For those with bad knees already, resting on your knees and working can be a pretty painful experience. After two knee recons and some other pretty nasty cartilage damage I will say these knee pads were a joy to wear.
The Stanley Fatmax knee pads come in a range of 4 different types: hard-shell knee pads; soft-shell knee pads; heavy-duty gel knee pads and stabilised knee pads, each with their comforts and added benefits.
Hard-shell knee pads are designed for multiple uses, with the primary applications being outdoors in general construction and landscaping. Soft-shell knee pads are designed for multiple uses, mainly in smooth, dry flooring surfaces. Heavy-duty gel knee pads are designed for stationary work, kneeling on narrow surfaces with increased mobility as well as crawling, and stabilised knee pads are designed for stationary work, kneeling and specifically roofing works.
Test #1: Comfort
Probably the main reason I never jumped onto knee protection was because a couple of the brands I had tried felt bulky and the straps dug into the back of my knees. That made me want to get them off pretty quickly.
This Stanley range is very well moulded to the knee, especially the heavy-duty and stabilised both featuring High Memory gel and moulded foam. They cupped the knee exceptionally well. These two were my favourites for being a great fit. They also had the extra-wide, single neoprene strap, which I think gave extra comfort and a more secure fit.
The hard-shell and soft-shell knee pads were also nice to wear, with excellent, high-density padding and dual elastic straps. They were extremely comfortable even for long periods of use which was a first for me.
Hard-shell knee pads $26.99 RRP
- Soft-shell knee pads $37.99 RRP
- Heavy-duty gel knee pads $44.99 RRP
- Stabilised knee pads $64.99 RRP
Test #2: Different Uses
I gave a different pair to each of my crew over the month to get some feedback and the comments were surprisingly consistent. The hard-shell knee pads were excellent all-rounders for medium-duty use around the site. The boys found them comfortable and easy to use climbing up and down ladders and kneeling without the straps digging in. They were a favourite in roof spaces when kneeling on the rafters and timbers in the ceilings, and great for jobs that have you continually moving around.
The soft-shell knee pads were kept for fit-off stage.
Fitting off GPOs and data points down low were when these soft-shells shone for us. Always going up and down from point-to-point over the day takes its toll on the knees. This product eliminated the knee-on-a-hard-surface issue with plenty of comfort. They would be perfect for timber-floor installers also.
The heavy-duty knee pads were great for crawling and stationary works. These were a favourite with the boys when crawling under houses or worksites or even up in ceilings. The added gel comfort gave the knee an excellent cushion and great support, especially when kneeling on timber in one spot for some time while fitting off or fault-finding.
General Construction
- Flooring
- Carpentry
- Roofing
- Outdoor
- Automotive
- Electrical
- Plumbing
And many more
The stabilised knee pads were ideal when we were working on roofs installing solar panels and TV antennas. The added gel comfort was also a massive highlight in this model. The front, semi-rigid, flat cap with TPE is excellent for slip prevention and gripped well on roof tiles or corrugated roofing. The TPE interface also prevented scuffing on the finished materials – no black rubbing marks.
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
This range has made me a new believer in the need for knee protection.
At the end of the weeks of testing I had significantly less knee and leg pain, and I have finally found knee pads I am happy to wear and for an extended period over the day.
For more information visit www.stanleytools.com.au