Last Updated on Nov 12, 2022
While working, welders often have to kneel on the ground to ensure that their welding joints have no gaps between them. In doing so, it is common for welders to end up with dusty pants and darkened or bruised knees. Luckily, though, there is a simple fix to this problem, welding knee pads.
Knee pads will be an excellent welding companion for you if you wish to safeguard your knees against any dirt and prevent them from getting bruised. With so many types of knee pads out there being manufactured by so many different competing brands, it is easy for one to be left puzzled when choosing the perfect one that meets the demand for their work perfectly.
This article will tell you what things you need to look for while purchasing welding knee pads and give you detailed reviews on the top 5 best sellers in the market.
Comparison at a Glance
Redbacks Slide-ins (Advanced)
- Unparalleled shock protection
- High durability
- Longer life than most knee pads
The Knee Pro (ultra-flex III)
- Highly durable
- Tight grip
- High-quality polymer covering
Tough built KP-G3 Gelfit
- Comfortable fit
- Grips tightly to the knee
- One of the bestsellers in the market
REXBETI knee pads (Heavy Duty)
- Mark Resistant
- Perfect for light work
- Thick gel cushioning
Custom Leathercraft (313) Heavy Duty Welding Knee pads
- Thick lining for protection
- Premium Quality Leather Material
- Worn externally
Top Customer Reviewed Knee pads for Welding
Redback’s Slide-ins (Advanced)
- Unparalleled shock protection
- High durability
- Longer life than most knee pads
| Pros | Drawbacks |
| · These Knee pads have been tested to bear loads of up to 550 pounds.
· A great plus side of these pads is that they attach pretty snugly onto the knees, thus offering a better grip. · They’re waterproof · Designed to bear strong impacts
|
· These Knee pads are quite heavy, so your legs might get tired carrying their weight for long hours.
· Compared to other products in the market, these knee pads have quite a heavy price tag. |
This is a well-known brand in the United Kingdom. Redbacks slide-ins (advanced knee pads) have been specifically intended to slot inside the pockets (pad) of well-known work pant brands. They include a lattice construction that enables them to slide into smaller pockets.
These pads are constructed from durable, adaptable, and nearly unbreakable rubber. They are excellent at cushioning impact, but owing to their open form, they are not meant to deter being pricked by metal fragments. If molten metal splatters make contact with these pads, they may become damaged, although this is unlikely to be a significant issue.
These Redbacks are specially contoured to accommodate the shape of our knees and are both washable and water-resistant. These pads may come at a hefty price, but if you want a solid way to protect your knees while working, they are definitely the way to go.
Knee pro (Ultra Flex III) Knee pads
- Highly durable
- Tight grip
- High-quality polymer covering
| Pros | Drawbacks |
| · A comfortable fit allows room for knee movement.
· Highly durable · The hinges of the pad make use of rivets made of steel |
· When exposed to water, this knee pad can get pretty slippery.
|
These pads have a durable polymer movable outer shell, and they come with rubbery pads that provide a secure hold on slick floors. Even though the strong polymer exterior shell will remain unharmed, It is likely that this rubber cushion will be harmed by hot welding spatter. These knee pads are lined with a thick layer of gel foam and maybe fairly comfortable.
The outer shell’s hinges, alongside stretchable straps, are situated around the knees, making these pads highly comfortable to wear and preventing your knees from getting bruised or going numb. However, a popular complaint against this product is that its foam lining locks in moisture on the knees which results in irritation and slipping. All things considered, though, these pads offer great value for money.
Toughbuilt KP-G3 Gelfit Knee pads
- Comfortable fit
- Grips tightly to the knee
- One of the bestsellers in the market
| Pros | Drawbacks |
| · Comfortable fit
· Long-lasting design · Efficient pressure distribution · Puncture- resistance |
· can be tight on the shins when the user is standing
|
Toughbuilt’s welding Knee pads combine a gel-like substance with soft foam to cushion and disperse pressure on your kneecaps. Users laud these leg straps for how well they grip onto the knees without being too tight. These pads include an outer foam layer that provides traction on slick surfaces; however, it is likely to be destroyed by sparks and bead spray if worn whilst standing up.
Additionally, these pads include high sidewalls that assist by preventing your knees from twisting.
REXBETI’s Knee pads for welding (Heavy Duty)
- Mark Resistant
- Perfect for light work
- Thick gel cushioning
| Pros | Drawbacks |
| · comes with 4 strap options
· mark- resistant front shell · flexible straps for comfort |
· straps are too loose on skinny legs
|
The most appealing features of this Knee pad include a double thickness of gel around kneecaps backed by a dense foam that cushions off any pressure that your knees might have to bear. They have a sleek yet highly functional design with thigh stability to decrease strain. Users laud this product for its comfortable grip around the knees, although some have complained about the grip being a bit loose on skinny legs.
This hardshell pad is designed to be mark-free and boasts a layer of rubber towards the outer surface to absorb any incoming impact. Observe caution, though; if you wear these pads whilst standing up, the spatter from the weld could damage these pads. Overall, REXBETI’s knee pads have a professional-grade stitch throughout their design, ensuring that the straps remain in place and can withstand a great deal of use before they begin degrading.
The only complaint that a handful of users have had against the product is that these pads shift around over their knees – making them slightly uncomfortable to wear.
CLC Custom Leathercraft 313 Heavy Duty Welding Knee pads
- Thick lining for protection
- Premium Quality Leather Material
- Worn externally
| Pros | Drawbacks |
| · Extremely comfortable
· Flame resistant · Good for protection |
· The pads need constant adjustment |
This knee pad is constructed with two (half-inch) layers of water-resistant foam cushioning and is kept firmly in place by adjustable leather bands. Additionally, this product is extremely popular among its users because of how durable it is compared to other products in the same category.
A popular complaint against consumers, though, is that these pads run a bit small in terms of their size. As a result, you may have to purchase a size bigger than what you usually wear. Other than this minor flaw, though, these knee pads provide a good amount of cushioning and a soft, comfortable fit.
Buying Welding Knee pads – What Things to Look For
The main purpose that welding Knee pads serve is to protect your knees against dirt, bruises, and injuries. So, of course, while you set out to purchase a welding knee pad for yourself, you must prioritize protection over everything else.
However, once you’ve checked this box, there are a couple of more features you should look into to get the Knee pads that suit you best. This section will guide you through the procedure of selecting the best knee pad for you according to your specific work needs.
Specifically, we will look at 3 important aspects that you need to look into in order to make this decision. These are, namely:
- The Design of the Knee pad
- The Type of Work you need it for
- The Internal Construction of the Knee pad
The Design
Straps-on
Strap-on Pads latch onto your legs via straps made of leather, fabric, or elastic belts and provide you with protective armor against any harm.
Slide-ins
Slide-ins are designed to adjust to the exact shape of your knee and are placed into the specially designed pockets of work trousers. This way, they provide constant protection to your knees from any potential injuries or bruises.
Soft Caps
Soft Caps are typically made of either foam, rubber, or some bendy polymer. These knee pads are the best choice for hard and slick surfaces since they provide users with a firm grip and effective insulation.
Hard Caps
Hard caps are the most suitable choice for situations where welders have to work while kneeling for long periods of time – especially when the surface of the floor is rough.
Flat Caps
You can think of these as variants of Hard-Cap knee pads, except that their flat surface provides you stability while kneeling.
Taking the work environment into account
The reason why there are so many different varieties of knee pads available in the market today is that almost every working situation comes with its own unique set of challenges, and each type of knee pad is specifically designed to meet those challenges. So, before buying yourself a knee pad for welding, it is important for you to consider your work environment.
If your work environment has a slick surface, we strongly advise you not to get a hard cap (or flat cap) knee pad – These will slip on slick surfaces. Instead, it would help if you went for knee pads with a rubbery covering since they will give you a firm grip to kneel steadily on.
At the same time, if you’re working on soft or sandy surfaces, hard cap knee pads will be a better choice since they will allow you to turn around easily- something that soft caps will cause great difficulty in doing. Additionally, if your work environment has a lot of trash and debris, you must get hard cap knee pads to avoid any cuts.
Internal Construction
The last of the 3 things you must consider before getting yourself a welding knee pad is checking its internal lining.
Gel lining – These knee pads come with padding that uses the kind of gel used in shoe insoles. Gel lining is prized for its qualities of being shock-absorbing, water-resistant, and comfortable.
Felt lining – A dense lining of felt allows knee pads to maintain excellent insulation and protects its user against any impact/ injury.
Foam lining – Foam linings are usually very comfortable to wear. However, they have little to offer when it comes to resisting water or providing protection.
Stuffed lining – knee pads with the stuffed lining of soft and comfortable cushioning. They are comfortable to wear but aren’t that great for protection.