Best Gym Knee Sleeves
Last Updated: September, 2024
Medically Reviewed by
Brooke Maneval, LAT, ATC
Certified Athletic Trainer
Written by Robert Gore
Last Updated: September, 2024
Advertising Disclosure: We earn a commission when you purchase products using our links. This is at no additional cost to you. This page is sponsored by RiptGear. The owner of this site has a financial interest in RiptGear.
Weightlifting Knee Sleeves
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RiptGear
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Summary of Customer Feedback
- Excellent Compression
- Perfect for Weightlifting
- All-Day Comfort
- Doesn’t Slip
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🇺🇸 Corporate Headquarters in USA
Nordic Lifting🇨🇳
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Summary of Customer Feedback
- Strong Compression
- Stiching Issues Reported
- Hampered Range of Motion for Some
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🇨🇳 Corporate Headquarters in China
Aeolos🇨🇳
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Summary of Customer Feedback
- Lightweight
- Fabric Reported to De-laminate
- Too Stiff for Some
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🇨🇳 Corporate Headquarters in China
WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN A KNEE SLEEVE
- Comfort – If knee pain is a problem, knee sleeves can offer comfort by giving the right amount of compression while weightlifting. They also provide warmth to help with knee stiffness and to prevent knee injuries.
- Durability – The paneling: Knee sleeves also come in a variety of knee sleeve patterns including neoprene, mesh, solid foam and varying levels of fabric padding support system on either sides.
- Price – While knee sleeves come at a range of prices, knee sleeves are also generally cheaper than knee braces. In our research we found the best lifting knee sleeves were under the $40 price range per pair.
- Style – The material it’s made out of: A knee compression sleeve should be made out of a breathable, lightweight material. It should absorb your sweat and wick it away from your knee to keep you cool and comfortable while squating or during a workout of the day routine.
Finding The Best Weightlifting Knee Sleeves - A Buyer's Guide
There are several different kinds of knee sleeves and braces on the market. Determining which one you need depends on several factors including whether there is a current injury, how long you need to wear the brace if you are still experiencing knee pain, and other factors. Knee Sleeve for weightlifting should keep your knees warm and stabilize you as you lift.
Knee compression sleeves are an ideal and cost-effective knee protection option to protect the knee during sports activities and to help with recovery. They work in a number of ways from supporting the knee when running to providing warmth and removing moisture away from the knee after sweating. Knee sleeves are made with different types of material that provide varying levels of support and protection for the knee joint.
Weightlifting Knee Sleeves
With Weightlifting Compression Knee Sleeves you have many different choices available, you will need to do a bit of research to match the right knee sleeve to your specific needs. We have listed the common types of knee sleeves and braces that are available below so you can understand the differences between them.
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Best Weightlifting Knee Sleeves
There are several different types of knee sleeves available on the market today. It is beneficial to you to understand the differences and how they work so you can match your particular needs to the brace that best fits them. We’ve listed them below.
- Neoprene Knee sleeve – This is the most basic of all the knee braces and is actually the type that offers the least amount of support to users’ knees. This slip-on sleeve is made of breathable and moisture-wicking neoprene. It keeps heat surrounding the knee which is great for reducing inflammation and swelling of the knee. This type of knee sleeve is best for people who want a little extra support, experience minimal swelling and pain, or want to build knee confidence.
- 7mm Knee sleeve– 7mm neoprene knee sleeve provides excellent compression and support while still allowing for maximum movement (Range of Motion). If you’ve ever gotten injured playing sports, and are looking for added support, then this type of knee sleeve may be right for you. Many athletes wear this type of brace when they are weightlifting, powerlifting, working out, and conditioning. The snug fit of a neoprene knee sleeve can help reduce swelling and pain during an activity or while at rest and may help build knee confidence to help you perform at your highest ability.
- Patellofemoral Sleeve – Many people struggle with poor patellar tracking, which causes pain in the front of the knee or patella (also known as the knee cap). This can be caused by an imbalance of musculature surrounding the knee, congenital structure of the knee, or an injury. A patellofemoral brace has a hole at the kneecap and helps stabilize the knee cap in the correct position during extension and flexion of the knee joint so it tracks properly.
- Functional Knee Sleeve – Functional knee braces are popular for helping to stabilize the knee. These are useful for activities including CrossFit and squats. They are also used during the healing and recovery process after an injury. The type of functional knee brace will depend on the degree of stability you are seeking. In general, if your goal is to prevent an injury or provide some added stability, but still maintain full mobility, you could use a neoprene sleeve. If you have an injury and need protective support then a functional brace that is constructed from neoprene with hinges on the side for extra support is the better option. If the injury is more serious (ie. required a surgical repair), your doctor may recommend a brace that has a metal frame and hinges (rehabilitative knee brace). These braces are typically more expensive, bulkier, and may limit the range of motion of the knee joint. The purpose of a functional knee brace is to provide firm support and stability when the user is twisting, pivoting, running, or jumping, but it will not provide as much support as a customized metal-framed knee brace.
- Rehabilitative Knee Brace – If you’re in rehabilitation for a sports injury or you are recovering from surgery, a rehabilitative knee brace is a good choice for you. This type of knee brace will limit your knee’s movement so it can heal and recover properly. This type of brace, when combined with therapy is believed to be a good foundation for healing and recovery. Depending on your specific injury, a brace like this may be needed for 6-8 weeks after surgery, or up to 1-2 years while participating in sports that involve running, jumping, and cutting. For additional comfort, they have liners that are around the thigh, calf, and knee that are made of foam. The stiff, adjustable bars on the sides hold the knee in place and are secured with straps. It is easily taken off to check the progress of the knee.
- Knee Immobilizer – If you have had surgery or an injury that involves the ligaments of the knee, a knee immobilizer may be best. This brace goes from the calf to the upper thigh. There is a plate that is located behind the knee that also runs from thigh to calf to prevent flexion of the knee. Each side is stabilized with plates that protect the ligaments. This type of brace is often worn for 4-8 weeks after surgery.
Knee Sleeve for Squats Conclusion
There are many different reasons you may need a knee sleeve for squats and weightlifting; from preventing injuries to adding support for an already weak knee to reducing pain. More than likely you will need a specific type of lifting knee sleeve for your particular needs. Once you have determined exactly what those needs are, you can begin to search through the different choices available.
Knowing how to narrow the selection field, whether it be for squats, powerlifting, or general weightlifting; having the right information will help make the choice that much easier. The right information provides you with the tools you need to eliminate the weightlifting knee sleeves that won’t work for your specific injuries/needs. With the right tools, you can be confident that the choice you make will be the right one.
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RiptGear Weightlifting Knee Sleeve
- Excellent Fit and True Size
- Slip Resitent
- Excellent For Powerlifting
- Excellent For Weightlifting
- Help Support and Stabilize the Knees
- Excellent Knee Sleeves for Squats
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🇺🇸 Corporate Headquarters in USA
"I have bone on bone in my knee. This brace works great when my knee starts hurting. Highly recommended for knee issues...they’ve helped very much...at the gym. Great support.
Jessie J. RiptGear Customer, October 3, 2020
Testimonial has been edited for brevity and grammar.
Best Gym Knee Sleeves Availability
The best knee sleeves come in sizes XS, S, M, L, and XL. We found that there are plenty of lifting knee sleeve sizes to choose from similar to Inzer knee sleeves.