Knee pads: recommendations,

I wanted opinions on kneepads: brand, quality, cost, durability from personal experience. I want to invest in one but I don’t know what I’m looking for. Also has anybody heard of the place close to Hueco Tanks where a shop makes custom knee pads?

This must be the place you're referring to, as they are based out of Hueco Tanks. I've never used these, but they look pretty good:

https://www.sendclimbing.com/

This is the way to go

https://www.sendclimbing.com/products/downgrader-strap-on-kneepad

I'm 5'8 and have the small one as well, but it seemed to move around more and not be as versatile for climbs where the kneebars are hitting different parts of your thigh.

Also, fairly-tight jeans with a bit of stretch are the way to go for climbs with kneebars, climbing pants with a thin super-stretchy material move around too much.

Constantly adjusting a kneebar because the pad or the pants underneath are moving is an endurance killer.

Almost never wear shorts climbing outside so can't comment on those.

It is usually considered bad form to use a knee other than a knee bar.  Unless you are doing a lot of aiding or bolt replacement, route setting perhaps, or for sure spelunking,I am not sure you would benefit from this purchase. If so, then get a really comfortable pair that do not shift up or down with movement.

The regular thickness downgrader is pretty junk for technical kneebars @ Rifle. If you must, get a slim version for convenience and a real pull-on + duct tape type from Rock & Resole.

The Send pads are some of the nicest on the market. Go with the mini unless you’ve got some treetrunks for thighs and I personally like the slim version as it doesn’t change your shindex as much 

I have to disagree with reboot. I definitely prefer the thicker rubber. It breaks in nicely. Also, I got the large. But I do have tree trunks for legs. SO there's that.

In limestone things might be fine with the thin ones. For the sharp granite fingers poking into your thigh, I prefer the thick. I tried my friend's thin one and didn't enjoy it.

Then again, there are certain kneebars (where your knee is not up and down but horizontal across a groove and just barely catches one side of the groove) where even the thin one is too much pad. For those, I've used duct tape over the jeans and just dealt with the bruising after.

caesar.salad wrote: I have to disagree with reboot. I definitely prefer the thicker rubber. It breaks in nicely. Also, I got the large. But I do have tree trunks for legs. SO there's that.

I mean, it's comfier than the thin version, but have you ever encountered a kneebar you couldn't hold w/ the thinner version but can with the thicker version? I have experienced the reverse and so have many others.

I love my large downgrader but I also love kneebaring and I have been thinking about getting a second pad. Rifle is one of ideal destinations. For rifle since I already have one knee bar pad should I get the small downgrader, ucraft pad or a rock and resole? I am mostly concerned about the marginal knee bars that are almost just knee cap scums. 

reboot wrote:

I mean, it's comfier than the thin version, but have you ever encountered a kneebar you couldn't hold w/ the thinner version but can with the thicker version? I have experienced the reverse and so have many others.

I know OP didn't ask but I assume he's thinking about rifle (slick blocky limestone) given his other recent post.

Ah yeah I haven't been so I wouldn't know. How does the thinness help? Like easier to get in tight places or some other aspect of it?

I ended up getting a $5 thrift store wetsuit and cut the knees out for pads. Just been using them for rebolting and lightweight aiding. They stay-put and are pretty comfortable.