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This weekend I was doing DIY and ended up spending around 5hrs solid yesterday kneeling on hard wooden floors.
This morning, it feels like I have broken both my knees and standing up/ crouching & walking is fun to say the least. I'm sure I was in less pain after my last marathon.
As I only managed half the job this weekend, I'll likely be doing the same again next weekend - this time I want protection for my knees. Having a look on amazon etc it seems I have two options - standalone knee pads or work troos / dungarees with pockets for them to built into?
Is there real distinction between the two and what is the best for protecting your knees? Do the strap on knee pads get uncomfortable for long periods? - do the straps dig in or the pads rotate round?
Similarly, any recommendations for work troos / dungarees with them built in / pockets that accommodate them?
How I feel today is no joke and want to avoid injuring myself again.
Thanks!
Personal preference but I’ve always preferred trousers with slots for knee pads: no fiddling and adjusting of straps and sleeves if you’re getting up and down a lot.
I use an old pair of 661 soft knee pads so separates for me I suppose. I can't really claim it's a preference other than that I had them already but they've the advantage over built-ins in that they'll work with shorts...
Personal preference but I’ve always preferred trousers with slots for knee pads: no fiddling and adjusting of straps and sleeves if you’re getting up and down a lot.
This.
Cheap 'Scruffs' trousers are about 15 years old now, I just chuck old Karrimat in the knee area.
I wear Dassy trousers with the knee pad pockets. I've had other cheaper trousers where the knee pads were too low. I like the knee pads being part of the trousers as they are always there but you hardly notice them when walking about.
Go with built in pockets for knee pads. Get baggy / regular legged trousers, I bought some DeWalt ones which I didn't realise were slim fit, they fit fine but once you put the knee pads in they're a right PITA to get the trousers on and off.
Trousers with removable pads are great. The problem is if you do it a lot the knees wear through, but in those instances its a bit of work wear, and is offset against tax, so its not a prob just one of these expendable items like tools or boots. Using occasionally it would take years to wear through.
Outer pads, the big chunky things with the plastic cap are a bit uncomfortable to work in, theres no give, and you kind of rock about on them with only really a single position to get the benefit. in that you need to kneel on that cap, so does feel a bit unnatural, they also slip and you can sweat behind them so can cause chaffing.
Of the two, for the occasional user I'd think the trouser type would be better. The trousers come with multiple pockets, so you can have lots of spots to put the occasionally used tools - screwdriver, hammer hook, drill clip etc so good up a ladder without a bulky and cumbersome tool belt. Hardwearing enough too, for in the garden or home workshop so for home user they'll last years, and you can easily leave the pads out for jobs you aren't kneeling down.
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Years I was doing the foredeck of my mates racing boat, which involved a fair bit of kneeling down on the hard deck and the knees always suffered. When I got new overtrousers, I picked a set of Musto offshore that had the same closed cell foam in the knee(and bum) area and it was night and day. You could drop to your knees and it actually made it all a whole lot more pleasant.
Thanks all - just ordered a set of Uvex dungarees with pockets for knee protection.
Hopefully they do the job when I have to finish the job I started and save myself from this agony!
I'm also in favor of trousers with pads in but I also get a lot of use out of something like this, especially if I've started something and can't be bothered to go back and change my pants just for 10 minutes of knee protection.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ohuhu-Kneeling-Comfortable-Gardening-Different/dp/B083FLDZWD/
EDIT: ********* automatic amazon preview link, try searching for this instead "Ohuhu-Kneeling-Comfortable-Gardening-Different" (or just kneeling pad/cushion)
I prefer either an old pair of Kyle Strait 661 pads if wearing shorts or an old blanket/bit of packaging to kneel on.
Find the knee pads in the trousers always end up covering my shins and not my knees. Maybe I'm a short arse.
I'm with bigginge, those matts are ace if its just a quickie.
those matts are ace if its just a quickie.
Certainly less carpet burns...