Squats are some of the most common and basic workouts both for men and women. There are even a lot of variations to work the core, leg muscles, and glutes. However, the form is crucial. Today, we will be discussing knee sleeves, and we will be reviewing some of the best knee sleeves for squats you can try out there.
Some people think that the number repetitions is the most important aspect. But the doing the correct form is what makes a workout very effective. This is where knee sleeves for squats come into the picture.
Knee sleeves gives your joints the support they need to stay in place, and also helps blood circulation. This is all due to the compression it it exerts on your knee.
Better blood circulation means less pain during squatting and faster recovery afterwards. Some thicker knee sleeves, and of course all knee wraps will also help you squat heavier by elastically wanting to return to its position of rest. Thereby helping you when you explode upward during squatting.
Product Name | Quality | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 #1. Nodric Support and Compression Knee Sleeves | |||
 #2. Mava Knee Wraps (Pair) | |||
 #3. iDofit Knee Sleeves Support & Compression for Weightlifting, Powerlifting | |||
 # 4. Primal Elite Knee Sleeves | |||
 #5 ProFitness Knee Sleeve Squat Support and Compression for Powerlifting | B+ |
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2019's Best Knee Sleeves For Squats
Knee Braces versus Knee Sleeves
A lot of people mistake knee braces for knee sleeves or vice versa. This is perfectly natural. However, it would be very helpful to know the difference between the two and what they are actually for.
Knee Braces
Knee braces are usually used for people with knee problems or knee injuries. They are meant to correct or fix these issues. But then, it is quite the opposite for knee sleeves.
Knee sleeves aren’t intended to fix any knee problems or correct knee alignments of some sort for physical injury.
However, there is still one more knee accessory you might mistake for a knee sleeve or knee brace. These are the big brother of knee sleeves, called knee wraps. knee wraps are most commonly used for powerlifting, Unlike knee sleeves, which are used for weightlifting, squats or working out in general.
Knee Wraps
They help weightlifters lift heavier weights by minimizing stress and pulling force from the quadricep tendon. You can learn more about the differences between wraps, sleeves and braces and when to use them from our in-depth comparison post.
For the serious powerlifters, we decided to include one pair of knee wraps in this
Knee sleeves are similar to compression pants. They provide compression especially around the knee area to improve the flow of blood circulation. Although aside from this, there are so much more benefits to wearing knee sleeves than just compression.
We will also be listing these benefits below.
Advantages Of Wearing Knee Sleeves
Squats aren’t delicate except if you do it with weights, dumbbells or barbells. This is the reason people skip out on it. There are different kinds and sizes of knee sleeves, all of which still provide the same advantages.
Now, before you go on ignoring the best knee sleeves for squats, here are some more of the benefits wearing knee sleeves can give you:
They Protect You From Knee Injuries
Though knee sleeves might not fix injuries, they can protect you from knee injuries. They minimize injuries because of the compression. Better blood flow or circulation helps aid to the faster recovery of your knees.
It also keeps your knees, muscles, and joints from incurring too much stress, pressure or damage as you do strenuous activities.
They Can Reduce Pain And Swelling After An Intense Workout
The increased flow of blood and improved blood circulation also helps reduce any pain or swelling you might feel after your workout. This is because knee sleeves limit patella movement and add warmth to your knees.
The less excessive movement from your patella, the less pressure and stress your knees will incur. It also helps save up energy from getting used up unnecessarily. The increase in warmth can also help reduce swelling in your muscles.
They Provide Lateral Stability
Now, this is a vital aspect in reducing injuries. Lateral stability is crucial among adults or older people. Because the older you become, the less lateral stability you have.
Without lateral stability, you are more likely to get injured even in the most basic workout routines.
It can also affect your overall form when executing a workout. Although there are exercises you can do to provide lateral stability, knee sleeves do an efficient way of accomplishing this too.
They Increase Proprioception
The concept of proprioception is similar to how blind, or deaf people (or blindfolded people, in a much simpler sense) are more sensitive to their body’s movements. Wearing knee sleeves increase a person’s proprioception.
It increases your capacity to feel the position of your joints which is sensed by the central nervous system. This will help you feel if you are straining your joints too much already or if there is something wrong with your form.
Best Knee Sleeves For Squats: Our 5 Picks
Product Name | Quality | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
#1. Nodric Support and Compression Knee Sleeves | |||
#2. Mava Knee Wraps (Pair) | |||
#3. iDofit Knee Sleeves Support & Compression for Weightlifting | |||
# 4. Primal Elite Knee Sleeves | |||
#5 ProFitness Knee Sleeve - Squat Support and Compression |
#1. Nordic Lifting's Support & Compression Knee Sleeve
Nordic Lifting’s knee sleeves support & compression is a 7mm neoprene sleeve is specifically designed for powerlifting workouts like squats and deadlifts.
The knee sleeves focus on muscle recovery along with injury prevention which makes this ideal for any heavy lifter.
Moreover, Nordic Lifting’s product is a lot cheaper compared to other brands out there. The material is thick and powerfully built, which allows it to warm your knees to ease any lingering ache.
Note for CrossFitters: Depending on how much running and free movement your training requires, you may want to go for a 5 mm sleeve. Thick sleeves are for lifts.
Our Rating:
What We Like:
- You get a free 1-year replacement guarantee
- Ergonomic design gives you supreme comfort and perfect fitting
- Offers the right warmth to cater to your knees’ tendons and ligaments
- Its thickness provides exceptional support to your knees
What We Didn't Like:
- Lacks support if you are doing heavyweight squatting
- Stitches might loosen up sometimes
#2. Mava Knee Wraps (Pair)
Mava Sports Knee Wraps is made out of high-quality elastic material that gives you both comfort and support. It’s 72” wrap can be used for multiple purposes such as a sleeve, or band.
This product makes use of a unique hook closure to avoid getting any loose ends. This is made possible by adjustable hooks paired with the loops.
This knee wrap will provide you with a lot more support than any knee sleeve in this review, you get an elastic spring sensation when you come up, that should help you go heavier and be more explosive while squatting!
If you’re looking for a little variety, this knee wrap comes in multiple colors to choose from!
Our Rating:
What We Like:
- Made from high-performance, elastic fabric
- Designed to have superior comfort
- Perfect for heavy squats and powerlifting
- Hoop and loop design keeps it secure at all times
What We Didn't Like:
- Can be untucked at times
- Takes longer to put on and adjust than a pull-over knee sleeve
#3. iDofit Knee Sleeves Support & Compression for Weightlifting, Powerlifting
Similar to our first product, the iDofit knee sleeve support is a neoprene knee sleeve that offers excellent compression. iDofit does a great job by focusing on injury prevention, arthritis, and joint pain relief. So this product works well for older people too.
Although iDofit knee sleeves measure only at 5mm, they can offer the same dexterity like that of a 7mm. This gives you an advantage by getting more reps done with the same amount of intensity for each rep.
As mentioned earlier, CrossFitters should take a look at the 5 mm version, where as powerlifters won't go for anything less than 7 mm.
Our Rating:
What We Like:
- Free replacement guarantee
- Anti-slip fabric
- Therapeutic 3-D design features high-quality stitching to enhance mobility and support durability
- The cheapest sleeves in this review (see price here)
What We Didn't Like:
- May be a bit bulky compared to others
- Stretches out a bit too much over time
#4. Primal Elite Knee Sleeves
Primal Elite’s knee sleeves focus a lot on the longevity of their product. Their sleeves that are designed for squats are 5mm-7mm. Like the other products, it gives you great compression to avoid knee injuries when you’re powerlifting.
The unique part about these sleeves is that they can be used for orthopedic purposes. The knee sleeves are ergonomic which makes it an ideal choice if you’re undergoing knee rehab or if you’re suffering from joint pain like arthritis.
Also, the string bag is a neat extra bonus!
Our Rating:
What We Like:
- Dual function knee sleeve
- Comes with a string bag
- Free lifetime warranty
- The fabric and overall stitching is built to make the sleeve flexible for maximum mobility
What We Didn't Like:
- There could be problems with the seam
- The sizes might be inaccurate
#5 ProFitness Knee Sleeve Squat Support and Compression for Powerlifting
ProFitness’ knee sleeve is another product that heavily focuses on the orthopedic support of their brand. The sleeves you’ll be getting with ProFitness is designed to alleviate pain while also enhancing your squats and heavy workouts.
Although these sleeves are ideal for heavy lifters, it’s a versatile product that can be used by runners, athletes, and even aging people who are looking to continue an active lifestyle.
Our Rating:
What We Like:
- Ergonomic design gives your knees the best comfort and support without loose fitting
- You’ll feel the right amount of heat seep in when you do squats with these sleeves
- One year warranty and comes with a free string bag
What We Didn't Like:
- Can be a bit tight sometimes, might give breathability issues
- Logo is only glued, might fade over time
The Verdict
The Verdict
Each knee sleeve brand has its advantages. However, when deciding the winner for this article, it’ll all boil down to support and comfort. With all that said, the iDofit knee sleeves check these two boxes, but it does more in the process.
Their therapeutic 3-D design and anti-slip fabric give knee sleeves a touch of innovation that you’ll surely benefit from in your squats. Not to mention, this product can quickly transform into a calf support and shin guard as well!
