with the problem of damp knees from sweat, inherent in conventional knee pads.
Between themselves, the sinks and dampers are attached with two seams, which are clearly visible in the photo above. It is worth paying attention to the shape of the damper, and the presence of side grooves. Thanks to them, when bending the knee, the damper sections also fold, evenly enveloping the joint from the outside. In this case, the damper sections do not intersect, do not abut each other, and do not form accumulations. As a result, the damper always has the same thickness: when the leg is bent and when it is extended. Also, the side parts of the damper protect the kneecaps from the side, which is necessary if you are not quite straight on your knee.
To demonstrate how the knee pads look when fitted into the matching trouser pockets, we inserted them into Army Combat Pants FR. The shells reliably protect the knees, and the dampers cover the entire surface from the knee to the top of the boots.
In general, the quality of materials and workmanship should be noted: all the edges are cut evenly, without flash, seams and threads do not stick out, and the shape is thought out to the smallest detail. That's why they are the original Crye Precision AirFlex Combat Knee Pads, with which integrated knee pads began, and which only strengthen their position thanks to constant evolution. The manufacturer managed to combine reliable protection and comfort without compromising in favor of one of them.
The integrated Crye Precision AirFlex Combat Knee Pads presented in this review were provided by punisher.com.ua store. On the pages of the store, up-to-date information on availability and cost is always available.
Source: https://secretsquirrel.com.ua/snaryazhenie/ohliad-nakolinnykiv-crye-precision-airflex-combat-knee-pads/
Author: MAD
