Buyer’s Guide:
What are the Best Knee Pads?

Here you will learn of the best inline skating kneepads to protect from injury as chosen by Inline Warehouse staff based on preference and/or experience. We have separated street park kneepads from those used when fitness skating. Park skaters take on a lot more risk with frequent falls, so the pads are bigger. Fitness skaters most often look for a sleek, less cumbersome pad (or even sleeve) to keep cool while skating longer distances.

The S1 Pro Knee Pads (Gen 4) and Smith Scabs Urban Knee Pad are some of the best in the market. They both have replaceable caps, which give them incredible value as you can keep using them even after demolishing the most durable part of them. They have removable padding on each, making them easy to wash. On the back, they both have neoprene butterfly straps that make it very easy to take them off and put them back on over or under your clothing. There are however a few traits that separate them just a bit to explain the price difference.

If you have money to spend and you would like to invest in the future of your knees (knee surgeries are expensive!) S1 Pro Knee Pads (Gen 4) are the way to do it! They have comfort that could last all day long with a streamlined pad design that feels so amazing and provides top-tier protection. There are layers of foam, including high-density, medium-density, and shock-reducing foam with a high rebound memory foam directly against your knees. They use military-grade ballistic nylon that is tough and triple-stitched for security. If that wasn't enough, they also have adjustable top straps that are made with high-retention elastic to reduce over-stretching and a buckle-like system that allows you to customize the length.

Even though the Smith Scabs Urban Knee Pad ranked best for value on our charts, they are exceptional knee pads that are my personal favorite. Affordable and high in quality, these pads have it all! They have triple-layer foam that includes a strip of memory foam. They are also designed to be a bit shorter than other pads so that you can have more movement.

If those pads seem too hardcore for you or you would like to have a lot more movement with similar protection in case something goes awry the Ennui Shock Sleeve Pro Knee Gaskets might be the magic trick. They have new technology from MyFit that they are calling a "super foam", it is Shock Protection Cushion (SPC) that hardens upon impact. They are made with abrasion-resistant kevlar on the coating for durability.

The Powerslide Onesie Knee Pads offer the same amount of comfort if not more with stretchy material that keeps you cool and comfortable in cotton. They stay in place with silicone bands and a donut-shaped pad that cups around your kneecap. With dual-density and EVA foam, they offer a bit of cushion to your spills and protect you from abrasions with an anatomically shaped polyethylene cap that is shock-resistant. The padding isn't too thick so these aren't made for intense skating but they are perfect for recreational skaters and they do come at an amazingly low price.

Inline skating is great exercise, but even if not planning on doing tricks or jumps you can still get hurt. The last thing you want is a knee injury that could have been easily prevented.

Depending on skill level and/or type of skating, falling onto the knees is common. Kneepads will of course prevent scrapes and bruises, but they can also save you from suffering from a much more serious injury. Kneepads also reduce the impact of a fall, protecting the kneecap(s).