Watch our Triple Eight kneesavers vs. Pro-Tec Street Knee Pads comparison video or read the written review that follows.
Debating the Triple Eight Saver Series Kneesavers vs. Protec Street? I’ve rollerbladed for at least 6 months with both and gathered valuable insights that I’ll share with you today.
My personal experience should help you choose the right knee protection, resolving any dilemma you may have.
Also read: Best knee pads for roller skating (bought and tested!)
If you’re curious to learn more, here’s a Triple Eight Saver Series Pad Set review. And here’s a Pro-Tec Street Knee Pads review.
This post reveals details you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Below is a comparison table if you’d like to scan rather than close-read the review. *As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
| Comparison Point | Protec Street Knee Pads | Triple Eight Saver Series Kneesavers |
|---|---|---|
| Design | Butterfly design; you can wear your skates before padding up. They look bigger, and the slide plates look flatter. | Butterfly design; the plates look smaller but have more curvature |
| Build Quality | Great | OK, the interior fabric is flimsy |
| Ideal for who? | Good for Roller Derby players and any skater who slides around a lot | Anyone looking for budget comprehensive protection that actually works |
| Size and Fit | Large and XL fit most adults; fit larger knees better | Large size works for most skaters while medium size fits shorter or smaller riders better |
| Breathability | Reasonably breathable; you’ll get a tad damp around the knees, though | Reasonably breathable, but you’ll still notice a little dampness around the knees |
| Price | $$ | $$ |
| View Pro-Tec Street Knee Pads on Amazon | View Triple 8 Kneesavers on Amazon | |
| What’s included | ONLY knee pads | Knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards, a 3-in-1 gear set |
| Straps | Lower strap may not be long enough for very thick calves | Both straps are long enough |
| Flexibility | flexible enough; offers a decent range of motion | A bit more flexible |
| Padding thickness and coverage | Super thick and offers extensive coverage | Thick enough and offers adequate coverage |
What This Comparison Post Covers
Below is what this comparison guide of the Triple Eight Kneesaver Knee Pads and Pro-Tec Street Knee Pads covers:
- Construction quality and design: Material and fabric quality and performance
- Size and Fit: How each pad fits my 43.5cm/17.13” knee circumference
- Comfort and Coverage: Padding thickness and actual performance during falls (impact resistance)
- Breathability: How well does the interior fabric on each pad breathe?
- Price and value: What’s the price and what exactly do you get out of each deal?
Construction Quality and Kee Pad Design
Both boast the so-called butterfly design that makes it possible to wear your knee pads before or after putting on your skates. Look at the picture below to see what the butterfly design looks like.
The Pro-Tec Street Knee Pads are, on the whole, better constructed, and the materials are of better quality. The plastic slide plates, the ballistic nylon backing, the Velcro straps, the additional neoprene straps, and the stretchy lycra interior fabric that drapes over the knees—everything on the Pro-Tec knee pads feels like it’s of great quality.
The Interior Fabric on the Triple 8 Kneesavers is Meh Quality-wise
The interior material of the Triple Eight Kneesaver Knee Pads has an opening that allows access of the EVA foam inside. I’ve not seen replacement padding being sold anywhere, though.
After skating 2-3 times with my Triple 8 Kneesavers, I noticed that fibers started coming off the fabric. I believe these pads will not last for too long if subjected frequent use.
I haven’t worn the XL Pro-Tec Street Knee Pads as often as I have the T8 ones, but they’ve held up beautifully, so far.
I’ve taken a few small falls with the Pro-Tec guards, and it was literally like landing on fine feathers!
The slide plates on the T8 gear have a few scratches that don’t look too bad, but they look worse than those on the Pro-Tec pads. It could be that the plastic on the latter handles abrasive action a little better (see photo below).
Also, the straps and interior fabric on the Pro-Tec guards have maintained their integrity, so far. I’ve not noticed any pilling, but I can’t say the same about the straps of the Triple 8 kneesavers and elbowsavers.
The net-like fabric on the wrist guards of the kneesaver knee guards boosts breathability. There’s somewhat less sweat on my wrists than there is when I skate with my JBM 3-in-1 Pad Set. But the material isn’t sturdy, and longevity can’t be guaranteed.
It gets worse.
The fake leather covering the splints has ripped a lick each time I’ve kissed the ground with my hands. Genuine leather should last longer, but then the pad set would become less affordable.
A Tip That Could Prolong the Fabric’s Longevity
If you want the interior fabric on the Triple Eight Kneesavers to last a little longer, make sure it doesn’t come into contact with the rough part of the velcro. I haven’t found a way to do this successfully, though.
I’m not more careful when using the Pro-Tec Street knee pads than when I am when using the Kneesavers. And the roughness of the velcro touches the nice lycra fabric some of the time. But I see no evidence of fibers ripping out of the fabric; It surely must be a quality difference.
Size and Fit: The Triple 8 Kneesavers Fit Me Slightly Better
The picture below shows how Medium size Triple 8 kneesaver knee pads and size XL Pro-Tec Street knee pads fit my 17.13” knees. The T8 pads look smaller, but they look perfect on my short frame (5’3”).
When sizing the T8 Saver Series Pad Set, only the palm circumference is necessary. I measured at 21cm/8.26 inches around the knuckles.
The size chart advised me to pick Medium size, which is what I ordered. Now, I’m pretty chunky, and if size Medium fits me, I believe they’d work for most people.
I went a step further and took other measurements for your benefit. My knees had a circumference of 43.5 cm or 17.13” when measured around the center.
Measured at 4” above the knees, my thighs had a circumference of 54.3 cm/21.38.” Calf diameter, when measured at 4” below the knee, was 43.4 cm or 17.09 cm.
You’d expect the size XL Pro-Tec Street to fit me better than the Medium size T8 kneesavers, but that wasn’t my experience. The T8 Saver Series Kneesaver knee pads fit me slightly better. With the Pro-Tec pads, I get an OK fit, but they look too big on me.
Some reviewers have said that the Kneesavers run smaller. They sure look small, but they work fine for me. The straps are long enough, too. This pad set fits true to size in my experience.
Neither knee guard restricts movement. I get a slightly better range of movement with the Kneesave Knee Pads, though.
If you’re anywhere below 5’5,”you’d probably go with the T8 Knee savers. What if you’re a bigger inline skater or roller skater with massive knees? Definitely get the Pro-Tec Street Knee Pads. I wager these are the best big-knee option out there.
Coverage and Comfort
For both protective pads, the straps feel quite tight above and below my knees. But the tightness isn’t too much and doesn’t make the gear uncomfortable.
They were comfortable enough throughout my skating sessions, but the Pro-Tec Street felt a tad comfier probably because they have plusher foam. The stretchy neoprene straps that sit between the upper and lower straps should also get some credit for improving comfort, especially on the back of the knee.
The soft interior fabric on both pads makes for decent breathability. However, when I skate on a warm day and the workout is pretty intense, I notice two rings of dampness around my pants after removing the pads.
This isn’t a big deal for me. I doubt there are any pads that absorb every ounce of trapped moisture.
Pro-Tec Street wins in terms of coverage and padding thickness. There’s tons of thickness around my kneecaps and side of the knees for side-impact protection. Also, they’re certified for impact resistance.
The Triple 8 Kneesaver Knee Pads have thinner padding in comparison and the coverage seems a bit smaller. At first, I feared for my knees every time I went out rollerblading.
But my fears were soon allayed by how well the pads protected my knees after I fell skating downhill one unlucky morning.
I simply got up and resumed blading…because nothing happened! I’m convinced that the Pro-Tec Street knee pads would have protected me even better.
Price and Value
You’re definitely getting more value with the Triple 8 pad set.
For $36 (please check current price), you get the Triple Eight Saver Series Pad Set, a 3-pack gear set that contains knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards. But you get knee pads ONLY with the Pro-Tec deal for $36 (price changes all the time).
If you’re just getting into skateboarding, rollerblading, or roller skating and are wondering what pad set to choose, the Saver Series’ kneesavers would be a good choice. Just don’t expect them to last forever.
But if you’re a skate park rat with big knees or a determined roller derby player who values long-lasting, heavy-duty knee pads, the Pro-Tec Street would be the better option.
Pro-Tec Street Knee Pads vs. Triple Eight Kneesaver Kneepads Showdown: Winner?
As far as knee protection and durability, the winner is definitely the Pro-Tec Street Knee Pads. Not only do the pads offer more extensive coverage for all knee sizes, but the overall construction quality is better. Also, they’re more durable compared to the Triple Eight Kneesavers.
For smaller skaters and anyone looking for decent and attractively priced entry-level protective gear, the Triple Eight Saver Series Pad Set wins.
Now, take your pick and go skate! Your knees will love you regardless of what option you choose.