We have reviewed a lot of knee pads and compiled a list of our favorite five. This article will give you a quick review of each, including the pros and cons, as well as a buyers’ guide to help you know what to look for.
Model | Price | Weight | Editor Rating |
---|---|---|---|
DEWALT DG5204 Professional Kneepads | Check Price | 1 lb | 4.8/5 |
Toughbuilt KP-G3 Stabilization Knee Pads | Check Price | 1 lb | 4.6/5 |
Minor Miracle Premium Knee Pads | Check Price | 1 lb | 4.5/5 |
NoCry Professional Knee Pads for Construction | Check Price | 1 lb | 4.2/5 |
Recoil Tiling Knee Pads | Check Price | 3 lbs | 3.9/5 |
Our number one pick among knee pads is the DEWALT DG5204 Professional Kneepads. We found them to be the best knee pads for kneeling on hard surfaces for extended time frames.
We are impressed with the way the DEWALT Professional Kneepads are built. They are very durable and made to last. They have a gel that is layered over thick foam padding that gives an incredible amount of cushion and comfort to your knees. The gel is then covered with a strong, non-skid material that is made to be used on all different types of surfaces. These knee pads have you covered no matter what kind of flooring you are working on.
These knee pads have slip buckle straps that hold them on your knees. However, they are not form-fitting, so they do tend to move around while you are working. When they do, the straps are very easy to adjust to get them back into place. They have a neoprene liner that gives them just the right balance between the firmness that they need to withstand the floor, and the softness you need for maximum comfort.
Our second choice is the Toughbuilt KP-G3 Stabilization Knee Pads. They have a comfortable foam interior that forms to the shape of your knees and high support that keeps your knees centered and holds the pads in place. They don’t move around on your knees as you work like so many other knee pads do.
These knee pads are made out of a nylon material that is covered by a hard outer shell. This shell gives your knees the protection they need, but the plastic also tends to slip on some surfaces, such as subflooring. This can be very dangerous, especially if that subflooring is on a roof you are tiling. If you are doing a job that tends to have a slippery surface, this aren’t the knee pads for you.
The Toughbuilt knee pads also have raised shin protection that lifts your feet up, taking any pressure off your ankles. All this extra protection high on the knees and on your shins is great, but it is also very cumbersome. These pads are big and bulky, so you would think they would have great straps to hold them secure. They don’t. The straps on these pads are very short, so they’re really only good for people with smaller than average legs.
We have found the Minor Miracle Premium Knee Pads to be the best pads for the money that you spend on them. They have gel covering EVA foam to give your knees the comfort they need, while also having non-abrasive and non-slip pads on the outside. These pads not only protect your knees and keep you safe from slipping, but they also protect your floor. The outer surface will not scratch your floors in any way.
The Minor Miracle Premium Knee Pads have easy slip buckle clips for making any adjustments in the placement of the pads on your knees. This is good because the straps are not long enough to hold the pads securely in place while you are working. They will roll to the side or slide up and down your leg, requiring many adjustments.
Minor Miracle claims that these knee pads are durable and will last a long time. The question then begs to differ: why do they offer a five-year guarantee of replacement if you have any issues with them? While they are of decent quality, they do tend to wear out quickly. They do a good job of protecting your knees; just be prepared to replace them every few years. They won’t last as a good quality knee pad will.
The NoCry Professional Knee Pads for Construction are decent, but not at the top of our list. They have the gel-covered EVA foam padding for your comfort; there just isn’t enough of it. It doesn’t take too long being on your knees before you can feel the hard surface you are kneeling on.
The NoCry Professional Knee Pads have clips that are easy to adjust, except for one area. There is a spot near the tops of the pads where the clips are too close to the plastic covering, making it difficult to get the clips securely in place.
They also have thick straps to keep them secure on your knees. The problem is that they are cheaply made and get scrunched up in the creases of your knees, which is extremely uncomfortable. The grommets that secure the straps to the pads also have a tendency to fall out, so you have to jerry-rig some way to keep them strapped on.
The Recoil Tiling Knee Pads are okay if you can’t afford anything better. They have a six-spring coiled technology paired with EVA foam for the comfort of your knees. However, these knee pads are designed very poorly, causing them to be uncomfortable to wear. They have absolutely no flex to them, so it’s almost as if you were directly on the hard surface after a short period of time.
They also have the nice neoprene straps, but they are cheap straps that don’t hold the pads in place. They move all over your knees when you are crawling around on the floor. They will give you protection for short periods of time, but we wouldn’t recommend them for large jobs that will require you to wear them for a long time.
When you are shopping for knee pads, there are a few things to keep in mind.
If you only kneel on an occasional basis, you can make do with lighter, more flexible knee pads.
If you kneel more than occasionally, but still don’t do it all day long, you can get away with more versatile knee pads that offer a decent cushion for your comfort, as well as a sturdy enough design to withstand the usage.
If you are continually kneeling, choose a high-quality knee pad with shock-absorbing qualities that will give you the most comfort for the constant abuse that you give your knees.
The kind of job you are doing will determine what type of material you will need your knee pads to be made from. Do you require a more sturdy surface that will require hard plastic, or do you need a rubbery no-skid kind of coating?
A quality knee pad will fit securely around your knee cap and won’t move around as you work. The straps will be long enough to hold the pad in place, yet comfortable behind your knee. They won’t bunch up.
You also want to look for knee pads made of breathable material so that your knees don’t sweat, and that the pads fit the shape of your knees comfortably. Not only should the pad adhere to your knees, but you also need to take into effect what kind of material, if any, will be between your knees and the pads. Make sure the straps are long enough to have room for the extra material of your pant legs. If at all possible, try the knee pads on before purchase to check the fit.
Now that you know what to consider when purchasing your next pair of knee pads, let’s quickly review our top five picks.
Now you should have enough information about what to look for when purchasing knee pads that you aren’t overwhelmed at the number of options available to you. The very first thing to do is determine the kind of material you need your knee pads to be made from for the type of work you do. After that, it’s all about how they feel on your knees. Take your time and find the knee pad that is perfect for you.
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