The 12 Best Knee Pads in 2021 Reviews – Consumer Reports

Kneepads are a highly versatile product used for various reasons, one of which is sports. Despite being an important part of every athlete’s gear, kneepads can also protect your knees when performing other activities like gardening, construction, flooring etc. As you would expect, kneepads come in different shapes and sizes, and provide users with loads of advantages.

Advantages:

• Knee joint protection: Wearing kneepads is a great way to protect your knee joints. These pads contain protective gel and foam to absorb shock, shielding your knees in the process.
• Money Saving: Recovering from knee injuries can be quite costly, as you may need to pay regular visits to an orthopedic specialist and physiotherapist. Wearing a kneepad will help you steer clear from such accidents, making sure you do not have to spend money for hospital bills.
• Knee pads are Versatile: Kneepads are quite versatile and you can wear them for activities other than sports.

Disadvantages:

• Affect osteoarthritis patients: If you are an osteoarthritis patient, wearing kneepads would not be a good idea as it could worsen your condition instead of helping you recover.
• Affect muscle strength: Wearing kneepads for long periods can impact your muscle strength as even the most flexible of kneepads can restrict your movement to some extent.

1. Best for Work: NoCry Professional Knee Pads with Heavy Duty Foam Padding and Comfortable Gel Cushion

The No Cry Professional kneepads are the arguably the best in the market because of their high level of protection and safety. This product contains a soft core and foam that provides extra cushion to sensitive knees. What’s most impressive about this product is that wearing it will make sure you don’t get cuts and bruises while skating or performing other physical activities.

These durable kneepads are ideal for men and women, and you can wear them while doing a variety of activities like cleaning, mechanic work, crawling, plumbing, stocking shelves, etc.

2. Best for Flooring: Rexbeti Heavy Duty Knee Pads, Anti-slip Foam, Strong Stretchable Strap

Are you looking for a durable pair of kneepads in 2021? If the answer is yes, consider giving the Rexbetti Heavy duty knee pads a try. Similar to the product mentioned above, these pads contain a high-density cushion and their non-slip design makes it an ideal option to wear regardless of the weather. The Rexbeti kneepads also stand out because of their ergonomic design.

Their non-slip straps are easy to wear and taking them off is also quite straightforward. The manufacturer used heavy-duty materials to make this product and just wearing it will be enough for you to realize that it provides an excellent blend of comfort and durability.

3. Best for Heavy-Duty Work: ToughBuilt – Thigh Support Stabilization Knee Pads

While there are thousands of kneepads available in online and offline stores, finding one with thigh support can be quite hard. Luckily, the Tough Built stabilization pads can provide that extra bit of support you were looking for. This product stands out because you can rotate it in any direction you please, which is a great way to take it off.

In addition, Tough Built made sure this pad’s design was suitable for men and women. Its straps are adjustable, and all you need to do is tighten them if they do not fit you. This kneepad’s abrasion resistant fabric is especially great for skaters, as its durable material ensures you can skate without the fear or slipping and tripping.

4. Best for Construction: Thunderbolt Kneepads for, Flooring, Gardening, Construction Cleaning

The Thunderbolt kneepads are tremendous for people who wear pads for cleaning, construction, flooring and other similar tasks. These kneepads contain an extra layer of foam and gel, which is great for protecting your knees from collisions and falls. What’s most impressive about this product is that its uses breathable materials to prevent sweating.

In addition, the Thunderbolt kneepads have an easy to wear design, making sure you can put it on within seconds instead of struggling for minutes. These pads also offer extra protection to your patella, quadriceps, and other areas around your knee, making sure you remain safe while working.

5. Best Tactical knee pads: Sellstrom Grey and Orange Knee Pads – Ultra Flex III

A common problem that most people tend to have with kneepads is that they are quite rigid. It reduces their mobility and slows down their movement. If you want a kneepad that does not cause these issues, try giving the Sellstrom grey and orange knee pads a try. The materials used to make this product are quite flexible and will not restrict your movement.  

Moreover, the Sellstrom kneepads are ideal for men and women. Their design is quite comfortable and allows you to perform physical activities without any hassles. This product’s straps are also highly adjustable and you can tighten them to your liking, ensuring they do not fall off.

6. Best for Roofing: Knee Pads for Cushion Support – Safety Glasses & Gloves

People often wear loads and loads of protective gear while working but often forget shielding their knees. The last thing you want to do is lose your knee’s mobility to an unforeseen accident at work. Therefore, it would be best to wear a pair of highly cushioned kneepads for added protection. Like every high quality product mentioned in this list, this one also has extra gel and foam.

What’s most impressive about these kneepads is that they come with gloves and safety glasses, giving you an extra layer of protection. You can use these kneepads on any surface without worrying about wear and tear as the materials used to make them can endure rough use without damaging its quality.

7. Best for Volleyball: Mizuno LR6 Volleyball Kneepad

No matter what people say, volleyball is a dangerous sport and athletes often get terrible injuries playing it. Do you like to play volleyball with your friends or professionally? If the answer is yes, the Minuzo volleyball kneepads will be a welcome addition to your gear. This product has loads of padding on all the right zones and can fit around your leg without any issues.

What’s more, the Mizuno LR6 kneepads are suitable for men and women because of their highly adjustable straps. You can tighten and loosen them within seconds and play your favorite sport without restricting your knee’s mobility.

8. Best for Basketball: Lzeem Soft Kneepad for Biking, Dancing, Football, Yoga & Climbing

Lzeem is a well-recognized brand among sports enthusiasts. It provides a wide range of athletic equipment and gear, and its soft kneepads are arguably the best. The best thing about this product is that you can use it for a wide range of physical activities like football, biking, dancing, weightlifting, acrobatics, tennis, cricket, etc.

This kneepad’s materials are quite breathable and soft, and wearing them will not cause itching or any other issues. What’s more, this product is suitable for kids as well as adults, proving that its material’s are quite flexible and durable.

9. Best for Mountain Biking: 7iDP Project Knee Pads for Men and Women

Biking is not a safe sport, and biking accidents can be quite gruesome, especially for your shins and knees. Consider choosing the 7iD kneepads to protect your knees while biking for fun or sport. Unlike traditional kneepads, these ones are quite comfortable and their breathable mesh fabric will not cause you to sweat.

The best thing about the 7iD project kneepads is that you can wear them like a sock instead of tightening numerous straps. All you have to do is slide them up your legs and you will be good to go.

10. Best for Rooler Skating: Triple Eight Saver Series Pad Set with Kneesavers, Elbowsavers and Wristsavers

Are you looking for a pair of high-quality kneepads, especially made for women? If yes, give the Triple Eight Saver series kneepads a try. The company made this product for bikers and skaters, making sure they had ample protection for their knees. These pads are quite robust and can withstand the harshest of fails, making sure your knees remain protected at all times.

This product has an excellent sleeveless design, which makes it easy to wear and take off. That said, this product’s material can cause you to sweat a lot, but it will not be a major issue as you can wash it off with ease.

11. Best for Aduit: JBM Adult and Child Knee Pads 3 in 1 Protective Gear Set

The JBM child and adult kneepad are excellent for skateboarding and cycling enthusiasts. These pads are available in a variety of colors and design, making sure you can choose a set that matches your outfit. The JBM kneepads have adjustable straps made from elastic, allowing you to tighten your pads just the way you like them.

What’s most impressive about these straps is that they can easily adjust to your knee’s girth without being uncomfortable.

12. Best for Kid: Simply Kids Innovative Soft Knee and Elbow

Protective gear for children can be very hard to find, especially when it comes to high-quality kneepads. Fortunately, the Simply Kids Innovative soft elbow and kneepads eliminate this issue by providing you with a reliable, comfortable, and durable option to product your toddler’s elbows and knees. This product has a soft-padded design to ensure your child does not face any discomfort while playing.

These kneepads are also easily washable, and all you need to do for cleaning them is follow the washing tips mentioned later in this piece.

Consider the following the factors when choosing kneepads

• Fit

The last thing you want to do when getting a kneepad is choosing one that doesn’t fit. As mentioned earlier, there is a wide range of kneepads available these days, and getting one that fit’s the girth of your knee would be a great idea. What’s more, some companies even make one size fits all knee pads which can fit men, women, and children, no matter what their knee’s girth is.

• Cushioning Material

You must make sure that the kneepads you are planning to buy have ample cushioning material, as pads with low cushion cannot protect you from accidents. It would be best if you opted for a product containing protective gel and extra foam padding. Also, make sure the pad you choose has flexible cushioning. Otherwise, your mobility will reduce greatly.

• Thickness of Padding

Make sure the kneepad you plan to buy has a sufficient amount of padding. This is especially true for athletes, as they are more susceptible to falls and slips than anybody else. The thicker the padding, the more protected you will be. That said, you should consider striking a balance, as too much padding is not a good thing either. It will lower your mobility, making it quite difficult to play or perform any physical task.

• Adjustable Straps

Consider choosing kneepads with flexible straps as you can adjust them according to your liking. Not doing so could cause you a lot of discomfort while working or playing. It would also help if you made sure that the straps can attach without any hassle. For those who don’t know, there are different types of straps such as Velcro straps, buttoned straps etc.

In most cases, Velcro tends to lose its adhesive qualities, which is why people often opt for kneepads with buttoned, buckled or similar types of straps.

• Cooling vs. Heating Properties

Did you know that some kneepad variants also have heating and cooling properties? These features are especially great for those who suffer from muscular pain and other issues in their knee. Before you choose a kneepad, consider finding out whether it offers cooling or heating properties. Most people tend to choose kneepads with cooling gels as they minimize sweating and require minimal cleaning/washing.

Using a Washing Machine

Follow these steps to wash your kneepads inside a washing machine:

• Keep the Pads inside a Mesh Laundry Bag: Start by placing your kneepads inside a laundry bag made of mesh. Doing this will make sure your pads remain safe and do not tangle with other clothes. While there is no denying that using your washing machine is one of the best ways to wash your kneepads, many people make the grave mistake of not reading their pad’s tag.

Some kneepads are not machine friendly and washing them inside a machine could ruin their quality. Reading the tag can also come in handy, as it could contain cleaning instructions specifically for your product.

• Wash Your Kneepads with Sports Gear or Other Laundry: Of course, nobody wants their pads to tangle with other clothes, but washing them alone wouldn’t be a great idea either. So, it would be a better idea to wash your kneepads with other clothes, making sure they don’t clang in your washer for the whole cycle. All you need to do is toss them in with your other clothes, and you will be good to go.

• Use Small Quantities of Mild Laundry Detergents: Using small quantities of mild laundry detergents would be a wise choice. Consider choosing one designed for washing synthetic fibers. In fact, you may even come across detergents specifically made to remove oils and odors from kneepads and other active wear. It would be best if you washed you kneepads with your kit, uniform, or other exercise clothes, washing everything at once.

• Opt for the Cold Water Setting: Contrary to popular belief, using cold water for washing kneepads, especially in washing machines is the better option. Why? Because hot water could damage your pad’s fabric and elasticity. On the other hand, cold water will not only help clean the pads, but also ensure they last longer.

• Dry the Pads Outside: Using your dryer to dry your kneepads may not be the best option. Therefore, it would be best if you air dry your pads, preventing them from shrinking and other issues. Sure, the process is a bit longer and could take ten to twelve hours, but it is a safer option and will retain your kneepad’s quality.

Using Your Hands to Clean Knee Pads

Follow these tips if you plan to wash your kneepads with your hand.

• Fill your Utility or Bath Tub with Hot Water: The first thing you need to do when washing kneepads with hot water is to immerse them inside a utility or bathtub, filling it almost halfway.

• Add a Few Drops of White Vinegar or Mild Laundry Detergent: Using a blend of mild laundry detergent and white vinegar is a great way to get dirt off your kneepads. Once you add these liquids inside your bathtub, swirl them around to make sure the mix properly.

• Drop Your Kneepads in the Tub: After mixing the water and detergents, drop your kneepads inside the utility or bathtub, and leave them there for twenty to thirty minutes, making sure they soak in the detergent and vinegar.

• Let Your Kneepads Rest in the Water: Do not rush the cleaning process by taking your pads out early. As mentioned previously, let them stay there for thirty minutes or even more, depending on your pad’s condition.

• Rinse the Pads Using Running Water: Once you are sure your pads soaked up the mixtures, take them outside and rinse them with running water.

• Hang the Kneepads Outside to Dry: After rinsing your kneepads using your hands, hang them outside to dry and leave them there for about six to eight hours, ensuring they don’t have any moisture when you wear them

How do I stop my kneepads from smelling?

Removing unpleasant odors from your kneepad is quite easy. All you need to do is, let them dry before and after washing them. Also, it would be best to use a detergent with an odor removing formula to ensure your pads don’t smell.

Can you machine wash kneepads?

Yes, machine-washing kneepads is indeed possible as long as you keep them inside a mesh bag and use cold water to clean them.

How do you wash mountain bike kneepads?

Most mountain bikers wash their kneepads by air-drying them. However, some people also use vinegar to remove the dirt and wash their pads in their washing machines.

What size kneepads do I need?

Choosing the right sized kneepads ultimately depends on your knee’s girth. Consider choosing a pad that exactly matches your knee’s circumference to avoid it from slipping.  There are plenty of companies that provide one size fit all kneepads, which are as good as regular ones.

Protect your knees by choosing the right kneepads for sports and other activities. Luckily, with the products suggested in this piece, you can rest easy knowing that you will have no trouble getting the best kneepads to suit your particular needs.

The No Cry Professional Kneepads are the best because of their excellent cushion and durability. However, the Rexbetti kneepads are not far behind as their ergonomic design and comfortable fit makes them a great option for athletes.