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KneePads for the OffWidth Aficianado

Original Post
Said Parirokh · · Bend, OR · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 685

Planning on doing a lot of the awful & Chimney in the next few months. What are the best knee pads to use for this activity? Wrestler's knee pads, Volleyball knee pads, no Knee Pads?

Will S · · Joshua Tree · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 1,061

Neoprene sleeves under the pants.

Said Parirokh · · Bend, OR · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 685
Will S wrote:Neoprene sleeves under the pants.
With closed or open patella?
Marc H · · Longmont, CO · Joined May 2007 · Points: 265

Thick pants.

Woodchuck ATC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 3,280

I've seen construction ones with hard plastic kneecap protection, used on big walls. Usually taped in place over the pants. For chimneys though, I'd go with the v-ball ones at least, taped in place a bit low to protect the shin more than the full bent knee.

Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0

You got to do them in style, short 70's running shorts and no shirt...

claytown · · Boulder, CO · Joined Sep 2006 · Points: 1,210
Said wrote:Planning on doing a lot of the awful & Chimney in the next few months. What are the best knee pads to use for this activity? Wrestler's knee pads, Volleyball knee pads, no Knee Pads?
I'll come with ya bro. Outta town Sept 1 - 14 but after that... all fall is a good time to OW it up
Will S · · Joshua Tree · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 1,061
Said wrote: With closed or open patella?
No patella hole, obviously. You don't want volleyball or other styles that have a lump of padding on the front. While that style is fine for wider chimneys, it sucks for actual OW or squeeze. The padding part will either hang or prevent you getting your knee in, make knee locking funky if you can get it in, and get pushed around off your patella in tight squeezes.

I actually use neoprene elbow brace sleeves as my knee pads as they are a little shorter overall than the knee versions, but I've got pretty skinny legs and the LG elbow ones work for me.
Said Parirokh · · Bend, OR · Joined Nov 2008 · Points: 685
Clayton Laramie wrote: I'll come with ya bro. Outta town Sept 1 - 14 but after that... all fall is a good time to OW it up
Hell Yeah, Get back from Yosemite on Sept 17th. So let's hook up then.

Will S wrote: I actually use neoprene elbow brace sleeves as my knee pads as they are a little shorter overall than the knee versions, but I've got pretty skinny legs and the LG elbow ones work for me.
Do you find knee joint mobility is affected at all?
rgold · · Poughkeepsie, NY · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 526

BITD we all just wrapped our knees with 3" or 4" ace bandages. Not as much padding as neoprene sleeves and certainly not as much as kneepads but better mobility and less joint enlargement (a number of people cut 4" ace bandages in half and used a half on each knee for an even slimmer, but also less padded, profile.

Kneepads are good for back-and-knee chimneys but maybe not so good for anything narrower.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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