Product Description: The Cell Knee Protection System is a carbon fiber, full coverage knee brace designed by Asterisk for use in any action sport where serious knee protection is needed.

Category: Protection

Brand: Asterisk

Model: Cell Knee Protection System

Size/Color: Red/Medium

MSRP: $599 per pair

Tester: Tony Gill/ ht: 5’10’’/ wt: 150 lbs / location: Utah

Product Review: I have been using the Asterisk Cell for a long time now, and I get asked more questions about it than anything else I have ever used. So here is the deal: these things are great. First, the comfort is top-notch. The fit is fully customizable — you can even adjust the range of motion they allow before the braces lock out — so they will fit pretty much any leg shape as long as you follow the sizing guidelines on the Asterisk website. The Cells allow for very natural movement since the hinges glide rather than pivot. They don’t inhibit the motion of the telemark turn, and fear not, telemark park skiers: they won’t keep you from being able to tweak that grab. They are pretty light on your legs, at only 1 lb 10 oz per brace, so you hardly even notice wearing them. The knee braces do get a little hot when I wear them in the spring and on longer tours, but when I ride the chairs and tour in the winter, there is little discomfort. A lot of us wear kneepads, so the Asterisk braces aren’t much more than what we are wearing already. As for protection, they seem to work really well. I’ve banged them on stumps, tomahawked down faces, and taken nasty twisting falls while skiing groomers like a jerk, but my knees have come out unscathed. They prevent hyperextension and limit twisting and rotational forces on your knee. They definitely aren’t a cure-all; if your ACL really wants to blow, it’s going to blow. But they certainly help — especially if you ski on 75mm non-releasable boots and bindings. The price is certainly steep, but the braces cost a lot less than a knee surgery. Lastly the durability has been great. Mine are starting to get pretty worn out, but they have outlasted several pairs of boots and have turned out to be a really good investment.

Bottom Line: If you are serious about knee protection, there is nothing better. New this year is the updated Asterisk Ultra Cell, which I hope to try later this year. For more information check out the Asterisk website at www.asterisk.com.