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I’m researching knee pads for an upcoming article and I’d like to hear your preferences. What brand do you like? Why do you like that brand? What work do you do? Feel free to post responses here, or to e-mail me directly at [email protected].
TIA for your responses, and Merry Christmas to one and all.
Andy
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I don't know what brand they are, but they are the type used by skateboarders. They have a hard plastic shell lined with foam and strap on. Better than my old ones. My work ranges from carpentry to electical, but it was tile laying yesterday. BTW - this type is favored by the IPSC shooters. If you have to dash up to a shooting postion and suddenly kneel or go prone, you demand a pad that offers protection. :-)
j wells
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Andy,
I just completed abot 800 sq. ft. of ceramic tile floor...solo. That accounted for alot of time on my knees. I completed the project in October and the back of my left leg and lower back have hurt since...Im told it may be that I damaged the sciatica (sp?) nerve and that it may have been from all that kneeling. I have tried alot of knee pads and have liked the standard leather and felt ones the best but now Im questioning them. Duluth Trading Company(the Bucket Boss people) makes a pretty good looking knee pad that Im going to try. I'll let you know what I think.
Dave
*IMy knees are get incredible pains from kneeling, so pads have become a way of life. I have the hard plastic cap type, with the nylon fabric covered pads. They are made by CLC (Custom Leather Company). They are very comfortable, and protect the top of your shin a little. The plastic cap does make them traction limited though. If you are on a hard or smooth surface, it is difficult to push sideways because you noe have to use your shoes for traction. This causes you to bend your toes in an absurd angle which leads to another type of pain. I guess it never ends.-Rob
*I noticed a Web site for the Presidential Knee Pad a week or so ago (http://www.califmall.com/presknee.html). For Christmas only, they're throwing in a free black beret with any pair purchased.
*Seems like this article will be a day late and a dollar short for me. I recently had to have my knee drained due to an infection and wear and tear from the various trades that I practice. I did a lot of searching and ran into all those mentioned above and more. I settled on some pretty high tech kneepads from Pro-Knee. Although bulky (they look like goalie pads)and pricey, they are very effective at spreading loads from kneeling along the length of my shins. They also strap to the calf and ankle eliminating the loss of circulation that results from some other brands. You can look at them yourself at Proknee.com if you like. I also thought that Patella-t pads looked sensible and you can visit their site at Patella-t.com. I wear a brand of pants with kneepads sewn on knees, that are extremely durable and knee-friendly made by jd workwear who I have not been able to find a website for. A word of caution, I am not convinced that kneepads are helpful, even though I use several types of knee protection. I think they encourage me to spend more time on my knees (I've already heard all the kneeling jokes!), and promote "plopping" down on them. I think walking on your knees and plopping are stressful in such a way that kneepads don't help.Looking forward to your article,Tom
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I am a floorcovering installer so knee pads are a way of life for me.
I have tried every type that I have ever seen and prefer the leather ones with a single strap made by rooster I believe.
I think the felt padding is a little on the skimpy side though for proper protection.
I insert some high density carpet padding and some addition felt every time I get a new pair.
Dan B
*In response to J. Wells comment, the skateboarder kneepads are called Rectors. I still have them from my BMX and skating days! They are tough. Now I use them mostly for flooring or crawlspace work. The plastic caps are quite protective, but at the price of being slippery.
*I use roller blade knee pads. I don't know who makes them but there the balls. velcro adjustable staps above and below the knee, hard plastic shells and alot of cushy foam make them comfortable and durrable. I have used and abused them for years, sometimes even kneeing something heavy and hard into place with no ill effects.
*Several years ago I read the Fine Homebuilding review of the Balans Craftseat Kneepads (Without looking, I think that was the name, and I believe Kevin Ireton wrote the piece). They were quite expensive but I bought a pair and they were, without a doubt, the most intelligently designed and comfortable kneepads I have ever known. The only problem was that they were bulky "appliances" to walk around in and I used them only on a few occassions over the years (I don't work on my knees a lot). Just last summer I showed these knee pads to a tile layer who is on his knees every day for long periods. At first sight, he thought they were rediculous and said he could never wear such things. But when I had him put them on and try them out his response was "Wow!", and he immediately asked me how much I wanted for them. He needed the pads more than me so I let them go. But I'm curious to know if the company is still in business. Perhaps you could check it out.H Kimball
*Herrick;While in our masonry supply yard that I frequented often, I noticed some knee pads that were new and had an aluminum tubular frame that fit around knee to ankle, when you squatted down to knees you could take the weight and lean back on the padded frame to relieve stress on lower back, they were a lifesaver when I installed 1600 sq ft of backer board and quarry tile about 15 years ago. I will have to go to the shop to see if I can read the name on the padded portion of the set, at that time they were around a $100.00 dollars if I remember correctly. I know they were worth that on this job. I would like to know if they are still in business because I need some of the elastic hooked tabs that held them to the back of your legs. I will look and see if I can find the name on the set in next few days.
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I like the plastic-capped velcro-strapped ones for flooring work and the volleyball style (elastic sleeve with foam in front) for occassional kneeling tasks interspaced with upright tasks and running to get stuff - they're easier to walk in.
In my other life as a caver, I've played with many variations and the best builder's pads are just too likely to snag on the cave. I've often stitched a pouch into my caving coveralls and occassionally into my construction jeans for a 1/2" to 1" thickness of closed cell foam like an ensolite sleeping pad. Easy to walk in and always there when I need it. I'm sure I've seen pants advertised in FHB with those pads already installed - for those guys who can't sew.
As knee pads get better, I see more people just dropping onto their knees from a standing height which can't be good for the joints involved even if they are padded.
In one of the off-brand doctor magazines my wife gets (not New England Journal, but something like Practicing Physician), there was a truly gruesome photo of a guy's knees. It was a quiz, what happened to cause this full thickness burn, charred-looking skin for 12 inches around his knees? Looked like someone had directed a blow torch at the guy's knees for 5 minutes. The answer was that he was a mason, laying block and kneeling all day on wet, fresh concrete in jeans only. The alkaline burns were third degree (full thickness of the skin). (One often doesn't feel alkaline burns as they happen). It could make a dramatic photo like that x-ray of the 16d in a guy's skull FHB run years ago.
-David
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I am also a caver(it must be an underground movement,carpentry and caving). the best kneepads I have ever found are called Terminators. They are neoprene wrestling pads with about one half inch of padding in the front. They are totally awesome, good for 24+ hours underground and if you need them 8 hours of work. After 22 years of caving and 15 years of carpentry my knees are a little creaky, a lot bony but they work just fine.
*Michael-- From your description, those knee pads found at your masonry supply yard are clearly the same ones I spoke of in my previous post. Seems to me that they were sold singly and a pair did go for around $100. You're the only person I have ever known who has owned a pair. At the price, maybe we're the only people who ever bought any :). If the company is not still in business, some enterprising person should reintroduce the product. I wish I didn't get rid of mine :(Herrick Kimball
*I have used kneepads for about 5 years. I do handyman work and interior painting. I wear kneepads nearly all day so i want a type that doesnt chaff the back of my knees and legs by a too tight strap. The brand I use is CLC (custom leathercraft mfg. co.) a hardshell type with closed cell foam under a nylon covering. the shell is stitched on in a recessed channel which serves to protect the thread from disintegrating. I like the way I can adjust the two straps (velcro) to maximize comfort and to remove them quickly. In certain long-use situations I 've found that my pants get totally wet from the lack of breathability of the foam and the fact that they are HOT to wear. I have gone through 3 pairs in 5 years, but I save the oldest for ditch digging/crawlspace work or for kneeling down to place stepping stones. I keep my latest pair clean to do inside work, and occassionally cover the hard shell with masking tape to protect clients' floors from the shell. The main problems I have is that the hard shell cracks after about a month or two but that doesnt cause much problem for me;but when sawing plywood or ripping with my circular saw --sawdust gets behind the pads and sticks to the knitted/velvety fabric lining and can be uncomfortable and difficult to remove. The straps are more comfortable after a set has been "broken in" and they arent quite so tight at the loosest velcro "setting". I also find them indespensible for changing my oil and rotating when the tires on my truck which I do on a gravel driveway at times. I have paid $9.99 on sale and about $13.50 when not and consider them to be somewhat disposable and like to keep the old pairs for dirty work as I stated earlier and have yet to truly throw out the first pair which are almost six years old. Feel free to email me for elaboration-- I cannot work without my kneepads!
*I have used kneepads for about 5 years. I do handyman work and interior painting. I wear kneepads nearly all day so i want a type that doesnt chaff the back of my knees and legs by a too tight strap. The brand I use is CLC (custom leathercraft mfg. co.) a hardshell type with closed cell foam under a nylon covering. the shell is stitched on in a recessed channel which serves to protect the thread from disintegrating. I like the way I can adjust the two straps to maximize comfort and to remove them quickly. In certain long-use situations I 've found that my pants get totally wet from the lack of breathability of the foam and the fact that they are HOT to wear. I have gone through 3 pairs in 5 years, but I save the oldest for ditch digging/crawlspace work or for kneeling down to place stepping stones. I keep my latest pair clean to do inside work, and occassionally cover the hard shell with masking tape to protect clients' floors from the shell. The main problems I have is that the hard shell cracks after about a month or two but that doesnt cause much problem for me; when sawing plywood or ripping with my circular saw --sawdust gets behind the pads and sticks to the knitted/velvety fabric lining and can be uncomfortable and difficult to remove. the straps are more comfortable after a set has been "broken in" and they arent quite so tight and are a bit less tight at the loosest velcro "setting". I also find them indespensible for changing my oil,and when I rotate the tires on my truck which I do on a gravel driveway at times. I have paid 9.99 on sale and about 13.50 when not and consider them to be somewhat disposable and like to keep the old pairs for dirty work as I stated earlier and have yet to truly throw out the first pair which are almost six years old. Feel free to email me for elaboration-- I can not work with out my kneepads!
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I've had great luck using no knee pads at all. 20 years in the business and i've tried 6 or so types of pads and found the pain from hair tearout on the backside of my knees from the kneepad straps worse than kneeaches. Once you get your knees used to kneeling, calouses develop just as they would on your hands from using a hammer or fingertips from guitar playing.
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I considered this very question and decided I would set-about creating the perfect kneepads.
That same day my subscription to FHB arrived and guess what? The kneepads I had in my mind appeared in an ad for Proknee.
*I think I use Paul L.'s brand of kneepads too. Same problems too. Hot and sweaty if you keep them on for an hour or two. The plastic cap cracks and breaks after awhile. The velcro stretches and comes unstitched. But next to my cordless drill, ear plugs and safety glasses they are the best "tools" I own. I would never think of not having a pair.I've used mine for installing ceramic tiles floors and vinyl tile floors and any other odd task which requires me to crawl around on my knees.
*....don't use kneepads anymore ......can't kneel due to degenerative arthritis ...... but I have used a creeper ..... almost like a mechanics creeper but half sized ..... works well except in tight spots such as closets .....jc
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I'm researching knee pads for an upcoming article and I'd like to hear your preferences. What brand do you like? Why do you like that brand? What work do you do? Feel free to post responses here, or to e-mail me directly at [email protected].
TIA for your responses, and Merry Christmas to one and all.
Andy