US Hawks Hang Gliding Association

Knee shields, knee guards, knee protection
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Without prejudice to satisfaction of showns for purpose of knee protecting:
Start:

I also fly with knee pads but I'm really interested in getting my next pair from the Mountain Bike Store.
Larry Smith has a pair of knee, shin, and metatarsal guards that protects from knees down to the feet.
Each of the leg guards are all hooked together but don't impede movement.

May this topic thread hear and see from Larry!
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My notes, so far, are considering a thigh shield that tensionally connects pelvic base via straps; the shield would be with padding on its interior some. The shield would let the knee be fully free to bend during run and flight. The shield may touch ground or rock or shrub from high on thigh; then the ground would touch and drag along the shield and right past the knee without there being any bump in the shield to catch ground things.
I am seeing many bumps and catchy parts in knee protectors for various sports.
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Campers,

Baseball catchers often use the long (shin covering) knee protectors. They are not expensive, being baseball gear.
Somebody gave two to me (thanks, friend!) and there are flying sites where I like to use them.

Interesting that this thread should start. I injured my left knee in my landing at the Point a couple of weeks ago. It took me over a week to recover (still a little tender).

I did a Google search under "hang gliding knee pads" and it came up with a thread that ran on HG.org in 2010 where it seemed to be a topic of interest to pilots at the point, like me.

There was a recommendation of some dirt bike motorcycle knee pads that i looked up later on the web. They look pretty good.

Here's the link: https://www.sixsixone.com/evo-knee-ii-black

I will definitely have some kind of knee protection before i fly at the Point again.

Frank

Frank, seeing video of your Great Flight
did trigger the start of this topic thread.
I had said quietly to myself upon enjoying posting the "swagger"-photo comment:
"I bet he hurt a knee."

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I see catchy parts in baseball's catcher's leg protection gear. The protectors are designed for impacts near perpendicular to the leg surface.
I'm aiming to specialize knee protection where the transit along the ground is more nearly parallel with a leg; thus, one would not bumps or catchy parts on the thigh-knee protector. Something could catch and clip off the gear and then another item could take out the knee in the same slide-impact.

Not favoring, just illustrating:

Yeah, good observation Joe. I don't usually walk like John Wayne.

"Well pilgrim, how'd you like that flight"?

Back to knee protection, I think the motorcycle or mountain bike knee pads are designed more like what we need. They are designed for initial impact and then sliding. The guy who originally posted, on HG.org, the link to that company that I reposted here said he went down at 35 mph on his bike and the knee pads protected him.

Thanks Joe, for the topic.
Frank

:
https://tinyurl.com/MountainBikeKneeProtectors

Interesting per Frank

But I'm still reaching for non-catchy hard smoothness from upper thigh past knee cap ..

Remember that any protrusions on protective gear that can catch on the rear wires could produce a much more serious crash than banging a knee.
I once saw a doctor flying from Walt's Point with knee and shin protectors.
If you are going to land in a boulder field, it is probably a good idea.
My personal feeling is that if you will apply the time and effort you would devote to armoring yourself, instead, to choosing better landing areas, you will be better off.
I never used any of this stuff - wheels, skids, second handles, armor (helmet, gloves and ankle-support shoes excepted).
They can limit maneuverability, add weight and contribute to drag, resulting in a higher sink rate, reduced accuracy and faster speed at landing.
In cross-country flying, that works toward limiting your choice of safe out-landing areas.
As I've said before, hang gliding is the simplest form of flight.
I like that.
Adding stuff makes it more complicated.
And even adding features meant to enhance safety can unintentially generate additional levels of danger when things go south.