Tradies spend much of their time getting down and dirty on the job – from fitting floors and installing pipes to fixing wires inside a cramped roof space. With these kinds of jobs placing a lot of weight on your knees and joints, there’s a good chance that you’ll encounter commonplace injuries ranging from painful bruises to bursitis and osteoarthritis if you don’t find a way to protect yourself.
Although every tradie loves to act tough on the worksite, there’s no shame in purchasing some handy knee and joint protective gear that’s going to help you get through the day and feel ready to go tomorrow. If you don’t want to end up chatting to the doctor at some point in the near future, finding out what gear makes sense for your job is a smart decision.
That’s why we’ve selected a few high-quality products designed to protect your knees and joints. Just as you need a hard hat and a solid pair of boots to get on the worksite, owning these products will keep you fighting fit no matter the project.
Advice for Buying Knee and Joint Protection
If you’ve made the decision to purchase knee and joint protection, you’ve done yourself a massive favour. But to ensure you make the right choice for your needs, you must consider a few important factors before handing over the cash.
Products that support your knees and joints aren’t going to be any good if they don’t fit properly. Although you don’t want them to become loose as you’re trying to scoot around the worksite, having a product that’s too tight will leave you uncomfortable and lacking in mobility. Therefore, you should favour knee guards with the ideal design for your job and adjustable straps so you can hold them in place.
Durability is the next aspect you have to consider. If you’re the kind of tradie that puts lots of hard yards on their knee pads every day, purchasing the sturdiest gear possible will likely deliver the best results in terms of longevity and comfort. However, if you only need them for a few different jobs, a leaner product might be the more suitable choice.
Every good tradesperson knows that cheaping out on your tools is rarely a good idea. The same can be said for your protective gear, with ultra-budget options unlikely to deliver the kind of protection that a professional needs. With your long-term health at stake, don’t ignore the importance of your safety equipment.
Our Favourite Knee Pads and Joint Protection Gear
Now that we’ve handed over some quick advice, here are our favourite knee pads and joint protection to ensure tradies across the industry remain healthy on the job.
NoCry Professional Knee Pads
NoCry Professional Knee Pads are as tough and comfortable as they come without costing you an arm and a leg. With a clever, tight-fitting design with the help of some handy elastic bands, you won’t find these coming loose no matter how long you spend on your knees. Leaving you with plenty of mobility to bend and stretch, these knee pads also feature abrasion-resistant caps, a heavy-duty poly shield and a soft gel core to provide great protection.
Recoil Knee Pads
Protective gear doesn’t come much smarter than Recoil Knee Pads. Featuring a cleverly conceived suspension system that keeps you feeling fresh on your knees, the brand claims that this modern solution reduces pressure on the knees by up to 76%. Meanwhile, they also feature super soft straps and high-density EVA foam to offer tradies awesome support. If you’re bound to spend prolonged days on your knees, this might be the perfect choice for you.
Klein Tools Tradesman Pro Knee Pads
The Klein Tools Tradesman Pro Knee Pads are designed specifically for tradies who do heavy-duty work. Made from ultra-strong 600D polyester with five layers of impact-resistant material, these are ideal for those working on rough worksites that are certain to push your gear to the limits. Whether you’re a builder, a roofer or a sparkie, find out how these stand up to the job.
ProKnee 0714 Custom Professional Knee Pads
For high-level professionals, the ProKnee 0714 Custom Professional Knee Pads are considered some of the best in the business. Although they have a remarkably lightweight design, the custom fit and thoughtful shock-absorption technology ensures your joints remain incredibly protected on the worksite. Despite being the dearest product on this list, those who require maximum protection won’t mind the price tag.
Take Charge of Business with FieldPulse
Protective gear is an essential part of being a tradie, but so is the way you organise your business. Fortunately, FieldPulse’s robust business management app puts you in control of the things that matter most, as you can schedule jobs, process invoices, message clients, direct your team and much more. Schedule a free demo with FieldPulse to discover how you can do things smarter, not harder.
