Like knee pads for kids, elbow pads are an important part of kid’s mountain biking gear. They protect the elbows in case of a fall by limiting scrapes and other superficial (yet painful) injuries from occurring. The newest elbow pads for mtb kids are available in a series of stylish colors, and made of very lightweight, yet strong materials, these elbow pads will defy all of your child’s objections. The five models reviewed here are all well-recommended, as well as designed by some of the best-known names in mountain biking safety gear. Your child will actually want to wear them, or at least, not complain as much about them before taking to the trails.

Mountain Biking Elbow Pads For Kids Comparison Chart

G-Form Pro-X3 Elbow Pads – Youth

Check out the G-Form Pro-X3 Elbow pads for kids. These guards cover a good part of the arm, stretching from the middle of their lower arms to a length halfway to their shoulders, making them perform like a rash guard as well as an elbow pad. Most of the protection is focused on the elbow portion, which is covered by a soft, flexible foam that hardens instantly on contact. This ensures that the elbow pads are lightweight and breathable, yet provide the necessary level of protection when your child needs it the most. Not only do these G-Form Pro-X3 Elbow pads stay in place thanks to the compression sleeves with silicone grippers on either end, but they also look great as well.

Leatt – Contour Elbow Guards (Youth)

Comfort and style combine in the Leatt Contour Elbow Guards. Initially designed for MX bikes, these pads are similar to styles designed for adults, only they come in a youth size, allowing your child to wear a set just like those worn by their idols. The patterned gray on black sleeves stretches from the wrists all of the way to a spot just shy of the shoulder, with a slim fit that easily slides on under a mountain bike jersey. The compression sleeves help the elbow guards stay in place while providing extra protection in case your child falls or gets too close to a boulder or tree branch on the trail. The protective hard shell near the elbow is made of Leatt’s patented HDPE High-Density Poly Ethylene material, while the rest is made of their MoistureCool wicking fabric. Under the hard shell casing is a layer of Leatt 3DF impact foam, providing even more protection.

IXS – Carve Evo+ Elbow Armor (Youth)

Available in three different sizes (youth small through youth large), as well as two different color combinations, it’s easy to find a pair of IXS Carve Evo + Elbow Armor that your child will want to wear. No matter the size, these elbow pads feature LoopLock fasteners that keep them firmly in place, as well as silicone grippers for an additional level of support. Once they’re on, unless your child wants them off, these elbow pads aren’t going anywhere. Color choices include gray or camel, both with the IXS logo in a darker print that helps it stand out. These elbow pads are extremely lightweight, coming in at a mere 270 grams (or half of a pound) for the entire set. With safety features that include the use of IXS’s patented X-Matter material for maximum absorption no matter how hard the fall and an open-cell foam cover that also cushions the blow, these elbow pads mean business.

Alpinestars Paragon Lite Elbow Protector – Kids’

If your young rider crashes, without pads, it can be the end of a fun day on the trails.  The Paragon Lite elbow pads offer protection while feeling light and flexible. The pads feature a slip-on closure to save you the time of messing around with velcro straps, while silicone printing in the cuffs prevents slippage.

Fox Launch D3O Youth Elbow Guards

These pads are great for kids who like to race downhill or catch huge air. The Fox Launch D3O Youth Elbow Guards combine impact-absorbing technology and sleek design. While riding, the Launch Elbow Guard stays flexible for ease of movement and comfort. In the event of an impact, the insert instantly hardens to dissipate the force of the crash. The slip-on, perforated neoprene guard has a hook and loop adjuster for a tailored fit. Importantly,  these pads are breathable and moisture-wicking to keep your young shredder comfortable all day long.

Goggles For MTB Kids: Helmets aren’t the only pieces of safety equipment that kids should wear while mountain biking. Goggles or other eye protection are an important option, too. Not only do they protect the eyes by keeping dirt and other debris, like bugs, from getting in – but they also make it easier to see while riding. Sun glares can be distractions on mountain trails. Thankfully, goggles and safety glasses that include darkened lenses help prevent those types of incidents as well. Finally, there’s the style component. With pairs available in several different colors and designs, young mountain bikers can easily find a pair that protects their eyes and looks impressive, making them more likely to wear goggles along with their other safety equipment. When choosing the best goggles for your young mountain bikers, it’s important to keep all of these things in mind.

Mountain Biking Goggles For Kids Comparison Chart

Answer – Apex 3 Goggles (Youth)

Answer’s Apex 3 Goggles are designed to be both stylish and functional. With a handy elastic strap featuring the company logo and a thick piece of shatter-resistant flexible polyurethane framing holding the lenses in place, it’s easy to see why many young riders choose this model over others. Available in several different colors with mirrored lenses, these goggles are the answer (pun intended) to many safety equipment questions. The goggles were designed with young riders in mind, and comfortably fit the face, thanks to an open-cell foam lining. The Apex 3 Goggles lining covers the back of the frame, where it wicks away sweat and conforms to the rider’s head, allowing for the ultimate level of protection.

Fly Racing – Zone Goggle (Youth)

Both stylish and protective, the Zone Goggles from Fly Racing meet your rider’s needs. The lens has an anti-scratch and anti-fog coating, ensuring that they’ll be able to see the trail clearly. Plus, these polycarbonate lenses are sturdy and provide a good level of protection as well. The straps that fit over the head come with three separate non-slip silicone patches that help keep them in place. Paired with the double buckle strap, these goggles are easy to adjust and stay put once they’re on properly. Plus, lens replacement is easy, thanks to the pre-installed posts. Not only do these goggles provide plenty of protection, but they’re also quite stylish. The frames have a high-gloss coating that comes in color combinations like aqua and yellow, pink and white, and orange and red. The snappy graphics on the frames compliment the custom-woven elastic straps, making quite a statement.

Fox Racing Main Stray Goggles – Kids

The Fox Racing Mainstray youth goggles are a great value mountain bike goggles. Ounce-for-ounce, the Main Stray Goggles are the best value on the market, and feature Fox’s Variable Lens System (VLS). VLS makes your goggles compatible with both standard lenses (stock) and injection molded lenses (sold separately) within the same frame. With an expansive viewport, triple-layer foam, and tear-off lens functionality, they are a heavy hitter and light on the wallet.

Fox Racing Youth Main II PC Prix Goggles

The Fox Main II PC Prix Goggles defy expectations of youth goggles. They feature an expansive viewport, triple-layer foam, and a clear injected lens. The large viewport offers your young mountain biker unparalleled vision.  The Lexan lens offers excellent UV protection, keeping your kid’s eyes on the prize with all the clear views and protection they need. The non-slip silicone strap makes sure the Fox Main II PC Goggles stay glued to your young ripper’s face and prevent any slipping while they ride.

100% ACCURI Youth Goggles

With all of the safety protections available to adults, only on a scale designed for young riders, the 100% ACCURI Youth Goggles help your child make a statement on the trails. The mirrored lenses (available in either red or yellow with matching frames) are more than just stylish – they also protect the eyes from flying dirt and bugs, while making it easier to see in multiple light conditions at the same time. The frames themselves are both flexible and durable, made of urethane, with a 45mm silicon coated strap for security and comfort. The lenses consist of Lexan, making them lightweight, while the anti-fog coating is great for helping rider’s see on even the hottest days. Even better, the lenses are easily replaced with many of the brand’s other options, allowing you to swap the mirrored ones out for clear, gray, or even rose-tinted ones, depending on the light conditions. ACCURI really thought of everything.

Gateway Safety 3699 Colorful Starlite Gumballs Safety Glasses (Pack of 10)

A wrap-around lens and standard frame make this set of safety glasses stand out from the pack. The clear lenses make it very easy for kids to see where they’re going on cloudy days or at dusk when a shaded polarized lens simply won’t do. In addition, bugs and debris won’t end up near the eyes, thanks to the sturdy lenses. The best thing about choosing a pack of safety glasses over a single pair is that you can stash them anywhere. Put an extra pair in your young rider’s hydration pack, leave one in the glove compartment of your car, keep another with the extra gear, and so on. Each set of these safety glasses come in ten different colors, including red, blue, and yellow. The lenses wrap around the temple region for extra protection, and the frame’s small size makes them ideal for young children who need a way to protect their eyes on the trails.

Hydration Packs For MTB Kids: Riders of all ages must stay hydrated while out on the trails, but even more so for kids, who are more likely to be affected by high temperatures if they don’t drink enough water while on the trail. Water bottles just don’t hold enough liquid for long rides. Plus, most kid’s mountain bikes aren’t quite big enough for additional mounts, like the ones that hold single water bottles. That’s where hydration packs come into play. These packs are similar to backpacks. They fit on the back, secure into place with straps, and hold hydration bladders with plenty of room for water.

Hydration packs for adults come in sizes that are too big and unwieldy for most kids, making it tough for younger riders to reap their benefits. In order to find one that works, you need to check out these models. Designed specifically for younger riders, the overall scale fits perfectly and comfortably on their backs. Most hydration packs for kids have smaller built-in bladders, although they still hold more liquid than several water bottles. Check out these five to see which one will work best for your young rider.

Hydration Packs For MTB Kids Comparison Chart

CamelBak L.U.X.E. Hydration Pack – Women’s

One step above the aforementioned CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. the CamelBak L.U.X.E. Hydration Pack is designed for women but might be just the right size for teenage riders. This backpack comes in solid black with a green CamelBak logo and includes a similar rubber straw and sipper setup as the kid’s version. The main difference is the size. The pack weighs a mere 590 grams (a little over a pound) when empty, and it can hold three liters of water – quite a difference over the kid’s model. Plus, the interior capacity is a total of 11 liters with just cargo, or seven liters with the water bladder, allowing your teen to tote around plenty of gear and other supplies along with their water. The rubber straw has a magnetic trap that keeps it in place while riding, as well as a leakproof lever. The adjustable straps keep it securely fastened, and it fits a torso range of 15 to 19 inches in diameter.

CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. Kids Hydration Backpack, 50 oz

CamelBak products opened in 1988, and they remain one of the best-known creators of hydration devices, like this one, the CamelBak Mini M.U.L.E. Kids Hydration Backpack. The built-in reservoir, complete with a long plastic tube that has a sip-able end, holds 1.5 liters of water – enough for a lengthy ride on the trails. With many colors and patterns to choose from, including atomic blue, azalea, black with red flames, “camelflage,” and even a snappy red with racing checks, your child will want to stay hydrated. The backpack has a back panel made of breathable mesh, as well as a front pocket that’s big enough to hold the essentials, like a cell phone. Reflective straps and strips of fabric provide security, as does the built-in safety whistle. The CamelBak fits kids with torsos ranging between 12 and 16 inches in diameter, and the straps are fully adjustable, helping it fit securely in place. One of our family’s favorite hydration packs for MTB kids.

Evoc Joyride Hydration Backpack for Kids, 2L

Available in two different color combinations – olive green with red accents and Sulphur yellow with a neon blue fade, the Evoc Joyride Hydration Backpack for kids is both functional and stylish. The backpack is the same as those designed for adults, only on a smaller scale, making it comfortable for kids to wear while riding their mountain bikes. The backpack holds bladders of up to two liters in size, as well as many other things, like cell phones and cameras, thanks to an additional fleece inside pocket. There’s even a mesh outside pocket that’s just the right size to hold some plenty of additional rolled up gear. The pack is made of lightweight performance fabric with a breathable back, and a detachable hip belt, as well as two permanent backpack-like straps keep it securely in place. According to the specs, this hydration backpack works best for kids aged seven through twelve.

Osprey Moki Hydration Pack – 1.5 Liters – Kids’

Although the Osprey Moki Hydration Pack only comes in one color combination – a light blue with green accents, it has a sleek profile that’s unlike the other models. This hydration pack holds 1.5 liters, or 50 fluid ounces of water, ensuring that your child will have plenty of water to drink while riding. The reservoir sleeve zips open and closed for easy access to the water reservoir. Adjustable padded straps are comfortable and hold the pack securely to your child’s body, preventing it from slipping around while they ride. Extra features, like a strap that’s designed to hold a blinking safety light or reflector, provide safety for evening and early morning rides, while the lightweight mesh fabric panel and included harness make the pack very portable. On top of the main compartment that holds the water reservoir, there are two additional pockets to hold gear and essentials. Plus, the Osprey is made of bluesign materials that are good for the environment.

Thule Youth Uptake Hydration Pack

The Thule Youth Uptake Hydration Pack was designed to be incredibly user-friendly. With a HydraPak reservoir that holds up to 2.5 liters of water attached to the ReTrakt magnetic hose system (that’s also hands-free, by the way) it’s very easy to take a sip of water without slowing down. There are two colors to choose from, a dark aqua blue with lighter blue accents and a red-orange with black details. Both have adjustable mesh straps that are strong and breathable at the same time. Reflective trim makes it easier to spot riders in low light conditions, and the 12 total liters of storage space hold many different forms of gear and other necessities, thanks to the expandable compression panel that gets larger when needed. This hydration pack comes with a built-in waist strap for extra security, and the foam harness and back panel are very comfortable.