If you, like us, love getting closer to nature in your leisure time, then hiking is probably one of the best weekend activities you indulge in. There’s this joy in tackling the trails while enjoying God’s creation along the way. And all that was wonderful until we began to feel that sting in our knees. Sometimes, we might have put too much stress on our knees on our way up or down the trails, and we need decent support for them. That’s where the best knee braces for hiking come in, as they’re made especially for this. Whether it’s an ankle roll or a quick misstep, it could go on to create unnecessary stress on the knees. Using excellent knee braces greatly reduced the strain that we had over time. At the same time, they strengthened the muscles, tendons, and joints around our knees.
So, are you ready to take care of your knees too? Read this guide to check out the best knee braces in the business, along with a handy guide on how to choose one.
Table of contents
TechWare Pro Knee Brace Support
13
The TechWare Pro Knee Brace Support is a great knee brace that promoted not only our knees’ health but also healthy blood circulation when we were tackling a trail. This knee brace hugged our knees perfectly and had plenty of adjustment spaces to accommodate different body types. What’s more, it’s also bi-directional, so it worked just the same for either right or left knees.
This knee brace is made from soft neoprene that provided some much-needed comfort to our skin. It’s also lightweight and breathable, thus preventing chapping and sweating too. Moreover, the open patella design was great for relieving pressure on our kneecaps while also providing extra ventilation while we moved. All in all, this is one of the best knee braces when you need all-around support for your knees.
Check out this detailed review by The Best Knee Braces.
What We Love
This is a great starter knee brace before investing in the more expensive knee braces.
Pros
- This is a spring stabilizer of a product.
- It has an open patella design.
- It comes with an adjustable velcro strap.
- It’s made from comfy and lightweight neoprene.
Cons
- The velcro strap could wear over time.
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Winzone Knee Brace
12
The Winzone Knee Brace might seem more suitable for recovery, but more and more people, including us, are taking this knee brace for backpacking due to its comfort and lightweight properties. In fact, when we wore this at the start of our hike, we completely forgot that we were actually wearing it after a while. That’s how lightweight this brace was! Whether it was uphill or downhill, it provided our knees with the support they needed.
The lightweight nature of this knee brace is due to the neoprene material that’s used to build this product. What’s more, the design provided support above and below our patella while allowing healthy airflow through the cap opening. Have you had injuries, or are you having stability problems? It’s a good knee brace for walking the trails to support your knees.
What We Love
This is a lightweight knee brace for minor knee problems during outdoorsy walking.
Pros
- This has an open patella design.
- It has excellent adjustability.
- It’s made from lightweight neoprene.
Cons
- It needs to be washed by hand.
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SB Sox Compression Knee Brace
11
Best budget. Whether one is recovering, looking to prevent arthritis, or looking for something to help with walking outdoors, the SB Sox Compression Knee Brace is the must-have item. For less than 10 USD, this product works well, but in a way different from the ones before. For one, it had no straps to hug our legs. It worked more as a compression sleeve to give our knees the pressure they needed when we were out and about. What’s more, this knee sleeve had four color options in four sizes to accommodate different types of users.
The knee sleeves are made from knitted nylon elastics that were engineered to hug our knees snuggly. Hiking is a highly mobile activity that will sometimes create trouble for knee sleeves to stay put. Luckily, this knee sleeve had a smooth non-slip top and bottom, so we didn’t need to readjust it every now and then. Overall, these are one of the best knee braces for backpacking as a starter product.
What We Love
It’s very lightweight to take on long hiking sessions.
Pros
- The knee brace is lightweight.
- They’re comfy to wear all day.
- They’re breathable and promote healthy blood flow.
Cons
- Some people may find it hard to find the proper size.
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Crucial Compression Knee Compression Sleeve
10
When we wanted to tackle a long trek or were going on an impromptu hike, we’d make sure that we had the Crucial Compression Knee Compression Sleeve by our side. This compression knee sleeve helped us get through the toughest treks, even in winter. We could rely on this knee brace to avoid cramps on our journey simply because it heated our muscles better than other products.
The secret to this knee brace’s amazing performance is in the nylon-spandex build combination. Together, they provided great support but were flexible enough to give constant compression. The result was better blood circulation to our knees, where we needed it the most. Finally, this knee brace is also great when you’re backpacking with an injury or when you want to strengthen the muscle post-injury.
Check out more details on the official product page.
What We Love
It promotes healthy blood circulation while you’re traversing the trail.
Pros
- These knee braces provide good compression.
- They’re comfy and come with dual-lined silicone stops.
- They heat your muscle.
Cons
- They made our knees sweat a bit.
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Powerlix Knee Compression Sleeve
9
Best all-day knee brace. We’d hike pain-free with the Powerlix Knee Compression Sleeve. This wonderful product should be on the shelf of every adventurer out there. Not only did it provide support for our knees, but it also helped our injury heal to a great extent. The compression felt just about right without pinching or getting loose while moving around. So, we could take our steps with more confidence because nature won’t slow down for us, after all.
The brace is made from moisture-wicking fabric that embraced our knees perfectly while providing extra support at the same time. What’s more, we could wear this product all day at the hottest temperatures without ending up with a sweaty leg and a smelly sleeve, as it’s odor-free! We also appreciated the breathability and good wicking properties, making it the best knee brace for hiking for an all-day adventure.
Watch a detailed YouTube video review of this product by Amazon Product USA.
What We Love
This is perfect for those who need extra support without the bulk.
Pros
- It supports your knee and your upper calf.
- It has good moisture-wicking properties.
- It’s comfy with less sweat and is breathable.
Cons
- It might get in the way of deep bending.
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Cho-Pat Dual Action Knee Strap
8
The Cho-Pat Dual Action Knee Strap is a straightforward knee brace that fully supported our knees but in a more compact design. We were really curious as to how this product’s design would work since it looked incredibly simple. But after we used it, coupled with the comments raving about it, it convinced us that this knee brace was much more than what meets the eye. For one, it’s one of the best knee braces for backpacking that supported our knees where they needed them the most.
The brilliant design features a one-piece construction with an adjustable velcro strap that we put around our legs. This product was the best at providing support above and below our patella (or kneecaps). The result is more confident and pain-free steps when we walked all kinds of terrains. The best bit? It comes in multiple sizes, which meant that we could find one to customize and dial in the fit.
What We Love
It provides support on crucial spots. It’s best paired with approach shoes (shoes for hiking-climbing combination).
Pros
- The knee brace is the least restricting.
- It’s made from neoprene.
- It provides fair support above and below the knee.
- The knee brace is comfy and less bulky.
Cons
- It could be a bit more moisture-wicking.
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Exous Knee Brace
7
Best lightweight. The Exous Knee Brace is a lightweight and supportive knee brace that has gained many loyal fans around the world, including us. The company that produces it has done a really good job at making it as light and thin as possible without compromising on its supportive nature. We especially love how inconspicuous this brace was under our summer hiking pants, so much so that nobody noticed!
This is one of the best knee braces for backpacking that utilized a different kind of velcro strap that’s softer and thinner but worked better than the regular one. It accommodated a wide range of body types as it was fully adjustable to the size of the leg anatomy. Plus, the open patella design promoted airflow while supporting the rest of our knees.
What We Love
It’s perfect for hiking with injuries that affect your knee strength.
Pros
- It comes with adjustable straps.
- We love the open patella design.
- The velcro straps are perfect for enhanced stability.
- It has MCL and LCL support.
Cons
- It could use stronger velcro.
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Bracoo Adjustable Brace
6
Best for knee issues. The Bracoo Adjustable Brace is made for avid hikers like us who’d regularly hit the trails whenever an opportunity presented itself. Since hiking is a leg-intensive activity, it would put a lot of pressure on our knees. Over time, we’d gotten some knee problems such as tendinitis, while other hikers got issues like meniscus tear and hyperextension. This knee brace greatly avoided and countered these problems, helping our knees support themselves and making us ready for whatever we wanted to do.
This knee brace helped our kneecaps stay on their course while we were maneuvering across the trails. The patellar ring stabilized our knees and prevented them from hyperflexion or slipping off. Moreover, the three-point velcro straps were great at keeping the knee brace in place. Since it came in a one-size-fits-all version, we didn’t have to worry about the fitting. Even when we weren’t walking the trails, this brace was amazing to wear as a recovery knee support product.
What We Love
This is a breathable brace for a longer hiking session.
Pros
- This brace is breathable.
- It comes with a stabilizer ring.
- It can accommodate a great range of sizes.
- It offers both above and below-knee support.
Cons
- You need to occasionally readjust the straps.
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Mcdavid Knee Brace Support
5
Best for seasoned hikers. If you’re a seasoned trail walker like us, chances are that you have the Mcdavid Knee Brace Support in your closet. This heavy-duty knee brace isn’t one for casual hikers because it’s built to support well-worn knees from years of heavy-duty activities. For us, it was a life savior when it came to hiking injuries and a game-changer when it came to actual hiking. So, why is this knee brace a good investment?
For one, it’s very lightweight for the plethora of features that it has. It has two velcro straps to secure the position perfectly. Moreover, the open patella design helped us stabilize our kneecaps and support flexion and extension. It even integrated a couple of spring plates on the sides to further help stabilize our knees. Finally, we could feel it hugging our knees snugly without getting sweaty. The secret? The perforated back panel kept it ventilated.
What We Love
It’s perfect if you’re hiking while recovering.
Pros
- It offers excellent support on hot spots.
- It has a spring stabilizer and adjustable straps.
- The knee brace is made from neoprene.
Cons
- It falls on the heavier side.
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UFlex Athletics Knee Compression Sleeve
4
The UFlex Athletics Knee Compression Sleeve is a professional-grade compression sleeve for us avid hikers, as we wanted to take care of our knees so we could travel farther and further comfortably. There are a lot of things we liked about these compression sleeves. Firstly, they felt like a second skin when we wore them, but more like a supportive second skin. What’s more, the design made it possible to create a snug fit on our knees as it compressed the hotspots on our knees. So, we could feel instant relief once we put it on.
These knee braces consist of adjustable straps and a compression sleeve. Plus, they came in three sizes to accommodate a wide range of sizes. The nylon spandex and the 3D-knitting construction created amazing compression while letting our skin breathe and wick moisture away. So, we were able to experience confidence with a full range of supported motion with this unit, making it worth every penny.
What We Love
It hugs your knee snuggly and provides the best compression.
Pros
- The knee brace has excellent compression.
- It has velcro straps for extra support and fitting.
- The knee brace has good moisture-wicking capabilities.
- It’s made from nylon and is breathable.
Cons
- It may feel itchy after prolonged use.
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Ipow Knee Strap Brace Support and Patella Stabilizer
3
It’s amazing how the Ipow Knee Strap Brace Support and Patella Stabilizer worked wonders to eliminate pain plaguing our knees. Many users have testified that they experienced tremendous effects after wearing this product for the first time, and we’re among them too. In fact, our life quality has increased, and we have been able to continue our hiking hobby despite the pain. For those with problems with jumper’s knees or runner’s knees, these are the best knee braces for backpacking, especially if you don’t feel like wearing a full brace while walking. This product hid perfectly under our waterproof hiking pants due to its design and weighed virtually next to nothing. Plus, it comes in a ton of colors, which is practically unheard of in this line of products.
“From having knee issues to not having them at all while hiking all over the place, these Ipow knee braces have changed our lives.”
WOW Travel
What We Love
It’s super lightweight and cushy as your patella support.
Pros
- The knee brace offers a great range of motion.
- It’s breathable.
- It’s super lightweight.
Cons
- It’s made for a specific knee problem (patella).
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Shock Doctor Maximum Support Compression Knee Brace
2
The Shock Doctor Maximum Support Compression Knee Brace is the best knee brace for hiking if you want to keep doing it for a long time. You’ll realize how big of a deal this knee brace is once you put it on. Any pain and nuisance that we’d experienced from hyperextension, tendonitis, or ACL/MCL tear injuries were gone once we had put this on our legs.
This knee brace had a pair of hinges on the sides to prevent hyperextension while still allowing us the full range of motion we needed while maneuvering ourselves on a terrain. It even had two velcro straps to ensure a snug fit on our thighs and calves. However, even in a tight fit, our knees were able to breathe freely, thanks to the perforated section at the back. This neoprene knee brace has some of the latest technology in the industry, making it worth our money.
What We Love
It offers one of the best support and stabilization among knee braces.
Pros
- It has excellent support on crucial spots.
- The knee brace has dual hinges.
- It has an open patella design.
- It’s odorless.
Cons
- It’s pricey.
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Bauerfeind GenuTrain Knee Support
1
The Bauerfeind GenuTrain Knee Support didn’t become the best of the best knee braces for walking the trails overnight. It took a dedication of time and effort to reinvent these knee braces, which have become one of the most recommended products by athletes. In fact, this product even has a special edition in collaboration with NBA! That, itself, speaks volumes about the quality and technology put into these knee braces.
The thing that makes this knee brace different than the rest is the patellar support and side supports for excellent stabilization and knee cap support. What’s more, the patellar support technology, which is dubbed the “Omega+” pad, made going downhill practically pain-free and easy when we wore the brace. Plus, the pad helped distribute the pressure away from our knees while the side support aided our knee stabilization. While this product isn’t cheap, it’s definitely incomparable to how much surgery would cost due to knee injuries.
What We Love
It’s super comfy and supportive for those treacherous treks.
Pros
- It offers excellent support and compression.
- The knee brace offers gel-based Omega+ patella support.
- It’s lightweight, breathable, and good wicking.
Cons
- None.
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Our Verdict!
While all of these knee braces work wonders, some of them work slightly better than others for their specific features:
- Best budget: SB Sox Compression Knee Brace
- Best all-day knee brace: Powerlix Knee Compression Sleeve
- Best lightweight: Exous Knee Brace
- Best for knee issues: Bracoo Adjustable Brace
- Best for seasoned hikers: Mcdavid Knee Brace Support
How To Choose The Best Knee Braces for Hiking?
When we’re talking about anatomy, it’s hard to make a one-fit-all product that caters to everyone’s needs. The knee isn’t an exception. It may be hard to find the suitable one that hits the balance of functionality and practicality. While some people find refuge in trekking poles, we were thinking more of a compact solution that’s offered by a knee brace. For that, we have compiled crucial pointers to help you start with. Here’s the guide to the best knee braces for backpacking for you.
Size
The first crucial point before getting a knee brace was knowing the measurement of our legs. It might seem trivial, but an ill-fitted knee brace was worse than not having anything at all. A bad fitting can result in discomfort or, worse, injuries, so you need to take measurement seriously. We took some time to consult the company’s measuring guides to avoid getting a knee brace that’s too big or small. A good-fitted knee brace should be snug on your knees but should also allow two fingers easily slip under the brace so it won’t suffocate your knee.
Support
The second concern was to know the specific knee problems plaguing us and matching them to how the knee brace could help. Most knee braces provided compression to promote healthy blood circulation to our knees. However, others also helped stabilize the knees, keeping the patella in place or relieving pain in the patellar tendon. Knowing the knee problem and matching it with the knee brace’s feature will help you solve the problem tactfully.
Design
Depending on the needs, choosing the right design could be confusing. If you like to walk the trails and need some uphill support, then a compression knee brace is enough to help you through your traversing. But if you need some help with downhill support like us, then knee braces with side supports, hinges, and an open patella design might be more suitable for you. These are the best knee braces for walking trails with knee problems.
Material
Are you allergic to certain materials? Make sure you’re highly informed about this since you’re likely to spend a whole day wearing your knee brace. A knee brace for hiking can be made of neoprene or nylon spandex that possesses breathability and wicking properties. Do you hate getting sweaty knees when you’re hiking? Find the knee brace that has excellent moisture-wicking properties.
Are knee braces good for knee pain?
The best knee braces for backpacking help release stress from your knee, resulting in pain relief. Some of them take it one step further to help you stabilize the knee so you can move more confidently.
How tight should a knee brace be?
Snug is your best fit! The rule is that you should be able to insert 2 fingers between the leg and the brace so you’re sure that it isn’t too tight. Are you worried if the brace is too tight? Aim for one size bigger if your size gets too close to the upper measurement.
How do I keep my knee braces from slipping down?
While most braces have some non-slip silicone ring to prevent them from slipping off, having a self-adhesive bandage wouldn’t hurt. You can apply an amount of bandage under the knee brace to hold it in place.
