Off the hook: Crankworx apparel round up

New helmets, clothes, pads and travel bag options from Whistler village

Terry McKall August 20, 2019

Crankworx is a massive celebration of mountain biking, from pro’s to the thousands of fans and riders that gather to watch the worlds best then go hit park laps themselves.

While Whistler marks the end of 2019 Crankworx season, 2020 protective gear and apparel colours were starting to make their way into booths in the village and out onto the hill.

Here’s some of the best in new gear and riding clothing for the next year from Crankworx Whistler:

POC

POC is launching a new trail helmet, the Axion

Compared to the Tectal, shown above, the Axion doesn't extend as low at the back of the head, making for a lighter option for less aggressive riding

The Axion comes in blue, pastel green and black

Axion helmets all have adjustable visors

Coron Air Spin gets new colour options for 2020 too.

With POC's Ora goggles to match

VPD System Lite pads have been available in Europe. They went over well enough there that POC is bringing them to North America.

POC had a new, lighter trail helmet, sharp new colours, and a new-to-North America knee pad on display at Crankworx.

Dainese

Dainese is rolling out the next generation of Trail Skins Pro knee guards for 2020

The core of the pad is its Pro Shape 2.0 protector, a unique looking but lightweight and flexible pad. Dainese says it will absorb 83% of the energy from a crash.

The Trail Skin Pro sock has been redesigned to be longer, and uses a mix of velcro straps and an elastic calf band to hold the pads in place

A hard surface over the outer knee pad helps the Trail Skin Pro slide in a crash instead of grabbing the ground.

There's inner knee pads as well

Rival Pro Vest comes out of Dainese's MotoGP experience

It uses interlocking non-Newtonian pas to provide protection and mobility, instead of a hard shell

The Vest has a removable, integrated hydration resevoir. Dainese aren't shying away from the Rival Pro's distinct figure: the resevoir is called the Humpback

Along with the 700 mL resevoire, there's removable back protection. take both out, and the vest can be used with a backpack

Shoulder pads are also removable.

Dainese has significantly updated its High Gravity apparel line, including launching a parallel women's line

The brands usual moto-inspired graphics have been replaced with a more subtle aesthetic

The High Gravity shorts look clean, but have a few notable features

Four way stretch fabric, and a nicely tucked away thigh pocket

Dainese uses a hook fit closure for its HG shorts. The two rubber loops with with the brands gloves, securely holding them when you don't want to wear them instead of having to shove them in a pack or pocket

The HG shorts Hook Fit closure is more jersey-friendly than Velcro

Italian brand Dainese had a whole host of new 2020 gear on display in Whistler, including its first High Gravity women’s line. The newest generation of its venerable Trail Skins Pro knee pads were revealed, as well as a new hydration vest.

O’Neal

Pinned shoe is low-cut, flat shoe, starting at just $140.

Pinned Pro adds a taller inner cuff for better ankle protection from crank and frame strikes. It bumps up to $160

You can see the difference in height on the Pinned (L) and the Pinned Pro (R)

Both Pinned shoes use a grippy, classic waffle sole.

Similar to the flat pedal line, the Pinned SPD is a simle shoe at a competitive price point.

The Pinned SPD has space for a cleat, along with the waffle sole

Getting more into O'Neal's race line, the Session SPD covered enduro and DH racing

With a neoprene ankle gator, and velcro and cable closure system, it was originally developed as a winter shoe, but quickly became a racer favourite

Solid support and toe / heel protection, plus SPD compatibility

One more step up in winter weather protection, the Loam WP SPD offers waterproof fabric, ankle gator and is rated down to 0-degrees Celsius.

The Loam mixes heavy treads for off the bike traction with SPD soles.

O’Neal had its usual helmets and DH kits, but also a solid looking line of mountain bike shoes, including some excellent straight forward flat and SPD shoes at competitive prices.