It used to be that if you wanted real protection from boulders and trees, you were stuck with plastic-cap armor that you strapped onto your limbs with rough hook-and-loop straps. Needless to say, it wasn't the easiest to ride in, and it would chafe like crazy. Those times are long gone, thankfully, and the latest generation of armor, like the POC Joint VPD 2.0 Elbow Guard, has arrived.

VPD is a soft-until-you-hit-it armor that's flexible and easy to ride while wearing, but it hardens on impact to protect your bones from injury. And, in place of those horrible straps of old is a spandex sleeve that slides right up your arm, keeping the armor in place, wicking moisture, and not causing injury to your skin. You'll still find top and bottom straps, but they're reinforcements, instead of primary retention.