Making a knee pad

Hey, I'm looking for someone who has constructed a knee pad for working knee bars. I'm working a route that i keep peeling off and a pad would be nice so i can work on it more than once a week. I looked for another post with info , couldn't find anything. Any help would be appreciated.

1) Buy a neoprene knee brace, the one I have is manufactured by Mueller.
2) purchase a sheet of 5.10 stealth rubber.
3) (optional)punch holes in rubber sheet for ventilation/cooling.
4) apply contact cement around edge of rubber and area where rubber will be on kneebar pad. apply the rubber while wearing the kneebar pad, and let dry.
5) remove kneebar pad and stitch edge of rubber sheet to neoprene using a canvas needle or a Speedy Stitcher Sewing Awl.

If you want a pro pad then see if your local resoler can hook you up. I took some pads to Rock and Resole and they did a great job.

Or you could deal with the mess, fumes, and kill some brain cells...your choice.

Rock and Resole is actually making pads now. You don't have to send anything to them; they have the neoprene and the rubber. Just call them and they'll send you a pad in whatever size you want.

Phone # for rock and resole is 18002740413

Thank you so much for all of the info. All of the posts were extremely helpful.
Seth

The downside to neoprene is that is makes you sweat like crazy and is very hot. It's also somewhat bulky.

I bought some of the thinner fabric, stretchy knee braces (the kind that are essentially placebo-effect for the wearers) and cut two strips of bike tire inner tubes, duct-taped them together and place them over my knee inside the knee braces. This works quite well, they allow your knee to flex as far as you need it to (neoprene will not always do this), and you don't sweat half as much.

If you want sticky rubber on the outside of the pad, then perhaps a resoler or 5.10 would be able to put it on this type of brace too. Maybe you should go to a sports store and slip on the neoprene vs fabric knee sleeves and see which you like better before purchasing.

NjC wrote:I think I NEED kneepads! Okay...so this was after a snow showery week-end at J-Tree when I couldn't clearly discern the rock from my fingertips in my first year of climbing (not a cat attack, Chris!). But I just bruise, scrape, and bleed too easily! And I do like finding kneebars and jams. I've thought of kneepads, but have been concerned about a lack of flexibility, extra bulk, and just not having as good a sense of feel (fortunately, I have high pain tolerance!). For those who have tried or wear kneepads when climbing, what do you see as the advantages & disadvantages? Does sticky rubber really make a significant difference on a kneepad? Any other thoughts besides wearing clothes that are fairly sturdy and cover my knees, and working on improving my technique?

Are you aid climbing or what? Free climbing? Knee pads are like aid, you don't need them! Those little scrapes on your knees...well, that's what its all about, when the days over, its what makes it all worthwhile. Knee pads are ghetto, cumbersome and unless your laying a tile floor, have no place in the realm of freedom of movement. Like you suggested, wear some old jean or something, tap into that "inner old school", forget the Prana garb and get after it. I bet you'll send the route next time. Good luck.

NjC wrote:I think I NEED kneepads!

I think you're doing it wrong...

Mark Cushman wrote: I think you're doing it wrong...

Nice...trying way too hard!

Just use a pillow.
(Sorry, I couldn't let that pass).

For people who bleed, scrape, and bruise easily (often female climbers), kneepads can make a big difference in how you feel during the rest of the week when you are not climbing (and how you look in the workplace if you happen to have a knee length skirt on). What may just be a small tap on or brush against a rock edge with a kneecap might leave no trace on a dude but can result in bruises or scabs on me. What old school fun, right?

NjC, the kneepads I made do not inhibit my flexibility or sense of feel. I made them originally just for OW climbing but soon decided they were worthwhile to wear on every trad route, even under pants.

I think Seth was originally asking about a knee pad that would go up on the thigh in order to help with knee bars. (I guess it's not technically a knee pad, but a thigh pad). Some here have been refering to knee pads that go right on the kneecap, like the ones used by aid climbers and volleyball players. There's a difference.

seth hamel wrote:Hey, I'm looking for someone who has constructed a knee pad for working knee bars. I'm working a route that i keep peeling off and a pad would be nice so i can work on it more than once a week. I looked for another post with info , couldn't find anything. Any help would be appreciated.

There's no one product, Seth. All that matters is that whatever you use fits snuggly on your thigh and has a friction quality. What you don't want is to have it slide around on your leg when you're trying to hold your kneebar position.

Jay Knower wrote:I think Seth was originally asking about a knee pad that would go up on the thigh in order to help with knee bars. (I guess it's not technically a knee pad, but a thigh pad). Some here have been refering to knee pads that go right on the kneecap, like the ones used by aid climbers and volleyball players. There's a difference.

Yes the instructions I gave are for a kneebar pad. It's important to get the neoprene sleeve large enough to slide up onto your thigh.
You can also cut a scallop in the back where your knee bends for comfort.

Eyes Of Green wrote:For people who bleed, scrape, and bruise easily (often female climbers), kneepads can make a big difference in how you feel during the rest of the week when you are not climbing (and how you look in the workplace if you happen to have a knee length skirt on). What may just be a small tap on or brush against a rock edge with a kneecap might leave no trace on a dude but can result in bruises or scabs on me. What old school fun, right? NjC, the kneepads I made do not inhibit my flexibility or sense of feel. I made them originally just for OW climbing but soon decided they were worthwhile to wear on every trad route, even under pants.

A couple scabs showing could get you props in the office!? Maybe put a little pressure on the "Dudes" that you work with that aren't very active, could be fun, however, the knee pads in your photo look pretty streamline.

"Eyes of Green", by the way, what route are you on in that photo? Looks great!

Joe,

The problem is not that I am ordered to cover up. Don't know if you work in a corporate environment (or work at all), but when one is in an office where high level decision makers (both your own and clientele) are often coming in, impressions do mean something and women especially are judged on the appearance of their skin in general. Most people have no comprehension of why I might have bruises and gouges on my legs, you dig? And it doesn't exactly convey the message I prefer in a professional environment. So I keep my hands well moisturized during the week and try to keep body bruising and rippage to a minimum. Not to mention the DISCOMFORT that all those bruises and scrapes bring along!

The route I'm climbing in that photo is Triassic Sands in Red Rocks; it's the second pitch (or third, depending on how you do it). I do recommend.

Eyes,
Ok you're right about the first impressions and women being judged with the scrapes and bruises and anyhow, its kind of like a 007 sort of cover, scaling walls one day, in the office the next, not a trace of the mission. All in fun, I will visit "Triassic Sands" soon, yes, when I'm not working. Adios.