Skiing is one of the most fun winter activities you can do this winter. But as on any form of exercise, injury is possible. In the worst case scenario, they can lead to lifelong disability.
There are some factors that can contribute to strained or injured knees when skiing. For instance, if you have not been physically active for a long period of time, your knees may be unaccustomed to the harsh activities. Or you could be playing on hard snow or awkwardly.
This 2nd Knee Brace (Knee Sleeve) is built to support the knee, and it is especially made for downhill skiing, snowboarding, and general winter sports.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Patella Strap Knee Brace Support | Best Overall |  |
| Knee Brace | Budget Pick |  |
| DonJoy Performance Bionic Fullstop ACL Knee Brace | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Patella Strap Knee Brace Support
Pros:
- Stabilizes your knee
- Improves your end range of motion
- Velcro makes it simple to adjust to get the perfect fit
Cons:
- Difficult to tuck into shorts if you are wearing skimpy biking bibs
- The holes for your legs are quite large
If you are looking for a knee brace to use when you are exercising, you need to look at this product that comes with flexible straps that are strong enough to support your joints for better mobility.
This product is good for preventing injury while you are doing CrossFit, walking, running, or any activity that relies on your knee’s stability. It’s a two pack that allows you to wear a brace on both knees and you get a 32% discount.
The patella knee strap helps reduce pain by increasing the compression around the knee joint. It’s ease of use means you can wear it while you are doing sports or walking.
2. Rehband Rx Knee Support 5mm
Pros:
- Comfortable compression sleeve
- Can be used to calm and soothe
- Good for extending range of motion
- Designed to reduce pain and promote faster healing
- Sturdy and well-made
- Very affordable for a medical grade brace
Cons:
- Any brace may be too tight if it’s the wrong size
- Some users said that it doesn’t have much give in it, so it’s not great for strenuous hobbies like running
The Rehband Rx supports arthritis and osteo-arthritis patients and protects sensitive knees. It’s also a great brace for daily stability and support.
For activities that require a lot of motion during repetitive activities or sports, this brace is built to stabilize your knees and even allow you to move easier. It’s also suitable for light workouts and movement.
The design of this brace centers on the patella and provides pain relief, allowing you to move and exercise more easily.
3. Bauerfeind Sports Knee Support
If you suffer from knee pain whether you are active or not this brace will provide you with a lot of support and comfort. It is more durable than traditional supports allowing it to be used during various sports as well as during everyday life. You will also appreciate the comfort provided for extra support.
This product is great for athletes or for those who don’t exercise regularly but suffer from arthritis or other knee problems.
4. Knee Brace
Pros:
- The knee brace can be adjusted to fit almost any leg size
- It features dual-adjusting velcro straps that hold the brace in place and help to reduce pain
- It comes with two extra pairs of calf straps in case you lose or damage them
- The knee brace applies a compression that helps to improve blood circulation
- The knee brace minimizes pain and swelling regardless of age and athletic ability
- It comes with 2 patella gel pads designed to hold the kneecap in place
- The knee brace covers the patella therefore protecting it from harm and exposure to material
- The knee brace is ideal for both medical and athletic usage
- It is reusable and waterproof
- It is available in small, medium, and larger sizes
And Pain Relief during Runners, Wod or Workout.
5. Knee Brace Compression Sleeve
Pros:
- Very effective knee compression sleeves
- Many sizes of knee sleeves for a great fit
- Unlike many sleeves, the sleeve is fully breathable
- It’s a one-size-fits-all; which means you can easily pick this for your child
- With the adjustable strap, you can adjust for a tighter fit
- It comes with a 30-day return guarantee and 90-day warranty
Cons:
- After wearing the sleeve for long periods of time, it’s imperative you wash your knee with cold water
- Some users are concerned that it can inhibit their tendons
This product is used for knee pain caused by too much running, walking, basketball, cross-fit, jogging, ACL tear, arthritis, and more. It can be used on men and women, and the elbow sleeve can be used on elbow pain and tennis elbow. The two compression sleeves included can be worn with or without clothing.
This sleeve is effective at providing warmth, compression, support, and pain relief for your knee and tennis elbow.
6. EzyFit Knee Brace Support
Pros:
- You can wear this brace under your clothes
- Knit fabric is soft, lightweight, and dries pretty quickly
- Breathable fabric
- Provides good knee support, and ¡¤reinforces the patella tendon, ¡¤gives your joint warm, ¡¤supports the load
Cons:
- This brace doesn’t work very well for people with weak knees
- Brace doesn’t offer much support for the ankles
- You cannot wear knee braces during sports that require a lot of movement, like basketball or football. You will have to wear it a day or two before and after playing sports
Great for Bicycle, Hiking, Camping, Work, Running, Gym, Crossfit.
The comfy EzyFit knee brace is everything you need for a good knee brace for skiing. The soft and breathable knit fabric that can help reduce the chafe. The wrap brace is easy to wear but can still give you the support that you need.
Its buckle and strap allow you to adjust the fit to suit your knee size. The Knee Brace for skiing allows you to avoid more serious injuries and keep playing ski for longer.
7. Neo G Knee Brace
Pros:
- Durable and ergonomic design
- Stabilizes the knee and helps with relieving arthritis and joint pain
- Adjustable compression
- Knee brace is fully lined with neoprene
- Removable lumbar pad
- Uses strong Velcro straps for a secure fit
- A quality device supported by a lifetime guarantee
- The comfortable material helps maintain your body temperature and keeps your knees supported
Cons:
- The material is rather stiff; and will take some time to loosen up
- There is no way to adjust the knee brace when you have it on
The Neo-G Knee Brace is designed to stabilize your knee joint and provide relief from inflammation and pain. The brace is ideal for people who suffer from arthritis, osteoarthritis, joint pain, knee injuries or knee surgery.
The brace is designed to relieve knee pain and support the quadriceps muscle. A mesh material in the brace increases air circulation and prevents knee brace odor.
The brace helps you move comfortably and helps prevent and relieve knee pain. You can wear the brace for several hours a day and for many days in a row. It is also suitable for both men and women.
8. Hinged Knee Brace: Shock Doctor Maximum Support Compression Knee Brace
Pros:
- 4 adjustable straps
- Breathable fabric
- Lightweight
- Washable
- Suitable for a variety of knee conditions
- Metal hinges
- More sturdy than higher-end braces
Cons:
- Can feel bulky
- No instructions (as in some knee braces)
- Can require a bit of wiggling to get secured properly
Some of the things that we noticed when we were kneeing the brace for the first time was that it was a little tighter than some of the other braces we had worn. However, this meant that it didn’t take much to get it secured properly. Once secure, it didn’t restrict the range of motion at all.
If you have a bit more money to spend on your brace, you will probably enjoy the extra comfort that you will get when you up your budget.
Some of the other brands seem to think that when they produce a compression knee brace, that it’s their job to make it as uncomfortable and as tight as possible. That’s just wrong.
9. DonJoy Performance Bionic Fullstop ACL Knee Brace
Pros:
- It provides level 4 control and coverage of the knee joint
- Available for both left and right knees
- Ventilated air management system
- This knee brace has a dual anti-migration design
- Available in three sizes: small, medium and large
Cons:
- It’s not cheap!
And ACL Knee Injuries.
10. Donjoy Armor Action Knee Brace
Pros:
- Ideal for use by the recreational user, the active person, and the athlete
- Helps to provide full support to the knee
- Features a firm shell that helps relieve the pain of a damaged knee
- Has stabilizing foams that benefit the use of the knee when the user is active
- Fits well and gives a comfortable experience
- Easy to use when you pair it with a sleeve that comes in the pack
- Is made with a light and porous liner material that improves air flow to the knee
- Has straps that help the user get a firm fit
- Is available in different sizes
- Provides the user with a good warm up before using their knee heavily
Cons:
- The brace might prove to be a little too tight for most people.
The Donjoy Armor Action Knee Brace is the product you need if you want to protect your knee against injury and get back into the game. It is used by athletes and the everyday user alike to help the wearer preserve their knee.
This product provides maximum support with its light and porous inner lining for better air circulation. The straps on the brace help provide the user with a firm fit and the firm shell helps to relieve the pain of a knee injury.
You should consider this product the next time you need to relieve knee pain and enable the user to continue their activity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do knee braces help skiing?
Knee braces can be a big help when you have a knee injury or you’re recovering from surgery. You can use them before, during and after an injury.
A knee brace will help you avoid straining your knee, and protect it from future injury. They’re particularly helpful if you suffer from chondromalacia patella or patellofemoral pain syndrome.
When your brace is on correctly it takes some of the pressure of your knee during areas of inflammation. This can really help to propel you while skiing and avoid any injury while you are on the slopes.
Can you ski if you have bad knees?
Uneven terrain, bumps and powder can all take a toll on bad knees and make skiing difficult or even painful. It’s still possible to hit the slopes if you use the right equipment. A knee brace that’s specially designed for skiing can help you feel more secure on the mountain, and make the slopes easier to navigate.
How do I strengthen my knees for skiing?
Knee pain and injuries are unfortunately a common issue while skiing. However, there are a few exercises you can do that will help build up your muscles in your quadriceps and knees.
Warmup: Run on the tops of your feet and gradually run deeper into the heel of your foot. This will help strengthen your knee joints and muscles. Do this for about 5 minutes.
Heel Drop: While still running on the tops of your feet, drop your heels to the ground and stabilize. Quickly lift your foot back up to the tops of your feet. Repeat for another 5 minutes.
Heel Drop: Now that you’ve warmed up, repeat the heel drops exercise, but this time put your weight into the heel of your foot. Repeat for another 5 minutes.
Who makes the best knee brace?
There are many options available and more coming out each year! Look for a brace that is designed to support your knee while allowing you full range of motion. When trying them on, they should extend just above the knee and should be comfortably snug, but not too tight. It’s also important to select a brace that features an adjustable hinge. This will ensure the best support and comfort.
Conclusion
These ski-specific braces protect your knee joints and improve your performance by reducing the amount of pain you feel while skiing. We also suggest that you wear some good quality knee protection that also includes a hygienic material.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Patella Strap Knee Brace Support | Best Overall | |
| Knee Brace | Budget Pick | |
| DonJoy Performance Bionic Fullstop ACL Knee Brace | Upgrade Pick | |