Knee Protection Options: Out of the Box

Knee protection.  This is one of those things that is so easy to say, "Meh - no big deal"...until you bash up your knee.  Then you see how vital it is.  That said, we all know that there are a huge variety of tactical knee pads out there - Blackhawk, 5.11, and on the less-costly end Hatch and others like it.  But what about looking in a place most people don't think: Lowes. 

"Wait!  Not buy it from 5.11 or LA Police Gear or some other tactical supplier?"  Well, think about this.  The guys who use some of these knee pads are often doing flooring or other construction jobs that keep them on their knees for a good part of the day.  So if anyone know about what protects your knees, maybe we should ask the guys who need knee pads the most.  Let's at least check some options out, shall we?

First up - these guys.

These are the AWP Non-marring foam knee pads.  First off, they are foam - solid and firm, but foam.  So if you are in a setting that your knee pads are going to get torn up easily, be aware.  That said, Lowe's carries them for $15.

They come in a mesh bag for carrying.  And here's what they look like out of the bag.
To me, the two most important part of the knee pads are 1 - how do they work in protecting my knees, and 2 - how do they attach to my legs.  It's great if they are bullet-proof, but if they fall off, it doesn't matter if they are made of kevlar - they don't help me.

Here's how these guys attach to your legs.  Clip it up, and then pull the strap tight.  Simple but for the best result, you'll need to pull it tight and then tie it off so that it doesn't run free and get loose.

Option #2 - the AWP non-marrying rubber knee pads.  Cost is $23.As you can tell by looking they are more solid and bulkier than the first pair.

A few advantages of these guys - there is gel inside knee pad.  That will allow your knee to shift after you plant your weight, but it also gives you much more comfort.  The straps attach easily (see below) and can be taken off to replace if they ever break.  The one really cool thing about these are that the attachment method is very secure - once you click it in, it's not going to move much on you at all.

Last up, these guys are the AWP Plastic non-marring knee pads.  When you look at them, you'll probably see that these look the most like your basic tactical knee pads.  These run around $16.

The main advantage of these pads is that they have a hard front.  These guys are going to hold up to getting beat up if you are regularly bashing your knees into very hard or sharp surfaces.

As you can see, these attach much like the first ones.  Clip and pull.  Down-side: they may loosen up over time and usage.

Some conclusions:
- The colors are not so tactical - you can paint them
- Think about your use - can you use something that is softer out front?  Yes or no?
- Size them up before you buy them - make sure they fit over your BDUs or pants
- Think about elbow pads - maybe those are the next move for you.

- Carp