Looking for Knee Brace recommendation

[Mayhem]

(There’s a short and sweet version all the way below if you just wanna know what to buy.) 

 

I’ve been shopping around for knee braces, watching every video I could find and the two that caught my eye were the pod k4 & the asterisk ultra cell 3.0.

*  Pod k4 vs k8 * 

The reason I liked the k4 over the k8 is that the only real difference is carbon fiber vs composite frame material. Yes carbon fiber is stronger than composite but Everything else on the knee brace is the same. Same two piece C.E rated knee cup, padding & straps are all the same. So for an extra $300 just for carbon it didn’t make sense to me at that price point. So I decided with the k4.

* Asterisk ultra cell 3.0 vs 4.0*

Here there’s a bit more difference the 4.0 is all carbon, shorter / slimmer and has a floating knee cup design. The 3.0 is a carbon fiber matrix mix. (Not sure what all that means but that’s the material) Which keeps them strong and light but not as light as the 4.0. Both have a 3 piece knee cup protection which protects your knee top to bottom. 3.0 has a slimmer knee profile than the 4.0. Some knit picks of the 4.0 by many reviews is that the floating knee cup is bulky and feels flimsy compared to the 3.0.

***  Asterisk 3.0 vs pod k4***

• Frame 

Asterisk 3.0 chassis is much stiffer all around, zero flex. The pod k4 has some minor flex to it around the knee but a lot of flex around the thigh to help with fit. The 3.0 frame is almost the same thickness all around. While the k4 thickness varies in different areas. 

• Straps & adjustments 

Padding on both is about the same but I’ll give the k4 a slight edge in softness. Both are comfortable. On the k4 Top & bottom straps clip on so once you set the Velcro you only really have to do 2 straps. The 3.0 straps have a liner to them which connects two Velcro straps on 1 liner. It helps keep them in place. The 3.0 has far more adjustments you can make at the thigh & calf. They hug your leg and wrap around making them feel custom. The k4 has a padding kit to make the brace itself more comfortable but it still feels like an “off the shelf product” and not a custom fit product. 

• Weight & length 

The k4 is slightly lighter than the 3.0. The 3.0 are alil heavier but not heavy enough to make you not want to use them daily. Both are the same length as you can see in the picture below. 

• Knee cup/ impact protection

This is where the k4 doesn’t stand a chance against the 3.0. The two piece design is really soft (softer than Leatt dual axis). Which is alarming because you’re paying a much higher price for less impact protection. (Granted you’re gaining more leg stability in the frame but it seems you’re losing a lot as well.) The 3.0 knee cup is a 3 piece design that is stiffer than the k4 and the 3.0 knee cup is reinforced so the impact doesn’t cave in the protection. The k4 physically bend and kinda curl up / cave in just by simply kneeling on them. As where the asterisk just doesn’t move.

• Final thoughts 

When you put on the asterisk you feel armored up and ready to take on anything that can happen on a euc ride. The same can’t be said about the k4. 

With the k4 you just don’t feel like you have enough impact protection for a ride. The frame feels sturdy but not as rock solid as the 3.0. The k4 brace itself doesn’t hug and wrap around your leg like the 3.0 does. The k4 just leaves something to be desired when you compare the two. Maybe the k8 would fair better against the 3.0 but that pod knee cup design is a HUGE let down and can’t be over looked. 

If you want FULL SEND bomb proof protection on a ride, then hands down get the asterisk ultra cell 3.0. If you’re looking for a light weight comfy brace to do some more every day things that don’t require a lot of knee protection then get the k4. 

 

[ Short and Sweet] 

Buy the Asterisk knee brace. 100% much more premium than the k4. In comparison the k4 feel very cheap. You want maximum protection get the asterisk. The price is steep but when you compare the two there is no comparison. ] 

 

***** Special note*****
•The 3.0 are technically discontinued but there are still some in the wild. I ordered mine directly from Asterisk simply by giving them a call. Unfortunately they are a bit more expensive directly from the manufacturer with no free shipping (Smfh) But the 4.0 are currently on sale if you wish to go that route. 

• There is / was / maybe still a bad batch of 3.0 still out there from when asterisk switched glue manufacturer creating an issue with the padding coming undone & sticking to itself. From my web searching the manufacturing was spring 2021. So avoid any braces that are manufactured around this time frame. If you do have this problem asterisk will freshen up your braces if you open a support ticket but you pay the shipping. 

  3.0 (left)                               k4 (right) 

3.0 frame (left) is easily 3-4x’s thicker. 

Edited October 8, 2022 by Mayhem

[Mayhem]

K4 knee cup 

 

k4 knee protection (both knee cups stacked on top of each other. very soft plastic) 

Edited October 7, 2022 by Mayhem

[Mayhem]

K4 knee cup caving in with minimal pressure applied 

Edited October 7, 2022 by Mayhem

[Mayhem]

3 piece hing system on the 3.0. Knee protection holds firm even when weight is applied. 

Edited October 7, 2022 by Mayhem

[DragonFZ]

Thanks for the in depth review

[Mayhem]

48 minutes ago, DragonFZ said:

Thanks for the in depth review

No problem man. Hope it helps people out.
 

(Added a special note to the review about bad batch that maybe still in the wild and ordering.)

Edited October 8, 2022 by Mayhem

[0000]

Fantastic review, just wanted to jump in and say thanks for taking the time to post all the pictures too.

[Mayhem]

2 hours ago, Vanturion said:

Fantastic review, just wanted to jump in and say thanks for taking the time to post all the pictures too.

Thanks, Much appreciated

[superox]

I experienced a knee sprain from a crash the other day, and so while recuperating, I'm on the market for some serious leg braces.

I'm mainly looking at Leatt C-frame, especially the newer Hybrid version with a separate kneecap protector, because one-sided brace seems optimal for EUC use. Does anybody have experience using them with EUCs, with or without powerpads?

Also looking at Mobius X8 because a local retailer has them on sale. Sucks that you have to step into them like a sock instead of strapping around them, but maybe they ride good and can be worn underneath moto pants decently?

[ssup2406]

On 4/24/2023 at 12:55 PM, superox said:

I'm mainly looking at Leatt C-frame, especially the newer Hybrid version with a separate kneecap protector

Did you end up puchasing the C-frame hybrid? Barry from a motocross channel that I love and trust since many years said that never buy them without trying the different ones out first as the fit is extremely important; so I'll be contacting stores in the region. What is your (all of y'all in fact) opinion on buying them locally vs. online?