If you workout and do squats, leg press, deadlifts, leg extensions or any other leg movements like that then you are probably in need of a pair of the best knee wraps on the market today. Perhaps you don’t have knee pain and think that knee wraps are not something you need to worry about, which is somewhat true… but that is until you start experiencing knee pain. If you workout consistently it’s not a matter of if but when you will have some sort of knee pain happen to you and like most things the best time to treat an injury is to try and prevent it from never happening again in the first place. That is why knee wraps are so valuable as they take much needed pressure off your knees when they are already going through intense pressure during heavy leg movements.
Below you will find some information about knee wraps in general and also our review of the top 5 on the market today as we tested over 100 brands and recommend the top 5 to you that are worth your time and money. Enjoy!
Why You Need Knee Wraps For Squats
Did you know that one pound of bodyweight is equivalent to 5 pounds of pressure on your knees? That means if you weight 185 pounds you are walking around with 925 lbs worth of pressure on your knees! That’s before you start doing squats, leg presses, deadlifts, running and anything else. It’s just a matter of time before your knees begin to ache and cause you some issues at some point if proper knee protection is not began early. This is why knee wraps are a must for powerlifters, bodybuilders and anyone that is active to help protect your knees for the long term.
Other than that, knee wraps are also a safety measure giving the knee joint more stability during heavy lifts on top of helping keep the knee joint warm, lubricated and happy. Ask any older powerlifter about knee wraps and they will tell you they wished they had started using them long before they started having knee issues… as they hobble away due to knee replacement surgery.
What To Look For In A Pair Of The Best Knee Wraps
First thing is the comfort. Make sure that your chosen knee wrap won’t fall off your knees. It should not stop you from doing squats and wrapping it back again. Also, it should not hurt your skin.
Another thing to look out for is flexibility. Can it be used for weightlifting, CrossFit, and other activities? If yes, then it is the right one for you.
Take also into consideration the length of the knee wrap. It is needed that knee wraps are used very tightly, because if you don’t – it can be uncomfortable.
How To Use Knee Wraps
5. Mava Sports Knee Wraps
This knee wrap is fitted for both men and women and is available in black, blue, gray, green, orange, red, white, yellow & blue, and yellow. Basically if you want to color coordinate your outfit for your workouts then they’ve got you covered there. These have a hook and loop closure which is something unique in knee wraps as this is not a typical feature. This was ok at times but if you go really tight with your wrap for a heavy lift the velcro does run the risk of coming off during the lift which is not something anyone wants to experience.
These are a solid knee wrap but in our honest opinion there are some better options out there in terms of performance but the thing Mava has that others don’t is the vast array of color combinations.
4. Slingshot Knee Wraps
Mark Bell’s Slingshot is a solid brand in the fitness industry and one that many powerlifters and bodybuilders have come to trust. You can choose these wraps from its two sizes: 2m and 2.5 m so you have some options if you need more length in your wraps which is a nice plus if you need to wrap up a little tight for a heavy lift from time to time.
We really enjoyed these knee wraps as they provide solid support, cool color combos and have enough length for just about any user. The only issue we have with the Slingshot wraps are the same ones we have with any of their products and that is they are just way overpriced as you are mostly buying the name (Mark Bell) for the most part. With that said some people will think they are worth the money but in our opinion the #1 knee wraps in our review are a bit better than these and are a little cheaper than these are. But in terms of the product it’s a great one we don’t have any complaints about the performance.
3. RIM Sports Knee Wraps
This knee wrap offers a different selection of colors: blue, gray, neon green, pink, red, and turquoise, which can be a plus for those wanting to be still in still, even in workouts.
It can improve your knee safety during heavy squatting since it provides exceptional knee support. It gives you 5%-10% increase in how much you can life.
This wrap with Velcro is better because it offers greater protection for your kneecap. What more can you ask for? It can also serve as knee wraps for squats, weightlifting, powerlifting, bodybuilding, CrossFit, and others.
It can give you greater protection because it can stretch out to six feet length!
2. Schiek Knee Wraps
Schiek Knee Wraps have been around for a long time so you know you are getting a solid product from a brand that is solid as they have been around for more than 50 years. These wraps don’t offer much in the way of variety as they only offer black and red colors so if you are looking for something with more of a color offering you will be a bit disappointed in that department. In our tests we found the wraps provided some solid knee support but we did find if you start squatting up in the 350+ range that the support seems to be a little inadequate as it just doesn’t feel as tight as it should. We found also that the stiffness of the wraps broke down a little more than we figured it would after a solid month of using them but keep in mind that a lot of the guys testing these are high level powerlifters that squat in the 500 pound range, so it’s not going to be your everyday use in that weight range.
Bottom line, these are a solid knee wrap for a good price but may leave you wanting a bit more in terms of overall support and longevity.
1. Essential Fitness Knee Wraps
Our top knee wraps of 2017 are the wraps from Essential Fitness. They are one of the newest brands to hit the market but we have been highly impressed with their product offerings since they have hit the market a little over 2 years ago. Their knee wraps are stiff enough to stand up to the heaviest of squats and really hold up to a beating. In fact once we had determined these were our favorites we put them through another month of use and even had some others at the gym use the same pair to see how they did and they didn’t seem to lose any stiffness or support.
We also have to point out that we love the blackout color scheme of these knee wraps and while the color scheme isn’t the top priority obviously it’s a great icing on the cake for sure. If they follow the same blue print that they have with their wrist wraps then we’re sure they will be releasing new color combinations very soon. Bottom line if you are looking for the top knee wraps for squats then look no further than those from Essential Fitness.
Also, do not forget to check out our article on the best knee sleeves as they are another great measure to help protect your knees well.
