A couple months ago I was doing my semi-annual gear wash and when I took the foam knee armor out of my pants I found that it had started to split and fall apart (the pants are 6 years old). I'm sure it would have still provided some protect in a crash, but certainly not as good as it should have. Replacement pads were only about $25. I have Icon pants, but a pair of generic Joe Rocket CE pads from NewEnough fit just fine, and the soft armor can be trimmed to fit.

Anyway, for those of you who keep gear for a long time, check your armor from time to time.

Thanks for the heads-up.

make sure you take them out before washing your gear too

My riding gear has non standard armour installed. It's called 'Hiprotec'. basically a thin rubber that has no real thickness as such but the absorption qualities are fantastic. It absorbs energy like nothing I have seen. It is kept in place by small pin and grab attachments and can be placed anywhere in the lining of your clothing.

When I first came across it I was buying a pair of armoured trousers and complained they had no armour in them to which the salesman quite rudely told me it did. I scrunched up the knee area and said "it doesn't" to which he replied it f***** well does! He turned the leg inside out and showed me this wafer thin sheet of rubber looking material.

He then tore a packet of standard solid looking knee armour off the shelf and a sheet of Hiprotec. Threw them both on the floor and duly threw a metal boulle at both. The standard armour cracked and the ball bounced quite a few inches off the ground. Whereas the Hiprotec being so thin didn't move and the boulle simply rolled off it.

I was sold, used the stuff ever since, it is unobtrusive and comfortable. Not that I have any intentions at putting it to the test but if I should have to I hope it will do as good as the test sheet in the shop.