Knee Pads

For tradie work, go for heavy duty knee pads with a hard shell or TPU cap and gel or foam cushioning, plus adjustable straps that do not cut into the back of the knee. If you move around a lot on your knees, pads with swivel wheels save effort on smooth floors.

Flooring and tiling mean hours on hard surfaces, so cushioning matters most. Gel and foam work pads or professional TPU construction knee pads suit this well. Pick a soft or non-marking cap if you are working on finished floorboards, and a hard shell for rough concrete.

Yes. Gardening knee pads are usually softer neoprene, sponge or memory foam, lighter to wear and easy to hose off. Work pads are bulkier with hard caps for rough surfaces. For gardening you can also use a garden kneeler, which flips over to become a seat.

They help on smooth, flat floors where you move side to side a lot, such as flooring or under bench work, because you roll rather than shuffle. They are less useful outdoors on grass or gravel, where a standard pad or kneeler is a better fit.

Volleyball players usually wear lighter compression or honeycomb knee pads that protect against floor impact without limiting movement. Some sets include arm guards with thumb holes. Choose your size from the product options and make sure the pad sits over the kneecap when you squat.

They should sit over the centre of the kneecap and stay there when you kneel, stand and walk. Straps should be firm but not tight enough to leave marks or cut circulation. If a pad keeps slipping, tighten the top strap first or try a pad with two straps.