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Mueller Knee Brace

Best Knee Braces for Hiking (and why you should wear one)

Hiking is a popular outdoor activity that offers numerous physical and mental health benefits. However, it can also be strenuous on the body, particularly on the knees. The repetitive motion, uneven terrain, and added weight of a backpack can put stress on the knee joints, leading to discomfort and potential injuries. 

One effective way to mitigate these risks is by using knee support during your hiking adventures. My top choices for knee braces and support are:

But before we go into further detail, let’s explore the various benefits of using knee support and how it can enhance your hiking experience. We will also cover the different types of knee support and when you should consider consulting with your doctor. And if you haven’t read my article on managing knee pain, I recommend doing so as a companion to this one.

Benefits of Using Knee Support when Hiking

By understanding the advantages of using knee support during hiking, you can make an informed decision to incorporate this essential gear into your hiking routine. Regardless of your experience level, taking proactive measures to protect your knees will not only enhance your hiking experience but also promote long-term joint health. So, let’s dive in and discover how knee support can transform your hiking adventures into remarkable journeys of strength, resilience, and natural wonder.

1. Enhanced Stability and Joint Protection

When you hike, your knees bear the weight of your body and the added load from your gear. Knee support, such as knee braces or compression sleeves, provides an extra layer of stability to the joint. It helps distribute the weight more evenly and reduces the strain on the knee ligaments and tendons. This added support minimizes the risk of twisting or hyperextending the knee, preventing potential injuries.

2. Reduced Pain and Discomfort

Many hikers experience knee pain and discomfort, especially during long or challenging hikes. Knee support can help alleviate these issues by providing compression and warmth to the joint. Compression sleeves, for instance, improve blood circulation, reduce swelling, and alleviate pain caused by inflammation or overuse. By wearing knee support, you can manage existing knee conditions, such as arthritis or tendonitis, and prevent discomfort from derailing your hiking experience.

3. Increased Performance and Endurance

Knee support can significantly enhance your hiking performance and endurance. By stabilizing the knee joint, it allows for more efficient movement and better balance on uneven terrain. With reduced strain and pain in your knees, you can maintain a steady and confident pace, even during steep ascents or descents. The enhanced stability provided by knee support enables you to hike longer distances, explore more challenging trails, and enjoy your outdoor adventures to the fullest.

4. Quicker Recovery and Injury Prevention

Hiking can be physically demanding, and injuries are always a possibility, especially if your knees are not adequately protected. Knee support plays a crucial role in preventing injuries by reducing the risk of strains, sprains, and other knee-related issues. Moreover, if you have a previous knee injury or are recovering from one, using knee support when hiking can aid in the rehabilitation process. The compression and support promote proper healing, allowing you to get back on the trails more quickly.

5. Confidence and Peace of Mind

One often overlooked benefit of using knee support during hiking is the boost in confidence and peace of mind it provides. Knowing that your knees are well-supported and protected allows you to focus on the beauty of nature and fully immerse yourself in the hiking experience. Whether you’re tackling a challenging trail or embarking on a multi-day trek, knee support can give you the peace of mind to push your limits and explore new adventures without worrying about knee discomfort or potential injuries.

Types of Knee Supports

Now that we have covered the benefits from using knee support when hiking, let’s take time to discuss what types of knee supports are available. 

But first … 

It’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional or orthopedic specialist to determine the most suitable type of knee support for your specific needs. They can evaluate your condition, provide guidance on the appropriate support level, and recommend the most suitable knee support based on your activity level and requirements.

With that said …

There are several types of knee supports available, each designed to provide different levels of support and address specific knee conditions. Here are some common types of knee supports and their differences:

1. Knee Sleeves/Compression Sleeves

Knee sleeves, also known as compression sleeves, are lightweight and elastic sleeves that provide compression to the knee joint. They are typically made of breathable materials such as neoprene or spandex. 

Knee sleeves offer mild to moderate support and are primarily used for managing pain, reducing swelling, and improving blood circulation. They are suitable for general knee support during hiking or other physical activities, providing warmth and stability to the knee without restricting movement.

2. Knee Braces

Knee braces are more rigid and offer a higher level of support compared to knee sleeves. They can be constructed with adjustable straps, hinges, and additional support structures. Knee braces come in different types, including:

– Prophylactic Braces: These braces are designed to prevent knee injuries and are commonly used in sports that involve high-risk movements, such as football or skiing. They provide stability to the knee joint and support the ligaments.

– Functional Braces: Functional braces are used after a knee injury, such as an ACL tear or sprain. They provide support to the injured ligaments and help in the healing and rehabilitation process. These braces often have hinges that allow controlled movement while restricting excessive motion that could aggravate the injury.

– Unloader Braces: Unloader braces are specifically designed for individuals with knee osteoarthritis. They help to alleviate pain and pressure on the affected joint by shifting the load to other parts of the knee. These braces are suitable for individuals who experience pain during activities like hiking or walking.

3. Patellar Stabilizers

Patellar stabilizers, also known as patellar straps or knee bands, are focused on supporting the patella (kneecap). They have a strap that wraps around the knee below the patella, providing targeted compression and support. Patellar stabilizers are commonly used for conditions like patellar tendonitis or runner’s knee. They help alleviate pain by reducing stress on the patellar tendon and improving patellar tracking.

4. Hinged Knee Supports

Hinged knee supports combine the features of knee sleeves or braces with additional hinges on the sides of the knee joint. These hinges provide additional stability and control movement to prevent excessive flexion or extension of the knee. Hinged knee supports are often used for more severe knee injuries, post-surgical recovery, or chronic knee instability.

Top Recommendations for Knee Support

Knee pain can potentially be a complicated issue. For this reason, I can only recommend general products designed to alleviate or prevent mild pain and injuries, yet I make no guarantee any product will prevent or alleviate pain. If you are suffering from knee pain and are seeking medical advice, please consult your doctor or a specialist. 

For now, here are my top recommendations for knee support to handle mild pain and/or to prevent injury, broken down into three categories: Sleeves, braces, and hinged braces.

Again, I am not a medical professional. Do not take this as medical advice.

Knee Sleeves

1. Crucial Compression Knee Sleeve

When it comes to knee compression sleeves, I recommend simple, elastic style sleeves, like the Crucial Compression Knee Sleeve, over the neoprene options. Neoprene works great for post hike recovery but will be hotter when hiking, leaving your knees moist as the material does not breathe as well.

These sleeves from Crucial Compression earn my top nod simply due to their silicone grip, helping to prevent slippage. Knee compression sleeves aren’t complicated, so little features like this separates it from the others, especially when sharing a similar price point.

The Crucial Compression Knee Sleeve also has more sizing options than most other brands I’ve seen, so getting the perfect amount of compression for your knee size is more easily attainable.

2. McDavid Level 1 Knee Sleeve

The McDavid Knee Sleeve provides adequate compression and support for light activity and all-day use. It is breathable and easily goes on and off when appropriately sized. Like the Crucial Compression sleeves listed above, these from McDavid are neoprene free.

These are an excellent, budget-friendly option, but you will have to buy two if you want one for each knee as they are sold individually, unlike Crucial Compression who packages two sleeves into one package.

Knee Braces

1. Mueller Self Adjusting Knee Stabilizer

Sometimes you need more support than a compression sleeve offers. That’s when something a little more rigid, like the self-adjusting knee stabilizer from Mueller, may be required. 

Mueller knee brace

The Mueller Self Adjusting Knee Stabilizer has steel springs on each side of the knee that help stabilize the knee and improve lateral support. This brace is also equipped with self adjusting straps that provide adequate compression throughout your hike no matter your size, effectively creating a one size fits all brace and eliminating the guesswork on sizing.  

This brace also has padding around the kneecap, giving it added support for more miles on the trail. And while neoprene is used,  the open back helps improve its breathability so your knees don’t sweat too much.

Finally, the Mueller self adjusting knee stabilizer is very affordable, costing only $16 at the time of this writing, solidifying its spot as number one on the list of best knee braces for hiking.

2. McDavid Knee Support with Stays

Much like the option from Mueller listed above, the McDavid Knee Support with Stays combines compression with spring steel stays. These stays add extra support to help handle side-to-side movements. And with adjustable straps, you can dial in the fit however you need. 

Also, like the Muller, you get added support for your kneecap with extra padding that surrounds it. This combined with the compression and the spring steel stays make this brace an excellent choice for someone wanting a little more than what a compression-only knee support offers.

Unfortunately, this brace does not have an open back, meaning moisture around the knee is likely, thus potentially leading to some discomfort. Also, this option is about twice the price of the Mueller, but is still economical at less than $40.

Hinged Knee Braces

1. McDavid Knee Brace with Dual Disk Hinges

If you can’t tell by now, McDavid’s is a staple in the sports medicine world with the line of joint support products. This brace is like the McDavid brace listed above but has two lightweight hinges, adding additional stabilization for the knee while limiting the movement of the bones.

The ligaments of your knee will not have to work as hard, which makes a hinged brace ideal for someone who may have suffered ligament damage at some point. Note if you have suffered damage to the knee or any associated ligaments, or suspect you may have, consult a doctor to assure you get a properly fitted brace!

2. Fit Geno ReActive+ Hinged Knee Brace

The Fit Geno ReActive+ Hinged Knee Brace is an excellent option at a more economical price. Aside from the price, what sets this one apart from the McDavid is in addition to the hinges it has side stays. Also, the hinges can be removed if you determine the extra stabilization isn’t needed.

With proper adjustment and aided by silicone strips along the inside, the ReActive+ brace should do a fine job of staying in place. The kneecap also has extra support due to the gel padding around the patella opening. Finally, it is open in the back, which the McDavid options do not have, making this one more breathable.

When to See a Doctor

Throughout this article, there have been several mentions about seeing a doctor, so I want to briefly discuss when you should do so. 

First, if you have any doubt or questions, consulting with your doctor is always the better option, regardless of whether you experience any of the conditions below. But, as a general guideline, hikers should strongly consider consulting a doctor about knee pain in the following situations:

1. Persistent or severe pain

If you experience persistent or severe knee pain that doesn’t improve with rest, over-the-counter pain medication, or basic self-care measures, it is advisable to seek medical attention. This is especially important if the pain hinders your daily activities or significantly impacts your ability to hike or engage in other physical activities.

2. Swelling and inflammation

If your knee becomes swollen, red, or inflamed, it may indicate an underlying issue that requires medical evaluation. Swelling can be a sign of an injury, inflammation, or a more serious condition that needs to be diagnosed and treated properly.

3. Limited range of motion

If you notice a decrease in your knee’s range of motion, such as difficulty bending or straightening the knee fully, it is advisable to consult a doctor. Limited mobility may indicate an injury, a structural problem, or a condition that requires medical attention.

4. Instability or giving way sensation

If your knee feels unstable, gives way, or buckles during activities, it could be a sign of ligament instability or weakness in the knee joint. This can be a cause for concern and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional, especially if it interferes with your ability to hike safely.

5. Recurring or chronic pain

If you have a history of recurring knee pain or chronic knee issues, it’s beneficial to consult a doctor. They can assess the underlying cause and offer guidance on preventive measures to help manage your knee pain.

6. History of knee injuries or surgeries

If you have a history of knee injuries, surgeries, or known knee conditions, it’s advisable to consult a doctor if you experience any new or worsening symptoms. They can evaluate the situation and recommend appropriate measures to protect and support your knees during hiking.

Conclusion


Hiking is a fantastic way to connect with nature and improve your overall well-being. However, it’s crucial to take care of your knees, as they play a vital role in your hiking experience. Using knee support, such as braces or compression sleeves, offers numerous benefits, including enhanced stability, reduced pain, improved performance, quicker recovery, and increased confidence. You should also be aware of proper downhill hiking technique to further help mitigate knee pain. So, before you hit the trails, consider investing in knee support to protect your knees and make the most of your hiking adventures.

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