Brands We Know: EVS Sports Athlete Collaboration Built on Trust, Not Hype
EVS Sports athlete collaboration has always been built on trust, long before it ever showed up in a product launch or on a show floor.
I’ve known Ryan from EVS Sports since 2015. Early on, I recognized that he was talented but green, so I pulled him aside at an MTA show and gave him some straightforward advice on how to navigate the industry, work with dealers, and build real relationships. He was open to it, eager to learn, and willing to listen. That moment set the foundation for a professional relationship that’s lasted over a decade.
Because of that long-standing history, this conversation wasn’t a surface-level interview. It was a candid discussion about how EVS builds protection through athlete trust, long-term collaboration, and products designed for riders who actually push limits.
EVS Sports athlete collaboration starts with relationships
This year at AIM Expo in Anaheim, EVS did something new. For the first time ever, they displayed and showcased a broad range of new technology and protection systems. That decision alone says a lot about where the brand is headed.
At the same time, it reinforced something EVS has done quietly for years. They don’t chase moments. They build relationships.
During our conversation, Ryan talked about how collaborations with people like Pete Fox, Renen MX Gear, and athletes like Axel Hodges aren’t marketing exercises. They’re long-term creative and technical partnerships.
That philosophy aligns closely with how I’ve always approached business at Dirtbag Brands. Keep it simple. Be honest. And, as I’ve said for years, don’t be a dick.
Axel Hodges, Slayco, and gear that matches the riding
Ryan didn’t hesitate when talking about Axel. He called him a GOAT in gear style, and it wasn’t hard to see why. Axel doesn’t just ride at a high level. He rides in a way that exposes weaknesses in protection fast.
That’s where the Slayco96 project came in.
The Slayco96 Explosion colorway launched on January 2, 2026, and the graphic itself was a collaboration with Pete Fox and Renen. Ryan said it best. Pete absolutely killed it. The color-splashed, high-energy design matched Axel’s riding style perfectly.
They even leaned into the culture side of the launch, releasing a Bob Ross-style video on Slayco’s YouTube channel. Axel’s acting debut was part of the fun, but the product underneath it was very real.
Inside the Slayco96: protection that feels like a brace
What makes the Slayco96 interesting isn’t just the look. It’s how it performs once you’re moving.
Ryan walked through the technology in practical terms. The core of the Slayco96 uses reactive, shear-thinning impact material that stays flexible while you ride but firms up instantly on impact. EVS integrated this armor system into the Slayco platform so it moves naturally with the knee instead of fighting it.
Around that core, the knee guard is wrapped in bio-foam for added impact management, while a hex-pattern abrasion layer adds durability. An internal knee sleeve provides added stability, which is why so many riders say it feels like wearing a brace, even though it isn’t one.
The profile is intentionally slim. The shin protection is shorter. Everything about the Slayco96 is designed to reduce bulk while keeping confidence high when things go wrong.
Because of that, it complements EVS’s lineup instead of competing with it.
Travis Pastrana, the TP199, and why it still leads
When the conversation shifted to Travis Pastrana, the tone changed in a familiar way. Travis has been an EVS athlete from the beginning, and the TP199 knee guard reflects that long-term trust.
The TP199 first launched in 2016 and remains the number-one selling knee guard in EVS history. That doesn’t happen by accident.
Compared to the Slayco96, the TP199 offers a larger knee protection zone and a longer shin plate that integrates deeper into the boot. It still relies on reactive memory foam as the primary impact protection, but the overall coverage is more substantial. Dual straps and a longer bio-foam wrap add to the locked-in feel.
Ryan joked that Slayco and Pastrana riding together a couple of years ago felt like watching two generations collide. I compared it to Coke and Pepsi. Different approaches, same shelf, both winning. Ryan laughed and added that Travis prefers staying on four wheels these days anyway.
The important part is this. When Slayco entered the lineup, TP199 sales didn’t drop. They climbed. That’s what happens when products are designed for different riders, not forced into competition.
Ryan also confirmed that EVS plans to release a blacked-out version of the TP199 later this year, alongside continued expansion into mountain bike protection.
More than moto, but moto still matters
EVS is now in its 41st year as a company, and that longevity shows. Ryan explained that while EVS supports protection across motocross, BMX, mountain bike, and crossover segments, moto remains the core. Everything else builds outward from there.
That includes continued material development inside products like the Slayco96, where EVS integrates advanced impact materials to improve airflow, comfort, and protection without increasing bulk. It also includes deeper work in braces like the Web Eclipse, which Ryan described as the lightest and most comfortable knee brace EVS has produced to date.
Why this matters to Dirtbag Brands
Toward the end of the interview, Ryan said something that stuck with me. He told me he was proud of what I’m doing and proud that I’d found my swing.
That meant a lot, because this article isn’t about selling anything. It’s about documenting how real brands build trust over time.
At Dirtbag Brands, that same mindset drives everything we do. Relationships matter. Engineering matters. And the long game always beats the shortcut.
If you want to explore more conversations like this, you can find the full Brands We Know interview series on Dirtbag Brands.
Learn more about the collaborations discussed
EVS Slayco96 Explosion Knee Guard
Slayco × EVS × Renen Explosion Knee Guard (Adult)
Slayco × EVS × Renen Explosion Knee Guard (Youth)
Axel runs the Slayco × Baja Designs collaborations lights for that signature purple bezel. To keep the setup clean and modular, mount them directly to the cage using Dirtbag Brands billet mounts rather than hiding them inside a housing.
Disclosure: This interview and article were not sponsored or paid for by EVS Sports or any affiliated brands. All commentary reflects independent editorial discussion and does not constitute a product endorsement.
Comments are closed