Knee Pads & Kneel Pads?

[Bolster]

I'm rebuilding a house and find I spend a lot of time on my knees...tile, baseboard, flooring...it's all so dang low! You'd think in this day and age, we could make floors that were waist level and easy to work on, but, no.

I own four sets of different-branded knee pads and don't like any of them. Mostly they take any opportunity to sag off my knee and settle around my ankles (which don't need padding) leaving my knees unprotected.

Kneel pads are a bit of a hassle because you have to keep moving them, but...maybe they're better than knee pads? At least they don't glom onto your ankles.

Do any of you have good experiences with knee pads, and if so, can you please share the brand or model?

 

[strutaeng]

I bought these many years ago when I was doing a lot of rebar scanning on a stadium concourse concrete floor. I previously had the pads from the big box stores and hated them.

I've since used them for DIY projects around the house like flooring and baseboards like you. I recommend them:

Sellstrom S96110 Ultra Flex III KneePro Knee Pads for Construction, Gardening, Flooring - Pro Protection & Comfort for Men & Women (Multiple Colors), Orange/Gray https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005I4PT18/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[tarbellb]

These are incredible, can wear them all damn day.

Sellstrom

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005I4PT18/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bonneyman]

I have a 20 year old pair of knee pads that worked decent when they were new. Nice molded foam core with a hard plastic knee "cap". For those occasional times I needed some help they were fine. But the velcro attachment bands got all stretched out and now they're basically unusable.

Likewise i snagged an ACE brand stadium cushion that works great if you're working in one area for awhile. But having to move it is a pain.

So, no help from me on either issue. Sorry.

 

[loganb]

I Have 2 pairs like this from Big Orange, 2 different brands but appear identical. For me I like a single, big wide strap more than 2 straps



There are also pants with built in knee pads pockets, they're not as padded as ******** pads, but they're always there. Duluth Trading are the ones I'm familiar with on the built in pockets, but others exist

 

[KnurledNut]

I bought these many years ago when I was doing a lot of rebar scanning on a stadium concourse concrete floor. I previously had the pads from the big box stores and hated them.

I've since used them for DIY projects around the house like flooring and baseboards like you. I recommend them:

Sellstrom S96110 Ultra Flex III KneePro Knee Pads for Construction, Gardening, Flooring - Pro Protection & Comfort for Men & Women (Multiple Colors), Orange/Gray https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005I4PT18/?tag=atomicindus08-20

These are incredible, can wear them all damn day.

Sellstrom

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005I4PT18/?tag=atomicindus08-20

A little different version of these are used by miners underground. Super comfortable for work on nasty, wet, hard, hot/cold, sharp, etc. surfaces. I have a pair.
I use Crain poly-skin for delicate surfaces and they are pretty good but can get uncomfortable for really long periods.
I wear pants with knee pad inserts daily and have gotten so used to them I forget they are there. Perfect for many jobs.

 

[bcradio]

I bought these many years ago when I was doing a lot of rebar scanning on a stadium concourse concrete floor. I previously had the pads from the big box stores and hated them.

I've since used them for DIY projects around the house like flooring and baseboards like you. I recommend them:

Sellstrom S96110 Ultra Flex III KneePro Knee Pads for Construction, Gardening, Flooring - Pro Protection & Comfort for Men & Women (Multiple Colors), Orange/Gray https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005I4PT18/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Ordered some of these. Thank you for the suggestions

 

[mrvm]

Never tried these but they look interesting

 

[crewchief888]

best ones i ever found were actually a skateboard/inline skating knee pads from dr bone savers.
they didnt hold up well to grease, oil. and diesel fuel.
i looked at a pair of milwaukee brand knee pads a while back, but passed on them

 

[alinc100]

Not cheap ,but neither is knee replacement. I use the AP16's ,they don't ride down often,when the straps are right and I criss-cross them on my calves. The 714's I have a feeling stay in place better,but significantly higher. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DM7ZGCB/?tag=atomicindus08-20
As a carpenter,doing commercial interiors I go from floor to midwall to ceiling in several rooms with acoustical panels,aluminum trim and markerboards,usually moving between the floor and a small painter scaffold,or ladder. If I was to start over/buy again I might opt for the taller,more expensive ones ,but at this late stage in my career the AP16s will last .

 

[bluedog225]

I use appropriate foam from whatever shipping. Lots of kneel pads laying around. Even 3/4 polyiso works for a while.

 

[RTM]

I used my old volleyball knee pads for decades as a homeowner. Tried to upgrade to some nice hard shelled ones, hate them on hard surfaces, I feel wobbly. Another pair fell down.

Now I mostly use kneel pads, and two if I am moving around a lot.

 

[LeeG]

I have work pants with pockets in the knees for pads. Comfortable and never slip.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L55JCZ5/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Lee

 

[AEAdam]

I have the cheapest gardening knee pads. Single elastic strap goes around your lower leg. Used them for the exact same job you are doing. I was screwing down plywood subfloor.

I bought trousers with the (expensive) knee pad slots. Hated them.

I also use a closed cell seat cushion as a kneeling pad.

I love tools and gadgets and have spent the absolute least for this sort of stuff.

 

[GeoBruin]

I have the cheapest gardening knee pads. Single elastic strap goes around your lower leg. Used them for the exact same job you are doing. I was screwing down plywood subfloor.

I bought trousers with the (expensive) knee pad slots. Hated them.

I also use a closed cell seat cushion as a kneeling pad.

I love tools and gadgets and have spent the absolute least for this sort of stuff.

I'm in the exact same boat. I use the $4 knee pads from Harbor freight after paying a lot more and getting fed up with other hard shell type models. The problem is, you ad weight to them, they want to fall, so you have to have more straps, then they have to go above and below the knees, so they have to articulate, but then they weigh more, and so on.

The cheapies are so light, I forgot I'm wearing them. One strap to close, they're quick to put on and take off. If I lose or destroy them, they're easy to replace. Hard to beat

 

[mike93lx]

I hate wearing knee pads. They are either too tight or move around a ton and make me sweat too much. I've been using kneeling pads a lot and much prefer them. Mine are from a bunch of cold shipments that my father had come through his work. They're the perfect size for kneeling, very durable and I got a ton of them, so there is always one available. I've also used the 2x2 foam squares that are available at HF for under foot cushions

 

[AreBeeBee]

I use both — a set of knee pads for when I know I'll be moving around a lot and also kneeling. And I have a "kneel pad" for when I'll be in one place working low.

Why have both when knee pads cover both situations? Well, the kneel pad is more comfortable but as many have noted said above, it's a PITA when you have to be here and then there and then move over to a third place....

Pretty much all the kneeling pads are equal (at least those I've seen and tried). But there's more diff in comfort and durability with the various styles and brands of wearable knee pads. Bottom line? The more time you spend on your knees at work (yeah, yeah — I know), the more comfortable they need to be. So try on many and spend appropriately.

 

[Rusted Nut]

I recently bought a pair of McGuire Nichols knee pads to replace my old McGuire Nichols set from 10 years ago. I like the new ones; light, stay in place, compact.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JG8QR6S/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[rharman]

I've been happy with this. GearWrench pad from Amazon.

 

[39 LaSalle]

I've tried knee pads, but as others have mentioned I've had issues with them slipping, feeling unstable, etc., etc., etc. and I just don't care for them. Picked up a Husky kneeling pad at Home Depot and love it. Yeah, it's a minor pain to move it around sometimes (mainly use it for working on cars, toilets, and so forth) but the benefits are worth it to me vs. using knee pads.

 

[Copymutt]

Stuff a chunk of ensolite pad in it. Unlike **** pads that fall down in less than 5 min. It stays there!

 

[Grant Gunderson]

Around here those are all typically called “promotion pads”

 

[nadogail]

My Hard Shell Knee Pads saved me from several trips to the hospital.

 

[ecotec]

My favorite kneeler pad is the QLT from Marshalltown. I have had mine for years. One of the handles is broken, but not broken off.

 

[Coach James]

I use a paid of these; https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001P30BQO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

No complaints about fit or comfort. They make working on our deck and under the house faster and so much easier on the knees.

Coach

 

[Jacobson]

I use volleyball knee pads. They are snug and do not move

Amazon.com : Volleyball Knee Pads

 

[Toolfool]

The straps are what annoys me the most with knee pads. My jeans get bunched up in the straps and by the end of the day the back of my knees are raw. My fix was to negate the straps and use large safety pins to attach my knee pads to my jeans. No sagging, no raw back of knees. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075Y452L8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Bolster]

Many thanks for the recommendations, my friends. Now to pick a solution or three from the options above.

("Promotion Pads," LOL, will say no more about that!)

 

[tarbellb]

These are incredible, can wear them all damn day.

Sellstrom

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005I4PT18/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Just got done wearing these for 6 hours in a cramped insulation filled attic crawling on Aframes

No complaints, still after 5 yrs

 

[Kkmk]

I’m sold on pants with knee pad pockets in them. I dont use proper knee pads though, just a few pieces of neoprene cut to fit, dofferent thicknesses to suit. Depending on your legs, you may need to hoist them up every time you kneel down though.

I can go from climbing stairs, to kneeling on steel mesh a dozen times in as many minutes and this works best for me.

Skip the ones with built in neoprene pads. Pretty much useless to start with, and after a few washes there’s nothing left.

 

[BSWS]

While working for a living I had bought at least 6 different pairs of knee pads and don't think I ever used any of them for more than an hour before giving up. My biggest issue was the uncomfortable straps behind my knees. Now, with even older knees, I kneeded to go down in my crawlspace to crawl around on some sharp stones while doing a project. My wife was headed to Walmart and I asked her to pick up a cheap set of kneepads...I was desperate. I don't know why, but I must have read the installation instructions and it mentioned crossing the straps from top to bottom, sort of forming an X behind my knee. I didn't believe it but it made a huge difference. I've worn them a few more times and have never had any discomfort yet.

I don't know if all brands recommend this crossover because I probably never read the instructions before. But here's a link to the cheap pads that are continuing to protect my old knees.

Robot or human?

 

[Chipm]

Mechanixwear. The straps are 2" neoprene instead of the flimsy 1" elastic ******** most other I see. Hard front but flexible.

 

[Mr.zippy]

I used my old volleyball knee pads for decades as a homeowner. Tried to upgrade to some nice hard shelled ones, hate them on hard surfaces, I feel wobbly. Another pair fell down.

Now I mostly use kneel pads, and two if I am moving around a lot.

This..... but all 4 of my daughters played HS volleyball, so I had a lifetime supply of the damn things!