Reddit reviews Rehband 7mm Knee Sleeve - Model 7051 Original Blue (Medium (33-36cm))

If you're serious about the cheaty blue things, you can get them here:

http://www.jackalsgym.com/store.aspx?cat_id=RH

or here:

http://www.amazon.com/Rehband-7mm-Knee-Sleeve-Original/dp/B0088KPT50/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1425750584&sr=8-1&keywords=rehband

Get some of these shin sleeves. You can also do a two-for-one and get some good knee sleeves for squatting and just pull them down around you shins for deadlifting. Either way, neoprene works really well for stopping deadlift bruises.

I switched from Chucks to squat shoes and felt way more stable. It helped get rid of my knee pain as well. I also found that knee sleeves help reduce or avoid knee pain.

You are stronger tham me, but I can give some comments.

• I've never used knee wraps but they can take time to learn. As for sleeves the older all blue ones like this are nice. The newer ones are not durable enough for squatting. There's plenty of other good kinds too, but I'm happy with mine.
  
  
  
• Chucks vs shoes with a heel is personal preference and leverages. I recently switched to chucks after a year of using lifting shoes because the lifting shoes pitch me forward when I squat wide and I usually go too deep if I go narrower. It's 100% personal preference. I'd say do a few weeks of heavy training in each and see what feels better (and more consistent).
  
  
  
• I think wrist wraps are worth experimenting with, but if you don't have any issues they're not likely to make a big difference. I can use a wider grip with wraps but that's because I do have pain without them when going that wide near my max. I don't think they'll add anything.
  
  
  
• A few inches off the chest is a normal sticking point for raw benchers. There are lots of suggestions (training with longer pauses, extra chest work, extra shoulder work, overload work) but it's likely to always be the weak spot unless you bench close grip, so it's mostly just getting stronger. I'd say make sure you're uncomfortably tight, but I doubt you have a 370 bench without knowing that already.
  
  
  
• I don't think the singlet matters much. I've used an old one I borrowed from my gym owner both times I've needed one.
  
  
  
• I don't personally like deloading for 2 weeks, but I'm not elite and my technique suffers if I don't lift heavy for that long. I doubt it's necessary either, but you'll have to learn over time what works for you. It's definitely useful to do lighter weights as you get close. In the past for a Sunday meet I lift heavy up through Friday the week before (9 days out) then light (50-70% for low reps to keep technique on point) the Monday and Wednesday before the meet. In the future I wanna try a little heavier on that Monday, but I don't want to be near my max for at least 5-7 days.

Sleeves definitely aren't the end-all, be-all solution to knee pain, as u/mantittiez (lol) and u/TheAesir point out.

That being said, if your situation is like mine, the sleeves definitely helped me due to the simple fact that it kept my knees nice and warm throughout my squat workouts while working out in a cold(er) garage. I went with this sleeve. Also, keep in mind, that it isn't sold as a pair.

Sounds like the exact same problem I had. I got my form coached by pros, nothing major was pointed out, nothing helped with the pain. Then someone suggested a snug pair of these Rehband knee sleeves ($84/pair), and no more knee pain ever since. I don't know if it's the extra support (they are not the assistive kind of sleeves that would add pounds to your squat like wraps) or the heat, my knees just don't pop or hurt anymore.

It really depends what youre looking for.




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These are very popular, many elite lifters use them (Lu, Tian tao, Liao hui, etc) http://store.hookgrip.com/shop/blue-white-hookgrip-knee-sleeves/

Those sleeves linked above do not really provide any support, they will not aid you in performing any movements, theyre mostly for warmth and maybe proprioception in some ways.

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Then you have these http://www.amazon.com/Rehband-7mm-Knee-Sleeve-Original/dp/B0088KPT50/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450897198&sr=8-1&keywords=rehband+knee+sleeves

Rehband is also very popular among many lifters, these provide a little more support and are thicker, these still probably wont really add anything to your lifts (maybe 5 pounds if you get them a size down??).


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Then you have this tier of sleeves http://www.howmuchyabench.net/strong-sleeves

http://www.andersonpowerlifting.com/knee-sleeves-p/sbd-knee-sleeves-pair.htm



These are used more for powerlifting or for squats only(i dont think ive seen anyone perform olympic lifts with either), they are supposed to be pretty tight and offer a lot of support, they will definitely allow you to squat more (ive seen most people get 10kg+ out of them)

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The more support you want, the more you will have to pay. There are also knee wraps which generally provide more support than any sleeve can and those have a similar breakdown from less supportive to more supportive.

I don't know about wraps but Reband knee sleeves are a great investment imo. Sleeves. They are great at warming up the knees and getting everything moving. They have really helped with any sort of pain I had IN my knees in the joint area. However, it seems like you are having pain above the knee. Perhaps this is a mobility problem? Do you regularly stretch your quads and hamstrings? And do you regularly work your hamstrings?

Hey dudes, have an equipment question. I'm going to purchase some knee sleeves soon and have narrowed my search down to the following:

• Strength Shop Single Ply Hercules
  
  
• Strength Shop Double Ply Thor (I should note these are on sale right now for $23 USD.
  
  
• Rehband 7mm Knee Sleeve - Model 7051 (I think these actually went up in price since I first checked.)
  
  I have a bit of a budget on this (at or below the $50 USD mark) so if there's another brand that may be better I'm open to suggestions. Doesn't have to be IPF compliant (I'm not competing). Also, I'm not quite sure the difference between single ply and double ply other than "one more ply than the other" which I'm assuming means a bit more support.
  
  Edit I am an actual retard and didn't notice the one very small line on the Rehband sleeves that mentions they are sold as singles and not a pair. This changes things.

(1) I've never found a lift as hard or rewarding as the squat. For my money it goes beyond even a lower body lift. It impacts my entire system. That said squatting is not for everyone but I would at least try and see if it can work before giving it up completely.

(2) Assuming you are having trouble with barbell back squatting I would try these three things in the following order:

1. Improve Technique + Bracing + Belt / Knee Sleeves
   
   1. How To Squat: https://youtu.be/vmNPOjaGrVE
      
   2. How To: Use a Lifting Belt https://youtu.be/-I9LIsIpsQE
      
   3. Belt: https://www.inzernet.com/detail_belt.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FOREVER_LEVER_10MM
      
   4. Knee Sleeves: http://amzn.com/B0088KPT50
      
2. Try alternative squat variations
   
3. Try alternative squat bars

I've been using the blue rehbands for about 3 years, and they're still in good, usable condition.

I actually have purchased or received as a gift the hookgrip wraps, hookgrip knee sleeves, and rehband sleeves.

I agree with /u/ronniedowd that if you want warmth only, the hookgrip knee sleeves work great and they're cheap. Rehband sleeves provide a lot more support, and they are super durable, but they are fairly expensive. Now I only use the hookgrip wraps, because they're adjustable. If I only want warmth I can wrap them loosely, but if I'm squatting heavy and need support I can wrap them quite tightly. I can't say yet how durable the wraps are.

These

I suggest getting some knee sleeves. The price is quite hefty, around $80 for a pair of rehbands (http://www.amazon.com/Rehband-7mm-Knee-Sleeve-Original/dp/B0088KPT50/ref=sr_1_6_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1459309671&sr=1-6&keywords=knee+sleeve) but I think its well worth it. They keep everything very tight and even help out a bit on your squat. Get a pair, see how they feel and then if your pain is still there, then consider just deloading a couple times.

$10 cheaper per sleeve on amazon

I feel your pain. I am also oldish (65), and my squat is weak, despite having good form (got trained). I found knee sleeves help a lot with knee pain. I also switched to goblet squats and deadlifts, as well as leg press. Romanian deadlifts are good for the hamstrings as well. Good luck.