Best Knee Pads...

[grumpyolman]

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Read where some were having issues with their knees while hunting and digging. Here's a set of knee pads that I highly recommend. I have used a set just like these for 3 years and they work like new. The elastic is commercial grade as are the conncectors. They stay where you put them and don't try to move down your leg. They have high density foam on the inside, are hinged for no restriction on bending, and the hard composite outer shell prevents rocks and other objects from causing that nasty pain we have all felt. I have tried a lot of variations before I got these. Don't have stock or friends in the company. They just work darn good. Regards...Jim

http://www.officerstore.com/store/product.cfm/pid_6134_knee_pro_industries_ultra_flex_iii_tactical_kneepads/

 

[CAgem]

Thanks, that's a great website. Stupid question, but is the price for one, or a pair?

 

[grumpyolman]

I got mine as a gift from my son. I am sure that's the price for a pair. Might call em ask and correct this if it is wrong...Jim

 

[jbow]

I would carry it in my left hand and kneel on it. I thought it was great. I used it for a couple of years and somehow the even pressure across my knees really damaged the nerves that run across the knee and feed the "feeling" for the outside of the leg at the knee area. It got so that I couldn't put either knee on a surface with even pressure, like a sofa or put a knee on my truck seat and lean across, it gave terrible, sharp burning pain and I became numb on the outside of both legs at the knee. The pain finally went away but I am still numb on both legs, outside at the knee. So, be careful about using anything a lot that gives an even pressure on the knee. I'm sure these pads are high tech but watch out.

Now I just watch for the rocks and kneel carefully...

The only option to fix it was surgery to remove the nerves that only serve that part of the leg and they were not working, and still don't... but since the pain got better I am leaving them alone.

J

 

[Erik in NJ]

I'm gonna order a pair and a few other things from the website! Just got back to work (finally) I'll give you a shout when I get a chance.

 

[Steve from Ohio]

I'm thinking of having my lower legs amputated at the knees so I will not have to bend down to dig and it will get me closer to the treasure.

Now that is dedication to the hobby!!!

 

[grumpyolman]

If you do that you'll probably have to get an underwater shaft for it to make it short enough. You'd have to be really careful when surf/beach hunting. One regular wave and your dunked. And...you won't cover nearly a much ground because of a shorter stride. Probably better to get the knee pads. Jim

 

[jbow]

n/t

 

[vikingvic]

I'm thinking of having my lower legs amputated at the knees so I will not have to bend down to dig and it will get me closer to the treasure.

Now that is dedication to the hobby!!!

What you haven't done that yet...
That's not dedication ... it's procrastination...lol

 

[Beale]

I odered a pair of these yesterday. I am looking foward to using them. Thanks for the link and review, Beale.

 

[grumpyolman]

Let me know what you think of them. You too Erik. Jim

 

[Erik in NJ]

Will do Jim....thanks for the link....I got my knee pads from Home Depot and they always slip down after a while......very annoying.

 

[Daniel A.]

Due to knee pain that seems to sometimes be fine and sometimes not

I have been doing some research into why that is and after chatting with a co-worker who is into the gym workout thing found out a few things

to check on with doing squats hunting. I went to a sports medicine place and chatted with those folks about the problem and what happens to the knees.

Interesting finds it seems Patellar control is the issue there are two things that can set the knee pain off , Patellofemoral Pain and Chondromalacia.

When I headed out on Sunday I had bought this thing called FX Patellar Control Stabilizer it

 

[BarnacleBill]

I have several other pairs of cheapie knee pads which I hardly ever use because they are more of a PITA than not using them. The main complaint being that they are always shifting around as you get up and down and I am constantly adjusting the straps to keep them in place. I finally end up tightening them so tight that they cut off circulation. :angry:

So when Grumps made his post, temptation set in, because one of the items on my Honey Do list is to put in Laminate Flooring in a couple of bedrooms. Therefore I ordered up a pair figuring that crawling around on my knees for several hours would be a good shakedown cruise.

Opening the package reveals that they are made in China for those that would be concerned about that.

The front has a non-marring rubber skid pad that I only tested on plywood sub-floor, but didn't see any black marking while working.

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The clips to attach the straps were very tight to get in the retaining slots, so tight I thought that I was going to break them.

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The interior pad is nice & thick and offers good protection even when kneeing down quickly onto a hard surface.

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To start my project I put on some thick cotton sweat pants and the knee pads over them. The straps kept the pads in place when comfortably tightened, but the front skid pad keeps the top half from rotating completely vertical.

[attachment 133198 vert.gif]

That causes a pressure point at the very bottom of the foam pad on the lower portion of the pads. During a long walk, like relic hunting, it struck me that the constant rubbing on such a small area could cause irritation.

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While laying down the flooring I was basically walking around on my knees. The pads provided excellent lateral support and no shifting horizontally occurred. Only occasionally would I have to re-position the straps.

But......it was in the low 80's with 70% humidity and I was sweating like a tooth extraction without Novacaine. I didn't notice that anything was wrong until I began to feel a burning sensation on my knees, not internal joint pain. Being on a mission, I continued working as the level of burning increased, figuring I was not used to this much pressure on my knees.

I stopped for a lunch break as my knees were really on fire. In removing the pads I found the cause for the burning. My sweat pants were soaked with perspiration behind the pads. The foam acts as insulation and prevents the moisture from evaporating. This had turned the pile of the sweat pants into the equivalent of a wet wash cloth that had been constantly rubbed with high pressure on the same spot for several hours. The result is essentially rug burned knees.

Therefore they work well with certain limitations taken into account.

HH
BarnacleBill

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[puterdoc]

Thanks, that's a great website. Stupid question, but is the price for one, or a pair?

So, what was the verdict on this? Is the price quoted as a pair or do you need to order two to get a pair? Just curious.

For those heading to Colchester, do you use knee pads or not?

 

[Daniel A.]

I know a couple of guy's that spent years laying carpet and today in there 50s they know the impact of over use. Dan

 

[grumpyolman]

Appreciate the full review above but...There is no need for them to go fully vertical. In order to get your knee joint to a fully vertical position you have to hyper extend that joint. Stand normally and look at your, or somebody else, and you'll see that there is a slight bend at the knee. The pad is actually more comfortable designed like that as it fits without pressure around your legs when standing.
I wear jeans all the time when hunting and I have never 'sweated' on the knee. I live in the Pacific Northwest and maybe our weather is not as hot or humid. My headphones get sweaty and uncomfortable in the high heat, but not my knee pads.
Maybe they changed the hook closure but it's a simple U shaped piece of plastic that hooks into a slot on the pad. I have found that to put them on I have to bend over and that makes my pant leg ride up a little. After they're both on I reach below the pads and pull the pads down until the pants don't feel bunched up under the pad. I move them around a little to make sure they seat comfortably and forget them until it's time to go.
Frankly, I probably wouldn't hunt near as much if I didn't have them. It hurts like crazy when you kneel down in the grass to dig a target and put your knee cap right on the top of a little piece of rock that is just under the surface of the grass. All the problems reported on the review are way less of an issue than painful knees. If your knees can take it, don't get em. Jim