Review: Bluegrass Aura Core

Perhaps less well known in the UK for their mountain bike armour than some of the big brands, Bluegrass had also flown under our radar until a chance meeting saw us try on some sets of their Aura pads and suddenly realise how incredibly good they were. We now not only stock them, but the whole Dirt School and Guides hill team rides in them with every single one of us finding them to be the best fitting and most comfortable pad we've ever used.

With a CE Level 2 rating for impact protection and additional padding around the knee and upper shin, the Aura Core are Bluegrass’ enduro focused knee pads. Combined with a lightweight construction and a high degree of flexibility, they promise easy pedalling comfort all day while still providing plenty of protection, should you need it.  

Before we get into how these pads perform on the trail, let's first understand what a Level 2 protector is. EN1621-1 is a European Safety Standard for limb joint protectors and sets two levels of accreditation for impact transmission. A protector which, over nine impact tests, transmits no more than an average of 35kN, with no single result being over 50kN, may be considered an EN1621-1 Level 1 protector. In order to pass as a Level 2 protector the average transmitted force must be no more than 20kN, again with no single result transmitting more than 50kN of force. Bluegrass has tested and certified the Aura Core, and the more trail oriented Aura knee pads, to EN1621-1 Level 2 meaning they meet the criteria for the most effective limb joint protectors on the market. Considering that they are also among the most flexible and comfy pads we've ever used, that is no mean feat.

That combination is achieved via the use of a unique SAS-TEC protective insert which contours to the knee nicely, and becomes even more flexible once up to body temperature. An innovative design, it uses hundreds of tiny foam towers extruded from a thin and flexible backer, which allows the insert to freely bend and conform and is a large part of what allows the Aura to give the maximum protection without compromising comfort. Bluegrass have also used the largest “Type B” protector, with a “Type A” protector being smaller in area and therefore offering less coverage. Finally, the insert can also be easily removed from the sleeve, making washing easier. 

With a wide silicone band at the top and bottom, as well as an elasticated strap around the calf, the Aura Cores stay securely in place and spread their load well, with the sleeve pulling relatively high up the thigh. Even after full days in the saddle the pads remain comfortable, and the additional foam padding to the side of the knees and below the protector is well placed and unobtrusive. Silky smooth, four way stretch fabric is used inside the sleeve of the Aura Cores, eliminating any risk of knee rub inside the pad, and an elasticated mesh panel behind the knee keeps things breathing well and doesn’t bunch up at the top of the pedal stroke. 

Crashes happen, and while we do everything we can to prevent them, some things can’t be planned for. Our team’s Aura Cores have had a smattering of close encounters with the rocks and roots of the Tweed Valley and have always stayed in place through crashes helping rider and pad emerge unscathed. While it’s very difficult to fully quantify any given crash in mountain biking, we can say that for the crashes we have had in these pads, thankfully none of them too big, the protection level has been more than adequate. We’ve been impressed with the protection especially when compared with the comfort and lightweight feel. 

After numerous trips through the washing machine, our sleeves are still holding strong with no peeling logos or fraying stitching and the pads show no visible signs of wear and have resisted stretching so that they still fit with the same leg hugging security that they did when they were fresh out of the box. 

In short, the Aura Cores provide a steadfast fit along with a high level of certified protection in a nicely thought through, and well executed, design. More than comfortable enough to forget about during a long ride, but protective enough to do the job when you need them to, these have become the pads we find ourselves reaching for day in day out when working on the hill. 

We have sizes XS - XL in stock in both the Aura Core and the Aura, so if you’re looking for a new pair of knee pads come in and try on a pair, or get them delivered to your door from our website!