These hikers have 10.5"" batten pads and 'diamond' neoprene to give both support and protection with longevity. The knee section of this garment gives protection to the knee coupled with a stretchy material behind the knee to allow for a good fit on all leg sizes or on top of other layers such as a dry suit. Non stretchy back panel gives extra back support when the braces are crossed at the front. Use lycra shorts to give you the right amount of grip and slip and prevent wear of the batten pockets from an abrasive deck.
Size note: The choice between adjacent sizes if you are on the borderline depends on your thigh thickness. Although I sometime can get down to 85 kg (187 lb) I have always found the size L to be a better fit due to my thigh size (larger!).