If you don’t already know Fitenium is a free, mobile, video-based social network for athletes who train strength or bodyweight exercises. At Fitenium users can follow their performance, compete and get discounts in nutrition and sports equipment stores, for example to buy crossfit knee pads. Download it here.

We have to face it, one of the worst problems you can find in Crossfit is injuries. You can go to the best BOX in the world, with the best coaches, because if you take this discipline seriously and push your body, the injuries will end up arriving. However, there is no need to worry. Injuries are common in practically all sports disciplines in the world and the number of injuries per 1000 hours of training in Crossfit is much lower than in other sports such as football, rugby or strongman. Although according to studies, most Crossfit injuries occur in the shoulders and in the back, we can not forget our knees that also “suffer” significant loadsThey are the third part of our body that gets injured the most and good crossfit knee pads can make the difference between continuing to progress in this discipline or having to live with injuries, discomfort and other problems that slow down our progress.

Why should we use crossfit knee pads?

We must understand that when you load a joint, the weight is not only expressed vertically towards the ground, but also “radiates” out through the soft and connective tissues, mainly tendons and cartilage. The aim of a training knee pad is to compress the joint, reduce this outward force and stabilize the joint.

This is the idea behind the crossfit knee sleeves and it is crucial because of the enormous number of high load exercises that are performed and are usually done at high repetitions and in a state of near failure fatigue. Think, for example, of weightlifting exercises, powerlifting and Crossfit exercises such as Wall Balls or Box Jumps that create pressure on our knee and where stability is important.

How to distinguish good crossfit knee pads

As we mentioned before, in Crossfit there is a high variety of movements that impact our knees of different types of wood. A high but stable load like in a squat, a lower load but with a higher impact like in a Squat Clean or small but constant impacts like in Wall Balls do not create the same effect. That is why crossfit knee pads must be very versatile.

This is why weightlifting knee wraps, while they can be useful for specific WODs, are too harsh for most WODs involving other types of movement or even running. For these reasons, these are the factors to consider when buying the best crossfit knee pads:

• Material: Normally you will find training knee pads made of three different materials: body, with a better level of compression and basically what they do is heat up the joint; neoprene, the most common since they have a medium heat and compression level and the ribbons, which are basically used in powerlifting and we only recommend it for extremely high loads. For Crossfit training, the best material is Neoprene for its versatility, perfect for the variety of Crossfit exercises.
• Durability: Crossfit knee pads should last for years. If in a few months your knee pads are deformed and do not fit well, it is a bad product and it is not fulfilling its function correctly.
• Thickness: the most common measurements are 3mm, 5mm and 7mm, from less to more thickness. Probably the most “all-terrain” size is 5mm, so to do normal WODs it is the one we recommend, since it is useful for a Snatch and then to do box jumps.
• Size: It is important to buy knee pads that fit enough to perform their stabilizing function but that do not compromise movement by being too tight. Especially when buying online, we must know what our size is before buying our crossfit knee pads.
• Design: Who doesn’t love cool crossfit knee pads?

best crossfit knee pads

• Rocktape Assassins knee pads: they are the official ones of the Crossfit Games and stand out for their fair compression, providing stability without compromising freedom of movement. They’re pretty good for low-impact movements like rowing, running, and the like, which can make up for the lack of 3mm crossfit knee pads. Plus, it has some of the best designs on the market. As cons, some complaints are reported about the poor durability of the product and poor customer service.
  Spain: You can buy your Rocktape Assasins knee pads for €44.99 in their official store.
  Colombia: You can buy your Rocktape Assassins knee pads for 280,999 Colombian pesos in Mercadolibre.
  Mexico: You can buy your Rocktape Assassins knee pads for 1,250.00 Mexican pesos in their official store.
  Argentina: You can buy your Rocktape Assassins knee pads for 6,300 Argentine pesos in your Mercadolibre.
  Chile: You can buy your Rocktape Assasins knee pads for 46,000 Chilean pesos in Vurpi.

• Rehband RX knee pads: many professionals such as Josh Bridges, Rich Froning or Camile Le Blanc use this brand, which is why they have positioned themselves as one of the most popular options on the market. Both its durability and its adaptation to many exercises have made it the rival to beat for its current competitors. The Rehband 7mm RX knee sleeves are more specific for weightlifting exercises, while the 5 and 3mm models are more versatile. On the other hand, it might seem that they have a fairly reasonable price, but keep in mind that they are sold individually and not in pairs.
  Spain: You can buy your Rehband RX 5mm knee pads for €26.95 per unit at our partner store Traininn.
  Colombia: You can buy your Rehband RX 5mm knee pads for 230,900 Colombian pesos in Mercadolibre.
  Mexico: You can buy your Rehband RX 5mm knee pads for 688 Mexican pesos at Iron Equipment Mexico.
  Argentina: You can buy your Rehband RX 5mm knee pads for 2,199 Argentine pesos at Boxfit.
  Chile: You can buy your Rehband RX 5mm knee pads for 58,637 Chilean pesos in Mercado Libre.

• Banbroken 5mm knee pads: another national company that is making a name for itself in this highly competitive market. Their product is more focused on versatility, which is why they only have 5mm knee pads. They stand out for their spectacular designs and good durability, although sometimes it is reported that they are not as comfortable as other options.
  You can buy your Banbroken Knee Pads for €38.75 in its official store.
• Shock Doctor Knee Compression knee pads: Shock Doctor has surprised us with some crossfit knee pads that stand out for their non-slip silicone coating that create the most comfortable knee pad on the market. Maybe it is not as technical for Crossfit as the other crossfit knee pads that we discussed, but if you do some other sport like basketball in addition to WODs it can be a very interesting option. Our collaborator Traininn, where you can get up to a 10% discount on your purchases, has excellent post-sale serviceSpain: You can buy your Shock Doctor Knee Compression 5mm knee pads for €26.95 per unit at our partner store traininn.
  Colombia: You can buy your Shock Doctor Knee Compression 5mm knee pads for 125,900 Colombian pesos in Mercadolibre.
  Mexico: You can buy your Rehband RX 5mm knee pads for 619 Mexican pesos at Score.
  Chile: You can buy your Rehband RX 5mm knee pads for 31,899 Chilean pesos in Mercado Libre.

*Tip for #fiteniers: anyone who has been to a Box knows that knee pads end up causing quite unpleasant pain over time. However, it is not recommended to put crossfit knee pads in the washing machine if we want to optimize their durability. Instead, we recommend soaking the knee pads and leaving them overnight in the freezer. In this way, the vast majority of bacteria that the knee brace has and that are causing this unpleasant odor will die and we will have solved the problem.

Final comments

The crossfit market has grown a lot in recent years, which has a positive and a negative part. On the negative side, there are more reasons to create imitation and/or low-quality products indicating that they are for crossfit, with which athletes are the ones who suffer the consequences of this low quality. But on the other hand, there is also more reason for innovation and the search for new designs and materials that improve the experience in WODs. Take advantage of the high-quality offer on the market and don’t be afraid to invest a few tens of euros in a product that, if well cared for, should last you for years.

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