Best MMA Knee Pads 2022

Practising mixed martial arts exposes your body to several injuries and a lot of them can occur on your knees. As such, protecting your knees is as important as protecting your hands with MMA gloves or your elbows with elbow pads.

Many combat sports athletes have had to call time on their careers early, due to knee injuries. Even if you get a knee injury that isn’t quite that dramatic, it could still lead to lengthy layoffs, or even surgery. This not only means delaying your MMA development, but it could leave you a shadow of your former self, dashing any dreams you had of becoming a UFC Champion.

Injuries can happen in many ways, perhaps you take a nasty oblique kick from an opponent, or you land badly on your knee and hear a loud crack. 

With the correct knee pads, you protect yourself from knee injuries of any nature. Proper pads will also help you recuperate faster when you are coming back from an injury. While in the market for knee pads, you will find many options based on the model, style, sizes, and comfort. Let’s explore more features you can find in the best MMA knee pads.

Material

They are made from different materials such as polyurethane foam, polyethene foam, nylon foam, neoprene foam, PVC foam, rubber, plastic, and gel, among others. The materials will also be different in various parts of the knee pads, such as the closures, the padding, and the sleeves. You must carefully assess them during your purchase and determine the most favourable ones for your knee situation. For example, if you intend to alleviate pain in the pressure joints, then gel knee pads could be impractical.

Style and Design

The style and design of knee pads differ in features, functions and support. You can get slip-on pads or a wrap around pad. The slip on is the easiest one to wear as you slide it onto your knee. On the other hand, the wrap-around knee pad allows you to wrap it either on the knee’s front or back. When choosing the right pads for MMA activities, your main focus should be on getting the perfect fit and support.

Durability

The durability of the knee pads is dependent on a few factors such as the quality, the frequency of use, and the material. In order for you to get durable knee pads for MMA, you should carefully assess these three stats and obtain reviews from other users. After reading the reviews, you have a better shot at knowing the quickest knee pads to wear and those that will serve you durably. The level of maintenance that you give to your pads also determines their longevity.

Breathability

Are they breathable? Breathable pairs will absorb sweat so that the pads do not stink. To know if the material is breathable, you can first check the amount of light that passes through it and whether it stretches.

Cost

Knee pads vary in cost. Factors such as the brand, comfort, protection, and added features affect the cost. If they are made from superior material, there are chances that you will pay more than the regular materials. In order to get the best price, you can check on different providers’ websites and assess the available options regarding your budget.  Hint: do not go for the lowest priced knee pads as the quality could be compromised. While you get what you pay for, the highest prices do not always translate into quality. Prioritise quality over budget in order to get the best knee pads for your MMA activities.

Size

There is nothing as bad as wearing the wrong sized knee pads. They expose you to more dangers in the cage. If you wear tight knee pads, they restrict blood flow in your body and could hugely interfere with your movements. You begin to get numb knees, and this could also contribute to varicose veins.

Alternatively, wearing loose-fitting ones will require that you constantly adjust them while in the cage, which wastes too much time. Get the correct fit by using the provider’s size chart on the website. If you are buying from a physical shop, you must have a fitting session and know what works best for you in terms of size.

Comfort

Are they comfortable? How you feel wearing these pads on the knees should also be a major consideration for you. After fitting the knee pads, watch closely for how you feel when wearing them. They should fit properly and leave no irritations on your skin. If you cannot move your knees when wearing them, then you should reconsider your options. The knee pads should enhance your performance and not reduce it.

Closure

What kind of closures do you want your knee pads to have? The most available types are pullover, where you have to pass your foot through them and pull upwards. You can choose the hook-and-look closure knee pads, sleeves, or the Velcro closure knee pads. The choice you make is dependent on your personal preferences and tastes.

Protection

What level of protection do you desire from the knee pads? While the knee pads are all for MMA, some are most suitable for the training sessions, while others are for the actual cage fight. If you require more protection, you can get the knee pads with extra padding, foam, rubber, carbon fibre, plastic and other shock-absorbing qualities.

Additional Features

Do you have particular features that you desire from the knee pads? While black is a universal colour, some people have personal colour preferences. If you need other features, you should contact your provider and have the personalisation made.

Conclusion

Whether you want the knee pads for protection or to help you heal from a previous injury, you must get the correct ones. Not only do they boost your confidence in MMA, but they also enhance your stability in the cage. By assessing the aspects above, you are better positioned to make better MMA pads choices. Get that set to upgrade your performance in the ring.