Knee Pads for Hunting??

[Burtz]

So I hit 40 last month…and I am trying to take better care of myself.

I do open country mule deer hunting and coyote hunting on the west coast. Bow and rifle seasons.

Most of my hunts are day hunts, where I can hike anywhere between 4-12 miles.

I want to invest in some knee pads. Is it realistic to expect to use them while hiking? Or should I just expect to use them for glassing or when on station at a stand?

I am looking at the arc’teryx knee caps and the latitude outdoors knee pads.

Appreciate the input.

 

[Pony Soldier]

At some point in your future, you may need to look at copperfit knee braces. With heavy pants they may meet your needs.

 

[RockAndSage]

Amazon has some good options for different kinds of pants with build-in kneepads, or insertable ones. I prefer those types of setups over external kneepads if I'm going to be doing a lot of walking around. The external ones that slip on or have straps tend to slip, or need to be strapped down hard enough so that doesn't happen, which with some can also lead to circulation issues. Overall, the built-in ones just don't need to be screwed with anywhere near as much.

 

[hand skills]

Not that I'm an expert on my knees or anything, but these ones seem to stay put without slipping down or requiring constant adjustment.

Combat Knee Cap

Lightweight, anatomically-shaped knee protectors.

leaf.arcteryx.com

 

[7mm-08]

OP, if you think you're knees are tender now, wait another 25 years. One of the most painful damned experiences you can have post-65 is crawling around in the back of a pickup without first remembering you aren't 30. Sorry I was not responsive to your question - I still refuse to wear kneepads in the field out of principle because I remain stubborn and stupid.

 

[ThorM465]

I've become a loyalist to first lites foundry line of hunting pants, primarily for their built in knee pads.

 

[LG1]

Yep, FL Boundary and Sitka Timberline are my go-to because of the knee pads.

 

[BBBoat]

I will echo what RockAndSage stated, internal/built-in knee pads over externally strapped pads. One of my favorite hunting pants are an old pair of OCP bottoms which allow for a simple foam insert which is ultralight, does not cut off circulation and gets the job done. I have tried extrnal/strapped kneepads before a few times...the brush constantly works to rip them off (and make extra noise in the process) and the velcro ones load with mud, dirt, and other debris in short order (<24 hrs in the field in my last use of them)

 

[BLJ]

Amazon.com

I wear these under my pants.
Hunting and PRS 22 and get about a year out of them.

If you don’t have thorny stuff to contend with they may be worth a shot.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

So I hit 40 last month…and I am trying to take better care of myself.

I do open country mule deer hunting and coyote hunting on the west coast. Bow and rifle seasons.

Most of my hunts are day hunts, where I can hike anywhere between 4-12 miles.

I want to invest in some knee pads. Is it realistic to expect to use them while hiking? Or should I just expect to use them for glassing or when on station at a stand?

I am looking at the arc’teryx knee caps and the latitude outdoors knee pads.

Appreciate the input.

I have two packs of kitchen sponges wrapped in duct tape. They slip into the knee pad holders on my old Cammies. Works like a charm.

 

[KyleR1985]

I tripped and fell with 50lbs of gear strapped to me, onto my right knee on a jagged rock.

The rest of that hunt was fine as far as mobility and no soreness or issue moving and range of motion.

But since it happened I can’t kneel on that knee without it feeling like I’ve been hit by lightning.

Ortho says structurally sound no issues they could image. His guess is a nerve has gotten damaged or moved into a weird spot. Nothing I can do.

Chasing a 3 year old and a 1 year old around, I wish I had been the dork wearing knee pads.


I have a pair of the arctyrx or whatever they are from a previous stint saddle hunting. I use them a good bit working under house or laying a floor or working on truck.

 

[buffybr]

About the only time that I wear knee pads hunting is, along with leather gloves, crawling through the cactus in eastern Montana antelope hunting.

 

[Mtndawger]

Knee pads can be a tremendous help. I have not found a single pair of pants with the built in pockets for pads that functions for schlepping around with the pads in place. They are always a little too floppy and ill fitting. That’s just me ymmv. My recommendation is for a set of over the pants pads similar to the ones girls wear for volleyball. Or some of the lower profile carpenter/tradesman pads or even the telemark skier pads like the arcteryx. The key is keep them in you pack until you need them. They will protect you $200 hunting pants from getting shredded this way.

 

[cnelk]

Give these pants from Duluth Trading a try

Men’s DuluthFlex Fire Hose Relaxed Fit Carpenter Pants With Knee Pad Pouches | Duluth Trading Company

Stay on an even keel when you kneel with handy double-chap knee pad pouches in DuluthFlex Fire Hose Carpenter Pants.

www.duluthtrading.com

 

[String Bean]

Now in my 60s my knees are worse. Hunt in copper fit knee sleeves and hunting pads in the knee pouch. Have used Kryptrk, Pnuma, and Sitka timberline. All take some getting used to and fit adjustment. Sitka largest protected area, Pnuma least intrusive and worked great for late season elk.

 

[Whitefox82]

I’m 43 and have been a carpenter now for about 23 years. Just had knee surgery last Tuesday for a meniscus tear. I think I may be wearing neoprene knee sleeves on both legs from now on, both for hunting and work. I think they give the right amount of comfort, support, and just enough padding to keep me putting them on. If what you wear isn’t comfortable you’ll never wear it. As far as pants with pads, I like the FL corregate foundry. Sucks getting old!!!!