Held Visco Knee Protectors

Held Visco Knee Protectors — Standalone Knee Coverage with German Precision

Held makes armor the same way they make gloves — with more thought than the price tag requires. The Visco knee protectors are their standalone strapped knee guards: CE Level 2 certified, worn independently of any pants pocket.

Materials & Vegan Verification

Held Visco foam: a viscoelastic polyurethane compound produced by Held in Germany. Verified vegan. No leather knee cup, no wool liner, no casein-processed foam. The outer shell is ABS hard plastic. Strapping is synthetic nylon with hook-and-loop closure.

Protection

• CE Level 2 (EN 1621-1:2012) — limb protectors (knee application)
• Level 2 transmits below 20 kN mean force — a 43% improvement over Level 1 (35 kN limit)
• Anatomical pre-curve for patella and tibial plateau coverage
• Hard ABS outer shell: resists abrasion on slide contact
• Inner Visco layer: absorbs and dissipates impact energy
• Anti-migration: lower shin strap and upper thigh strap with adjustable buckles

Standalone Knee Guards vs Pants Inserts

Pants inserts (like D3O Ghost) require a compatible pants pocket. Standalone guards:
• Work with any pants — including leathers with no knee pocket
• Provide shell-based abrasion protection on the outside (inserts do not)
• Can be repositioned precisely over the patella regardless of pants fit
• Work as added protection over inserts in high-risk conditions

Sizing

Available in S, M, L, XL. Held sizing is precise — use the thigh and shin circumference guide, not just height.

Verdict

For riders whose pants have limited knee pocket options, or who want hard-shell CE Level 2 coverage outside the pants, the Held Visco is the benchmark in the price range. German manufacturing quality at a competitive European price.

Verify current EN 1621-1:2012 Level 2 certification at point of purchase.