What are the best knee pads out there? I’m tired of them sliding down my legs. I spend more time pulling them up than anything.
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Replies
There is a big review of all the different types in the latest issue of JLC. Different types for different apps.
Link?
I like the Monster pads at OSH. About 20-30 bucks, neopreane and velcro straps, don't pinch even when wearing shorts.
He "lied". It was in last months issue.But unless you can find a hard printed copy you can buy the article online.http://www.jlconline.com/cgi-bin/jlconline.storefront/4425a3aa002dda3c27187f00000105a1/Product/View/0602choo
Or rather than buying the article, he may be able to view it at his local public library.
Yeah, but they left out the two best kinds. For kneepads, I like Warner. They wrap around the back of your calf below the knee and stay in place well. The only downside is that they don't have the plastic caps on the outsides, so they're not for crawling around on rough surfaces. For knee protection, Skillers pants are excellent--they have pockets on the front of the legs for kneepads, so nothing wraps around your leg at all. It can be tricky to get the right size.
I don't know brands I think I have tried every one that's under 30 bucks.
When I wear my carharts I sliced open the re-enforced knee pocket & slid in rubitex, it's cheap replaceble & they don't slide anywhere.Do you look to the government for an entitlement, or to GOD for empowerment. BDW
Carhartts usually have a little drain opening at the bottom of the double knee, I just roll up a piece of closed cell foam and stuff it in there, then flatten it out inside. Some other brands of pants need the seam cut to get the pad in. I agree, it's a nice way to have a knee pad without having rubber bands around your legs.
zak
Don't know what type you now have, but I have a couple different pairs that used to give me the same problem. What works for me is to keep the strap behind the knee loose, and keep the strap around the back of the calf tight. Doing it that way also helps with reducing chafing behind the knee. Might be worth a try.
"A job well done is its own reward. Now would you prefer to make the final payment by cash, check or Master Card?"
The smallish/thinish/lightweight pads stay up better. The thicker are more comfortable, but don't stay up as well. My favorite has a single strap that goes under the knee to hold it on, but it's been discontinued so I'm struggling to find a good replacement that stays up without the more common double strap.
Those with rubber faces shed thinset well, so there is one of these in the tile box. Finished floors scratch with a hard plastic face, so there is a soft nylon fabric faced pair in the finish carpentry box. The nylon fabric doesn't hold up to hard rough surfaces and soaks up moisture so there is also a hard faced pair for rough construction (actually two pairs--thinner for most things, thicker for crawlspaces and longer term use).
I'll bet the pads that are disco'd are dark blue with white caps, right? Single strap that clips and is wider at the front, then narrows as it goes to the clip? They make the pad the way it was but now they have two straps, which is the reason I liked the other ones in the first place. Fargin' bastiges!
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
I read the article and was sick of my assortment. I've gone through lots of different types.
Awhile back there was a thread that had all the different favorites.
Any way I read the article and looked at the top rated ones. I decided on 3 different types to give a try. The rocker of the 3 ,these were my least favorite, but I would say comparied to what I had been using I would give them a B. My second choice was the McGuire Nicholas Stabilizer. This is a eccellent choice and I give a high rating very stable, no rolling off the center of support. But the winner was the tommy co 707 all terain. It's comfort level is what I would put at a 10% over the stabilizer. I like the softer face on the stabilizer but for the comfort of the 707 It's hands down the winner. Again I only got 3 of the top rated pads.
I cant believe nobody has mentioned ProKnee yet. The article didnt include them either, maybe because they're not the little cup style things like the rest in the article were, but if you're spending time on your knees at all, there's no comparison to anything else out there. The first guy I knew that got them I gave him a rash of crap over spending 200 bucks on kneepads. He said try them on. They werent even the right size for me, but I shut my trap and ordered me some shortly thereafter.
"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton
most people will only spring for ProKnee after one of their knees blows out to the size of a grapefruit from using almost any other pad.
well i wasnt gonna say it but I agree. Everything else is just futile in comparison. There's been a couple of times I took off to lunch and forgot I had them on. Knock them on the steering wheel and say oh, yeah. I relate that to people sometimes because I don't think anyone ever forgets they have those other buggers digging into the back of their knees."Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton
PROKNEES
Here's my plug for them...
My knees and shoulders are shot, not to mention a few other areas. Bad problem with bone spurs in the knees
Just laid 15 sheets of 1/4" hardi backer, including layout, cutting and cleanup. My knees and legs feel as if they haven't even started the job. My shoulders are another story.
They are worth the $175. As another poster said, why wait until your knees are the size of grape fruits. Go for the preventive maintenance.
Do you have a link for where they can be purchased?
Thanks a lot
http://www.proknee.com
"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton
Thanks a lot-I'm looking into them.
Thats a funny looking knee pad. Do you wear them? What work do you do that requires the pads? Are they only for carpet layers?
Sometimes I wear them all day on a variety of different jobs; decks, floors (obviously), trim, cabinets, blah, blah, blah, anything where I'm up and down all day long.
Also, I see where they each weigh 2.5 lbs. How does this effect up and down and up and down all day long?
Talk to me.
Grunge on.
Edited 3/31/2006 7:59 pm ET by RRooster
I have just started wearing them and The first day, they felt a little weird, but after that, no problem. Just like with any other knee pad, you need to get used to moving around so that they slide sideways and twist off. This took a few more hours , or the next day to learn.
As, to the weight, because they are attached to the leg below the knee and at approx the shin area, they don't seem to to have any weight associated with them. This is no B.S.
The pads them selves are a flat surface so they keep you from rocking from side to side.
These pads are "custom measured" fro your leg length. the place where I bought mine keeps one of every size in stock by 1/2" increments
I have only used mine for laying tile and hardi board. I'll use mine for install trim and cabinetry, when the time comes. The straps are quick release. easy on, easy off
The pads have removable covers that are attached with snaps and be replaced from the manufacturer
here's a few pics
I searched out a place that sells the Pro Knee pads when you or somebody else recommended them in an old thread around here. I thought they were great, until I tried to move around (when on my knees) with them. They kept sliding off, and the sales guy didn't seem to have any suggestions. The ones I tried were the right size, and he just said,"well, they do that."What's your trick?********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Most of you know about Skillers pants (with the built in knee pad pockets). I've worn them for maybe 20 years. But I just found another European outfit that is appaently just starting to sell the same style in this country:http://www.blaklader.com/main.asp?lang=usThey don't have a link to the pants, but if you go the above, then click:Products -- Craftsman -- pants ..... you'll be able to see what they have.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
another thing, the straps don't seem to irritate the back of your knee/leg
Glad to see so many guys wearin' pads.
I don't notice a heck of alot of folks in the field with them. I'm typically the only one.
Knees, back and eyes......one of the three goes, yer done.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Don't forget ears. I've got dozens of pairs of the orange ear max earplugs (the best that I know of) around, in every shirt pocket, and ear muffs too. Guess thats what comes of years of working with chainsaws and then years of working on steel- everything's loud.
zak
I do interior finish and trim.
One day I looked down and noticed the right knee of my jeans was starting to wear a hole. I got home and discovered every pair of jeans was worn almost through at the right knee.
No wonder my right knee ached!
I've been wearing a pad on my right knee almost everyday for the last 6 years with much relief and I have found this style of pads about the best. Stays on and are comfortable. Minor adjustments now and then but they don't scratch finished floors. I prefer the gray ones without gel pads, they stay put better. The accordion top keeps stuff from falling into the pads from above.
Sometimes I forget they are on.
Gord
Good stuff, thanks.
> I've been wearing a pad on my right knee almost everyday for the last 6 years ....
You wear a pad on one knee only? Do you keep the left knee off the floor? If not, I'd expect the off-level condition to give you sciattica on the left side.
-- J.S.
I've been framing outdoors in the rain and I wear the same ones. They keep my knees dry when kneeling in puddles. I just use the bottom straps with them and they stay in place great. Mike
Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.
I do the same with the straps, I only use the bottom.
More comfortable. Stays in place.
Mostly...
and 2 spare straps.Gord
Best kneepad I've ever found was a cheap closed-cell-foam camping mattress. Roll it out on the ground/floor where you're gonna be working, and kneel on that. Protects finished floors from tool dings, too.
When I'm moving around too much to make that work, tho, I use the Tommy Co. 'all-terrain' convertibles. Super comfortable gel pads in a tough, Cordura shell that won't scratch or dent finish floors. And they come with a removable 'off-road' flexible plastic cap that has a 'heel' moulded into it. You can almost walk on your knees like you walk on your feet. I can spend all day on my knees in gravel, rocks, or whatever wearing those and not feel a thing.
Dinosaur
How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
foolish men call Justice....
I bought a pair of Skillers britches from Duluth trading Co. a couple of years ago....they have pockets in the knees for pads, with removeable foam pads included.
I've never gone back to the strap-on type. Even took some of my double kneed Carhardt logger jeans, cut slots in the knee part....stuff them with the Duluth pads, pieces of carpet pad, camping mats....whatever's handy.
It's like having pillows on my knees.....day after day.
Don't even use my Pro-knees or an assortment of others I've suffered with.
Try the leather ones like the cement finishers use. They only have a strap below the knee and are very comfortable. They don't slip down and you can kneel on a drywall screw and never know it.
Where do you get them? What make/model?
-- J.S.
Most of the cement finishers in chicago use a leather knee pad. They are expensive, but it's the best $70 i've ever spent. They are made of full grain leather that is riveted together. Thick rubber covers the front, inside is very thick felt padding. The first pair i bought lasted for 7 years, not bad for a knee pad. They're hand made by a old finisher in chicago. If you're interested you can call the Cement Masons' local 502 hall, and get info from them (I think they also sell them there). the number is 773 544 9100.
Try crossing up the straps. Put the top strap on the bottom velcro or peg, and the bottom on the top. It makes a BIG difference.
I like the grey rubber ones, they are the most comfortable to me. You can get them at Harbor Freight for $10.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_121007-1492-1L-22381-1_0_?productId=1007009&Ntt=knee pads&Ntk=i_products&pl=1¤tURL=/pl__0__s?newSearch=true$Ntt=knee pads
These pads are ok for staying up and the hard plastic face is good for rough construction....the similar gel pads with the nylon fabric face are what I use for interior work.
Having said that I don't spend all day on my knees and the guys that do use high $$ pads specifically for the purpose. Look at specialty suppliers that are trade specific for those.