If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best volleyball knee pad for high impact falls is, then I’d recommend the Mizuno LR6 Volleyball Knee Pad as the best one.
Volleyball is a physically demanding sport, especially on your knees, so it’s useful to have the proper protection in place in the form of knee pads.
The best volleyball knee pad should help you stay injury-free.
We put together a buyer’s guide in addition to discovering five top-rated knee pads you should consider checking out.
Here are the top volleyball knee pads we’ll be reviewing:
- Mizuno LR6 Volleyball Knee Pad
- Nike Essentials Volleyball Knee Pads
- Mikasa Volleyball Knee Pad
- Bodyprox Protective Knee Pads
- ASICS Unisex Slider V. Knee Pad
Volleyball Knee Pads – Buyer’s Guide
Every sport requires quality safety equipment to not only keep players from harm, but to make sure they’re performing as well as possible.
When it comes to volleyball, the knees are among the most common parts of the body susceptible to injury. So, it pays to give them all the protection they need.
It’s easy enough to simply grab the first pair of knee pads you find and go from there.
However, there are some considerations to keep in mind that will help you find the best volleyball knee pad to suit your needs while not getting in the way of your performance.
Benefits of Wearing Knee Pads for Volleyball
As explained before, it’s commonplace to damage the knees while playing volleyball. Knee pads can play a few different roles to reduce that chance.
For one thing, quality knee pads can provide a solid layer of impact protection for the more sensitive areas such as the patella.
Beyond impact landing, the right knee pads can offer support. Since volleyball requires a good deal of movement, especially jumping, there’s an increase chance of coming away with patellar tendinitis, or “jumper’s knee.”
Knee pads may keep you from overextending yourself.
Important Features of Quality Knee Pads
Knee pads may look similar to one another, but some features allow a pair to standout over another.
We all may not agree exactly on what the best volleyball knee pad is, but understanding certain characteristics may help you come to a decision easier.
Padding
The amount of padding you need generally depends on a number of different factors. Beginners may need thicker padding as you’re still learning how to jump, land, and dive properly.
Another factor is the player position you have. Players in the front row are known to dive more than the players in the back.
So, if you play in a back position, you may not need knee pads with such heavy padding.
Regardless of how much or little padding, be sure that it covers the proper areas (e.g. patella, lateral, and medial regions) correctly.
Fit and Comfort
Protection means little if your knee pads don’t fit. Anything that’s too big runs the risk of sliding around, which hinders how much security your knees will actually have.
It also may be uncomfortable if you have to constantly readjust them during a match.
On the other side of things, the pads shouldn’t be too small as they may cut off your blood circulation.
There should be a healthy balance between protection and comfort. You may want the knee pads to cover an adequate area while still being easy to wear.
Having an ergonomic design can assist in it fitting well. A bit of stretch may help ease the process of pulling the knee pads on.
Other than proper fit, the material knee pads are made of play a role in how comfortable they are. They shouldn’t cause any irritation against your skin.
Another comfort feature that some knee pads offer is a sweat-wicking aspect. With this in place, you may stay cool and dry during those intense matches.
Maneuverability
Protection is key when it comes to saving your knees from high impact falls. However, you still need to handle the other movements required of volleyball.
Because of this, the best knee pads for the sport are some that can actually move with you while still providing protection.
A good amount of elasticity will not only allow them to be pulled on easier, but also allow you to bend the way you need to.
Durability
Quality is key if you don’t want to change out your knee pads after every match or so.
Traits like abrasion-resistance are useful as they indicate the knee pads have a better chance of withstanding rough use.
Easy maintenance may be another good feature to indicate how well they hold up over time. They should be easy to wash and not experience any obvious wear and tear.
Best Volleyball Knee Pad – Top 5 Reviewed
Looking for the right volleyball knee bad doesn’t have to be hard. Here are a few we’ve handpicked for you to save you some time.
Mizuno LR6 Volleyball Knee Pad
The Mizuno LR6 Volleyball Knee Pad offers a low-profile design that may benefit those of you playing at a club or school-age level.
Since they measure only 6in., they may work better if you don’t require such thick, heavy padding.
Still, they offer maximum coverage for all-around protection using VS-1 padding in the high impact zones.
You might have to take care when choosing a size for the knee pads, however, as they tend to run small.
As long as they fit properly, the D.F. CUT layout may allow you more freedom to move.
There’s also a good blend of elastic spandex material to further help give you ease of movement.
As they can help you move right, the knee pads are also known to stay in place well and experience minimal to no rolling.
If you’re interested in color coordinating your knee pads, these are available three different colors: black, navy, and white.
These knee pads seem to wash up well as long as they’re hand-washed. This may come in handy as the material might trap in odors, requiring more frequent maintenance.
Pros
- Stay in place well
- Low-profile design
- Quality all-around protection
Cons
- Runs small
- May trap odor
Nike Essentials Volleyball Knee Pads
The Nike Essentials Volleyball Knee Pads are available in black and white with the usual Nike logo printed on the fronts.
Their minimalistic design is intended to streamline the overall appearance so that they may blend with whatever uniform you wear.
Concerning the rest of their design, these knee pads offer a low-profile fit that’s ergonomic enough that they may slide on with ease.
However, when you initially put them on, there’s a chance that they might fit tight.
The material does seem to stretch out enough to give you a snug, but not constricting, fit over time.
There’s also a chance that they may roll up in the back though.
This material is also soft enough that it may feel comfortable to wear for an extended amount of time.
There’s also an improved outer knit so that the material may withstand some heavy use. Inside, there’s a Dri-Fit liner to help keep you cool and dry.
There’s some quality cushioning to keep you safe from those hard falls. It’s relatively simple to maintain too as the knee pads appear to wash well.
Pros
- Quality cushioning
- Soft material
- Washes up well
Cons
- Might roll up in the back
- Initially tight fitting
Mikasa Volleyball Knee Pad
With the Mikasa Volleyball Knee Pad, you may not feel as sweaty after some extensive playing thanks to the moisture-wicking fabric.
There is also an anti-microbial shield and odor fighting technology designed into the material.
The material also seems comfortable enough to offer good mobility. They’re constructed with specialized flex points to help with your overall maneuverability.
As for the protection, there is EVA along with partial shock absorbing foam.
There’s not much of it though, so it may work best for the school-age player rather than professional-level.
Although they’re lightweight and feel easy enough to wear, they may not stay in place throughout a match, so some readjusting may be required.
How long these knee pads may last is another questionable aspect. The material and the padding feel thin, so these might not withstand heavy use.
For those of you interested in appearances, these may be a touch bulkier than some other knee pads, but they don’t stand out too much.
They also come in white and black colors.
Pros
- Easy to move in
- Quality moisture-wicking properties
- Lightweight, comfortable design
Cons
- Long-term durability questionable
- Might slide down
Bodyprox Protective Knee Pads
The Bodyprox Protective Knee Pads are unisex in design with only two sizes and a single color to choose from.
They are ergonomically shaped for ease of pulling on and off as well as more comfortable wearing.
The fabric itself is soft to the touch as well, but the padding design may leave a mark after some time.
They are also no-slip in design so that you may not worry about constantly stopping to readjust them.
Although they may look bulky, they’re still thin enough that you may wear them underneath clothing if desired.
There is some good flexibility in the fabric though so that you may move around. With that said, there doesn’t appear to be that much thick padding in place.
In fact, the high density strengthen foam may benefit from more density to protect from the truly heavy impacts.
Even so, the knee pads seem effective at resisting minor impacts. They also may do well at increasing circulation so that they might improve your knee health.
There is still a good deal of breathability to them so that you don’t overheat.
Pros
- Soft, comfortable fabric
- Provides ideal flexibility
- Breathable
Cons
- May leave a mark
- Foam isn’t that dense
ASICS Unisex Slider V. Knee Pad
The ASICS Unisex Slider V. Knee Pad offer full coverage protection with padding felt around the front and the sides.
Even with the wide coverage, they’re designed low in profile. However, the padding in the front may seem too bulky.
Made from a blend of polyester, nylon, and rubber, the slip-on design of the knee pads is easy to manage.
They’re comfortable enough, but the fabric doesn’t seem to have much breathability, so you may run hot. Also, the seams of the fabric might not last you long.
Available in black and white, the knee pads are designed one-size-fits-all.
There seems to be good support while offering just enough flexibility so that you can make all the moves you need to during a game.
They’re an affordable option that seems to work well for players at the club or school-age level in terms of skills.
Maintaining them appears to be simple as they may wash well either by hand or in the laundry.
Pros
- Full coverage padding
- Good support
- Doesn’t restrict mobility
Cons
- Chance for the seams to tear
- Not much breathability
Final Thoughts
Your knees don’t have to take such a heavy beating during volleyball.
If you want protection from high impact falls, then consider having the best volleyball knee pad such as the Mizuno LR6 Volleyball Knee Pad.
These knee pads are low in profile to reduce the chance of them getting in the way.
They’re cut in a way to allow for optimal mobility, and yet the padding isn’t sacrificed as there’s an adequate amount in the high impact areas.
The protection is also well-rounded from the sides to the front.
You also may notice that the knee pads remain in place well so they might be more comfortable to wear throughout a game.
