Top Pick
- Different sizes.
- Breathable and antibacterial.
- Soft interior for comfort.
Whether you’re looking for increased support, recovering from injury, aiming to improve your athletic performance, or suffering from arthritis—joint sleeves can help.
This article brings you the best knee compression sleeve available and how it works—it may make you wonder how you ever survived without one.
The Best Knee Compression Sleeves
To help you on the road to pain-free knees and elevated workout results, we’ve put together what I feel are the best knee compression sleeves available today.
1. UFlex Athletics Knee Compression Sleeve
Personally, I would consider this to be the best knee compression sleeve currently available—for me, this product has it all.
Made from a variety of woven materials, including cotton, nylon, and elastic—this sleeve has the ability to provide a large range of movement while still providing sufficient support. I believe this makes it attractive for both extreme athletes or those looking purely for day-to-day joint reinforcement.
Furthermore, the woven aspect increases its breathability, allowing air to circulate and preventing the build-up of sweat—which can be both unhygienic and an irritant.
The interior of the sleeve includes silicone strips—designed to increase adherence and prevent slippage. This may appeal to those people who are undergoing rigorous exercise, such as running, where the joint is in constant flux.
- Pros
- Suitable for a wide range of applications.
- Available in three different sizes.
- Breathable and antibacterial.
- Soft interior for comfort.
- Black and red design may appeal to the more fashion conscious.
- Cons
- Supplied as a single unit.
2. Mava Sports Knee Support Sleeves
I feel that this could possibly be the best knee compression sleeve for the senior generation.This is due to the fact that it’s an extremely lightweight and comfortable product.
Manufactured from spandex, it provides good support but not at the expense of size. Due to its unobtrusive, almost minimalistic design, it could easily be concealed beneath clothing—which to me indicates it would suit older persons for daily wear.
This knee sleeve has been designed for maximum movement—which could appeal to those people who already find their mobility restricted and don’t wish further impedance.
- Pros
- Possibly the best knee compression sleeves for seniors struggling with movement or arthritis.
- Supplied as a pair.
- Good support, yet provides a full range of movement.
- Available in four sizes (from small to extra-large).
- Includes charcoal to prevent unwanted aromas.
- Cons
- It may not be ideal for those demanding hardcore support.
3. Nordic Lifting Knee Sleeves
If you’re a dedicated powerlifter, or someone trying to improve their glutes with some serious squats, this could be the best knee compression sleeve for you.
Designed and sold by respected weightlifting brand Nordic, these neoprene compression sleeves provide the stability your knees require when lifting the really heavy iron—reducing “twisting” that can cause cruciate ligament damage.
The neoprene construction not only offers contoured comfort but also generates a generous amount of warmth—which can improve joint fluidity and reduce stress when pushing out the barbell or squatting.
- Pros
- 1-year guarantee.
- Possibly the best knee compression sleeve for weightlifting.
- Durable neoprene material.
- Reduces unwanted lateral movement.
- Supplied as a pair.
- Plain black color.
- Six different sizes.
- Cons
- Might be too restrictive for athletic performance, such as running.
- Lack of ventilation may lead to perspiration gathering under the sleeve.
4. Mava Sports Pair of Knee Compression Sleeves
Some people like to make a statement with their training attire—and I believe that this is the best knee compression sleeve for the most avant-garde of fitness enthusiasts.
This compression sleeve is not just available in an impressive array of colors, but it can also be purchased in various patterned camouflage tones—which to me says it’s suitable for those wanting to make a statement at the gym.
Yet, don’t consider that it’s all style and no substance. The 100 percent breathable neoprene design provides powerful support without impairing movement—possibly making it a good choice for those doing CrossFit, weight training, or aerobic cardio classes.
Furthermore, these sleeves have been constructed with a contoured shape to fit the knee perfectly—raising comfort and efficacy.
- Pros
- Possibly the best knee compression sleeve for the image-conscious or those who just seek a little more “fun” in their workouts.
- Constructed from 7mm neoprene—not too thick to prevent breathability but substantial enough for strength.
- Available as a pair.
- Five different sizes are available.
- Cons
- Some people may consider the colors a little too jazzy.
- Support restricted to the knee—little quad or calf enhancement.
A Buying guide to Knee Compression Sleeves
What Is a Knee Compression Sleeve Made of?
These one-piece training enhancers slide over the knee and provide compression on the knee joint itself, together with the lower quads and the upper shin.
Tight-fitting, they can be worn exposed during sporting activities or located beneath normal day-to-day wear.
They’re not to be confused with braces, which are usually strapped around the knee and often expose and secure the patella (kneecap).
How Do Knee Compression Sleeves Work?
Although they provide the important features of support and warmth, the best knee compression sleeve has two primary functions:
- Increasing the delivery of oxygenated blood to the muscles.
- Raising the rate of blood-waste elimination.
This is how it works.
The muscles are fuelled by blood supplied via the arteries. Once they have used all the oxygen they require, the blood is then cleansed of waste products (such as the fatigue-inducing lactic acid) and returned to the heart. It then becomes re-oxygenated by the lungs and the process starts again.
Compression sleeves make this whole process more efficient.
Blood in the veins is constantly fighting against gravity to be pushed back up to the heart—by compressing the veins, the pressure is increased, creating a greater velocity of blood flow.
The faster the blood returns to the heart, the quicker it’s re-oxygenated and the waste products removed or synthesized into “safe” compounds (lactic acid, for example, is turned into glucose by the liver).
What Are the Benefits of the Best Knee Compression Sleeve for bodybuilders?
Using the best knee compression sleeve can provide numerous benefits, whether you’re a hardcore athlete or just someone wanting to improve overall well-being.
Here’s what they can achieve:
- Improve recovery time—studies have indicated that wearing a compression garment can vastly speed up post-training recovery.
- Reduce DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness)—training can induce pain in the muscles for up to 48 hours after the exercise itself has finished; research conducted on marathon runners indicates that this can be alleviated by the use of compression garments.
- Relieves arthritis—experts concluded in 2011 that the use of a compression sleeve both lowers the pain and increases the functionality of the knee in those suffering from osteoarthritis.
- Prevents injury—despite carrying the majority of bodyweight, knees are inherently unstable—compression sleeves can reduce lateral stresses which could damage the cruciate ligament.
- Improves function—compression sleeves can boost efficiency by warming the joints and muscles; if they’re too cold, the chance of injury is increased.
- Enhances sporting performance—more oxygenated blood reaches the muscles and tendons, known to elevate training endurance and strength.
What to Look for in the Best Knee Compression Sleeve for bodybuilding
To ensure you select the best knee compression sleeve for your needs, here are a few factors worth considering:
Material Construction
The best knee compression sleeves come in a wide range of materials—latex, neoprene, nylon, or spandex, for example. These materials provide greater or lesser support, depending on your needs—with neoprene usually giving the most.
Comfort
There’s little point using a compression sleeve if it’s unpleasant to wear. For increased comfort, look for those that have padding or cushioning and possess wicking or “breathable” properties, to prevent the build-up of sweat.
Size
Some knee compression sleeves are one-size-fits-all—however, these aren’t ideal. Look for products that are supplied in a range of sizes to suit your particular body type. If it’s too small, then it can provide so much compression it impedes blood flow—too large, and you will not receive the compression benefits or sufficient support.
Level of Support
If you’re looking for a knee compression sleeve just to keep the muscles warm, support isn’t so essential. However, if competing in extreme running or powerlifting, you’ll require the maximum support possible, to increase performance and lower the chance of injury.
Quantity in a Pack
The best knee compression sleeve will be supplied either as a single unit, or a pair.
Take care when purchasing, to be sure you understand how many you are receiving. While one single sleeve may be sufficient for a knee that’s been injured and is recovering—when wearing for all-around support and performance benefits, you will require a pair.
Conclusion
The UFlex Athletics knee compression sleeve would be my personal product of choice.
In my opinion, this sleeve has the greatest level of versatility out of all the items discussed here—which I would suggest makes it ideal for daily wear, light, or intense use. This adaptability may mean that it would follow you through your training progression, from beginner to advanced levels.
It’s comfortable through its woven material build, providing padding and breathability. Furthermore, the silicone strip lining will prevent unwanted slippage during vigorous exercise.
Finally, it combines the two most important aspects of a sleeve—flexible yet supportive.
However, that’s simply my feelings. It could be for the older generation, the Mava Sports support sleeve may appeal—or for a budding Schwarzenegger, the Nordic lifting sleeve may be the best choice.
But, for its universal appeal, my own favorite product is the UFlex.
