I had some cheap bullet knee pads when I started, but they were crap. They felt uncomfortable and didn't feel like they offered much protection. I certainly wouldn't get them if I was doing fresh meat training or if I worried about falling. I ended up getting something right in the middle of the market - 187 Killer Fly knee pads - £35 from my local skate shop. Stupid name but they've got a hefty amount of padding on them, and if I drop to my knees I can't feel the floor. That should be the litmus test for all knee pads. They're pretty comfortable, and they don't stick out too much, so I don't worry about my legs catching them when I cross. Also they have a bend at the top where they go over your knee, and because it's quite a rigid pad it forces you to bend your knees more, which is always a good thing.
The bad points? They're not open back, they have that elasticated 'sock' that you pull your leg through. You have to take your skates off to remove them, and you will want to remove them because they make your legs SO HOT. Seriously. The heat makes you sweat, which can get itchy. Because of the bend in the pads you can't really stand upright without the bottom digging into your shin, which is uncomfortable. The other bad point is that every time I look at them I wish I'd been rich enough, or serious enough about skating to justify the Smith Scabs Elite knee pads. It just wasn't meant to be.
In summary, well worth the money. Recommended!
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