Knee Sleeve or compression pants recommendations?

Well, at 54 years old it's time for me to get a little support for skiing. I've got exercises I've been doing pretty religiously for strengthening, but my PT says not a bad idea to get a little support as well. Currently using the Incrediwear knee sleeve (which apparently lives up to its hype), but want something even a little more supportive for skiing.

Scouring the googles I see a lot of folks on the Bauerfeind GenuTrain. Haven't tried that yet. I have tried Bracelayer winter tights--didn't do that much and were always moving around. Stoko? Not too concerned about cost at this point, but don't want to waste time with useless kit.

Anybody swear by something? I know the knees aren't going to feel like they did 30 years ago, but I'd rather avoid painful twinges when turning in deep snow in the tight Vermont woods...

Unless there is a specific, targeted need for a knee "brace" a little bit of compression and warmth is all anyone needs. this random Amazon find (or similar) is all you need. I promise.

https://www.amazon.com/knee-brace/dp...08JGN8D9Q&th=1

Jess the ski coach blew an ACL but didnt get it fixed cuz she doesnt like pain, she had been rocking a big donjoy hard brace, she recommended the Stoko, after 80 days of coaching.

She had sold me boots and gear when she owned a shop so she had crediblity with me when she sez that is the product for you

I also had blew an ACL, I got the surgery but didn't get a hard brace, 3 yrs out I needed some help so I gave Stoko a try , if I didn't like em just return them within 2 month so nothing to lose here I gave them a try

I got nothing to compare them to but they work for me, they do support my knee,

they are not that warm so i still wear a polartech layer over them in my Arcterxy gortex pants

417 can$ ( 37$ in USA bucks) for a brace on each leg and I think some back support, is a good deal they work and I still got em

one of the seams was defective so I sent Stoko a pic but I told them I needed to keep the tights til end of season, they said no problem here is a return # when you send them back we will send you another pair

so they were good to deal with as well, I seem to remember they paid all shipping from Canada eh

I bought the Uflex sleeves off of amazon. Although I've torn and had reconstruction done on both ACL's. I don't wear the sleeves as a brace, but mainly to help with swelling.

I know you're looking for more support, but I love my incrediwear knee sleeves. tweaked my knee a few years back and now wear the sleeves pretty much every time I go skiing. Helps with blood flow and offers a good amount of support without being bulky or limiting any natural movement. don't even know theyre there, but I notice if theyre not there..

I am same age, hve a torn meniscus and just bought the Genutrain for everyday wear and support. Its pretty sweet actually and lives up to the hype. Provides great compression and support, and after a few days my knee felt better than it had in months. I'm either going to wear that this winter or invest in the Genutrain S for more protection against further injury. If you're just looking to comfort an old knee the Genutrain IMO is a solid option

Every compression sleeve I've tried seemed to cut off circulation above and below the knee in a way I found very uncomfortable.

https://www.amazon.com/DonJoy-Perfor...07886596&psc=1

Try that. I loved mine. You can take the metal supports out and if you can make the sleeve only put the supports back in and it won’t move. I also always wore my brace over spandex. Like under armor spandex.


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Originally Posted by SoVT Joey

https://www.amazon.com/DonJoy-Perfor...07886596&psc=1

Try that. I loved mine. You can take the metal supports out and if you can make the sleeve only put the supports back in and it won’t move. I also always wore my brace over spandex. Like under armor spandex.

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I just received something similar, but my ortho doc gave me a prescription and they measured me for it right at the clinic. I received it in about a week. Ended up paying around $80 out-of-pocket.

I have tried just about all the other sleeves and what-not, and most compress too much and end up "squishing all the bad stuff together." At least that's my scientific diagnosis.

I'll second the Incrediwear sleeves, however, as they don't offer support as much as light, massaging compression. Those I wore skiing all last season.

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Originally Posted by Eastside

Unless there is a specific, targeted need for a knee "brace" a little bit of compression and warmth is all anyone needs. this random Amazon find (or similar) is all you need. I promise.

https://www.amazon.com/knee-brace/dp...08JGN8D9Q&th=1

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As a 60yo 4x ACL survivor those are what I’ve been wearing the last couple years. I’ve been incrediwear curious but they don’t look that much different than these Amazon things.

Which genutrain have people tried? A3?


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You can also check out of Amazon with your HSA card if you have any money left over.
I am.

I have been using Genutrain knee braces for the last 6+ yrs. Good support and compression and very comfortable for all day ski wear. I used one over a regular compression sleeve like that one linked on amazon to ski the rest of the day/week/month after my last ACL fell apart, with great success.

I have both the A3 and the P3 on L and R. I like the P3 a bit more because it fits a little higher up the leg than the A3 but I'm on the second A3 now. Have a buddy who has some osteoarthritis and he gets some relief from the genutrain S.

Thx

Just trying to stay comfy until I drop in on the TKR, initial appt for that coming in Feb


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Originally Posted by SoVT Joey

https://www.amazon.com/DonJoy-Perfor...07886596&psc=1

Try that. I loved mine. You can take the metal supports out and if you can make the sleeve only put the supports back in and it won’t move. I also always wore my brace over spandex. Like under armor spandex.


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I use this on my “good” knee and have considered getting a donjoy custom for that knee as a preventative measure based on recommendation of a young sports med doctor that I consulted with a year ago. She is a skier who usually lives in ABQ. She recommended that ideally get a brace that also protects the pcl and not just the other ligaments. Her general recommendation: strength training including knee stability and wear the braces for skiing to prevent injury. She mentioned that this was becoming more common in some sports (I see whole front line football players wearing them).

Awesome recommendations. Thank you! I was looking for some real-world skier feedback and thats what I got. I have also noticed that traditional compression sleeve, I've tried a couple, actually made things worse by the end of a long bike ride, while the Incrediwear is more like a warming hug than a constricting sqeeze. Think I'll start out with the Genutrain and go from there.

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Originally Posted by milestogo

Awesome recommendations. Thank you! I was looking for some real-world skier feedback and thats what I got. I have also noticed that traditional compression sleeve, I've tried a couple, actually made things worse by the end of a long bike ride, while the Incrediwear is more like a warming hug than a constricting sqeeze. Think I'll start out with the Genutrain and go from there.

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I do swear by the Brace Layer ski pants, but mostly because they make a good baselayer for me. I wore the Don Joy knee brace over them last year when I tore my meniscus and my knee felt unstable. The other piece of kit that I swear by is the Kineon red light therapy device. I rehabbed and used the Kineon and skied 100+ days after the meniscus tear. I was out of the brace by the end of the year.

Ive been looking into some stoko pants too.

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Originally Posted by Name Redacted

Ive been looking into some stoko pants too.

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Those are interesting, but I have a hard time seeing how those dials on the back arent extremely uncomfortable

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Originally Posted by milestogo

Those are interesting, but I have a hard time seeing how those dials on the back arent extremely uncomfortable

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actualy I didn't feel the dials even wearing a pack, so they look and sound like boa dials

you can always just send the Stoko back within 2 months for a full refund and they pay all shipping both ways

I have 2x TKRs. Before that I suffered for years. I now wear CWX Compression 3/4 tights under a pair of Asterisk carbon braces. I can, and sometimes do ski w/out the braces, but they're comfortable enough for everyday wear (I ski 150+ days/season). The CWX tights are super comfy and seem to offer a tiny bit of extra support. I tried Bracelayer tights and didn't like them at all. An added benefit for me with the Asterisk braces is they have patella cups (knee pads with hard outer layer). This allows me to kneel on hard surfaces w/out pain. After my knee replacements, my patellas are quite tender and kneeling for any length of time is painful. The rigid braces give me some protection for when others ski into me. I teach a lot of people with disabilities and they're not always in the best control of their bodies.

Those genutrain soft braces look like they'd be good for a little bit of extra support and compression. Just remember to put them on before you put your ski pants and boots on.

Hey mtg, what's the underlying issue? Soft tissue? Osteoarthritis?

I tried the Incrediwear sleeve but my issue is Stage 3+ osteoarthritis. A compression sleeve is like a band-aid on a sucking chest wound for me. Ultimately saw an ortho and he prescribed an unloader brace...my knee was collapsing inward (knock-kneed) so this brace forces my knee joint laterally. It's been an amazing transition and it actually helped my skiing. Like the ticket man, I have a TKR in my future but the brace and hyaluronic acid injections have delayed that for 3+ years. FWIW, I'm 10 years older than you.

Is the incrediwear sleeve worth 2x the price over the random brands on Amazon? Just looking for some light compression and patellar guiding

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Originally Posted by carlh

Is the incrediwear sleeve worth 2x the price over the random brands on Amazon? Just looking for some light compression and patellar guiding

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I'm done buying cheap shit on Amazon. You really do get what you pay for IMO.

The random ones work fine for me to just add a bit of compression. No need to pay a lot for a neoprene tube.

Any experience with CEP brand?

Incrediwear have been far and away better than all the other knee sleeves I have tried. They are quite snug yet comfortable. I use them for pickleball , tennis, and lifting. Not tried them skiing yet but may this year in lieu of my Don Joy braces…PITA…double ACL reconstruction makes me nervous though.

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Originally Posted by MyNameIsAugustWest

Hey mtg, what's the underlying issue? Soft tissue? Osteoarthritis?

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Mild arthritis, perhaps a bit of a meniscus tear, years of not weight training. I always thought just doing more of the activity (skiing, mtb) was the way to get stronger. Only realized in the last couple of years that I need to do specific training to avoid injury. I just hate exercising inside...

I'm bone on bone in both knees with flap tear meniscus surgeries. I use Bauerfeind Genutrain sleeves and they work great. A friend of mine swears by bracelayer knee supports and loves them. Tells me that they kill two birds with one stone. Don Joys are great immediately post surgery, but are confining. Their neoprene sleeve is worthless

Just bought some "Bracelayer" thermal compression under layers w/ knee support. We will see how they work. Knees are good, but want to start supporting them on the bigger/longer ski days and consecutive ski days. We will see how they do.

I have a pair of Bracelayer Men's medium KXV Alpine new in package, tags still attached, free (+ ship) to OP if they fit.

Bought in November 2022, I tried them on and didn't like the fit, put them in the package to send back... except I never sent them back.

If OP doesn't want them, form a line and I'll ship them out. You pay shipping cost

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Originally Posted by skuff

I have a pair of Bracelayer Men's medium KXV Alpine new in package, tags still attached, free (+ ship) to OP if they fit.

Bought in November 2022, I tried them on and didn't like the fit, put them in the package to send back... except I never sent them back.

If OP doesn't want them, form a line and I'll ship them out. You pay shipping cost

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Doubt I'd fit in a M but hopefully the OP or someone takes you up on these. Not cheap pants.

Got a good deal on Stokos a few years ago and pulled the trigger. I am young-ish, have not had any major lower-body injuries and would like to keep it that way. I bought the 3/4 length pair so they don't extend all the way down into my ski boot, the "Tempo" model I think. What blew my mind is, at the time, they did not come with a fly. It annoyed me so much I cut the crotch out of the pants so I could pee hassle-free. Stupid design decision on their part.

Tried to a/b test skiing with and without them as best as I could. When I did ski with them I cranked them down quite hard. Once cranked down the tights lock your knee into certain ranges of motion. I noticed a bit less fatigue/soreness on days when I wore them. Not sure if they would prevent an injury, but I'll take whatever help I can get.

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Originally Posted by skuff

I have a pair of Bracelayer Men's medium KXV Alpine new in package, tags still attached, free (+ ship) to OP if they fit.

Bought in November 2022, I tried them on and didn't like the fit, put them in the package to send back... except I never sent them back.

If OP doesn't want them, form a line and I'll ship them out. You pay shipping cost

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Hmm, if OP doesn't want them M would likely fit me.
I'm a three surgeries in the last decade guy: 2ACLs, 1 Achilles.

But I'm easy, if someone else needs them,, that's cool too.

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Originally Posted by skuff

I have a pair of Bracelayer Men's medium KXV Alpine new in package, tags still attached, free (+ ship) to OP if they fit.

Bought in November 2022, I tried them on and didn't like the fit, put them in the package to send back... except I never sent them back.

If OP doesn't want them, form a line and I'll ship them out. You pay shipping cost

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FYI, I used mine several times, didnt like the fit and emailed to get an RMA. They said if I wanted to keep them, they would refund half my money, or I could return them for full refund. I chose option A so I can use them for fitness laps or something like that. They do make a difference, just not enough of a difference for me to justify full cost. 1/2 price though? Keepers for sure.

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Originally Posted by Name Redacted

Doubt I'd fit in a M but hopefully the OP or someone takes you up on these. Not cheap pants.

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Originally Posted by pfluffenmeister

Hmm, if OP doesn't want them M would likely fit me.
I'm a three surgeries in the last decade guy: 2ACLs, 1 Achilles.

But I'm easy, if someone else needs them,, that's cool too.

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Originally Posted by milestogo

FYI, I used mine several times, didnt like the fit and emailed to get an RMA. They said if I wanted to keep them, they would refund half my money, or I could return them for full refund. I chose option A so I can use them for fitness laps or something like that. They do make a difference, just not enough of a difference for me to justify full cost. 1/2 price though? Keepers for sure.

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Appears Mr miles is going to pass.

Name Redacted sounds like they're out.

pfluffenmeister send a PM with your mailing info if you'd like them

Has anyone here used KT Tape for knee related support?

You all have good luck with bracelayer and boot cuffs? I have to pull my 3/4 lengths up a lot to keep it above the cuff. Sometimes that’s not too comfortable on my calves. I do not find the donjoy custom (rt knee) or their bionic fullstop (lt) too cumbersome. I ski/work, hike, and swim with the custom. Sometimes I wear it when experiencing random meniscus-based discomfort because the padding sets the knee in a good place.

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Originally Posted by bodywhomper

You all have good luck with bracelayer and boot cuffs. I have to pull my 3/4 lengths up a lot to keep it above the cuff. Sometimes that’s not too comfortable on my calves. I do not find the donjoy custom (rt knee) or their bionic fullstop (lt) too cumbersome. I ski/work, hike, and swim with the custom. Sometimes I wear it when experiencing random meniscus-based discomfort because the padding sets the knee in a good place.

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I agree with the bionic full stop. As long as I wore it over tights and had no wrinkles under the brace, I would forget it was there.


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Originally Posted by The SnowShow

Has anyone here used KT Tape for knee related support?

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I have. My PT recommended it after ACL reconstruction, and I taped myself up for a hike I did 5 months-post surgery. I thought it helped.

I've been using Pro Orthopedic neoprene sleeves for decades. Quite happy with 'em!
I get as small a size as will fit so it's nice & tight. They make a thicker, heavier duty one that isn't listed on the website, so give 'em a call if that sounds interesting to you.
https://www.proorthopedic.com/pro130...neesleeve.aspx