A long video sharing my personal experiences with Donjoy Defiance, CTI OTS, POD K8, and Mobius X8 dirtbike / motocross knee braces. I do a short review of each brace and compare them one to another, hopefully helping you decide which one will work better for the kind of riding you're looking to do.

Full brace reviews:
Mobius X8 long term review -    • Mobius X8 knee brace long term review...  

Chapters:
3:24 Comparison chart/summary
3:30 What to look for in a brace
16:20 Donjoy Defiance
21:50 CTI OTS Brace
37:09 Mobius X8 Brace
45:23 Summary

Summary -
In this video, I share my personal experience with four knee braces that I have used over the years. I am not a doctor or an orthopedic professional, but I have had a number of leg injuries and finding good leg protection has become kind of a passion of mine. The four knee braces I will be reviewing are my own personal braces paid for with my own money. I have no affiliation with any brand or store. In this video, I will share my knowledge and experience, but keep in mind that it is my personal experience. I am an average trail rider and amateur racer, so this is going to be my perspective. I will talk about the general concepts that I look for when I am picking a brace, such as fit, design, protection, mobility, durability, and the type of riding that it's best for. Then, I will go through each brace and see how it performs in those different areas. Fit is arguably the main thing when it comes to knee braces, and if the knee brace does not fit well or you cannot get it on very tight, then it's not going to do anything. Custom is best for fit, but if you are looking for an off-the-shelf brace, something that makes a huge difference is flexible collars that both the Pod and the CTI have. Another thing to look for is wide straps and lots of padding, which are important for tightening the brace without causing discomfort. Another aspect of fit that is important to consider is the chassis, which comes into play when talking about sizing.

When it comes to choosing a knee brace for off-road riding, there are several factors to consider. The first is comfort, and one key aspect of this is the frame's flexibility. The Mobius brace is a good example of a brace that is comfortable because it has flex in the areas where it is supposed to, such as around the knee joint. This allows it to grip the sides of the knee joint without putting too much pressure on it. In addition, the sizing is easier with the Mobius brace. A well-fitting brace is essential, and a good way to check this is to make sure that you can't stick your fingers under any of the straps and that the brace is solid on your leg without sliding down or moving up.

The second factor to consider is ligament protection. This is the main job of a knee brace, and if it doesn't protect you well, then it's not worth wearing. The brace should be able to stop your knee from hyperextending, which means moving in the opposite direction to bending. If you hit something or your leg gets stuck, the brace should stop it from hyperextending. The other important aspect of ligament protection is that the rigid frame does not allow sideways flexing. This is important in off-road riding, especially in slippery conditions where you don't want your knee to buckle sideways if your bike slides out or if someone hits you in the side of your leg.

The third factor to consider is impact protection. When you're riding off-road, you want protection over your knees and shins because you're likely to fall down or hit trees and other obstacles. The protection should cover the entire range of motion, especially when your knee is bent because most of your riding and crashing will be with your leg bent, bracing for impact. The protection is typically made of plastic with padding behind it. The more padding there is, the more comfortable and impact-absorbing it will be.

The fourth factor to consider is mobility. When you're dirt biking, you're moving around on the bike a lot, so you want a brace that moves with your body and is easy to move. A good fit is crucial, and a good hinge design is important too. Most braces these days have at least two pivots in their hinge, which makes them move more like a human joint. The weight of the brace is also important, and fortunately, all braces are pretty lightweight, even if they're not made of carbon fiber.

The final factor to consider is quality and durability. Knee braces are expensive, so you want to be able to trust them and know that they will last a long time. Check forums and reviews to make sure that the brace you choose is one that you can trust and that won't fall apart or fail you when you need it the most. The Don Joy brace is an example of a brace that is both high quality and durable, as the speaker has had it for over five years.