7 Best Knee Sleeves for Functional Fitness in 2024

Functional fitness is a form of high-intensity interval training that combines functional full-body movements with high-intensity cardio.

Whilst fitness is extremely popular and enjoyable to do, it places a lot of stress on the knee joints and commonly leads to annoying knee issues making choosing the best knee sleeves for functional fitness an important choice.

Knee sleeves provide stability and protection to your knee joints, which can be injured easily and take a long time to fix. Adding them to your gym kit is a great investment. In this guide, I’ve done the hard work for you and tested the best knee braces for fitness to give you my top-pick option for functional fitness.

Top 7 Best Knee Sleeves for Functional Fitness Reviewed

1. Iron Bull Strength 7mm Knee Sleeves – Top Pick
2. Rogue Fitness Knee Sleeves – Runner Up
3. Gymreapers 7mm Knee Sleeves
4. Nordic Lifting 7mm Knee Sleeves
5. ProFitness Knee Sleeves
6. Rehband Rx 5mm Knee Support
7. Rocktape Assassins Knee Compression Sleeves

I’ve evaluated the most important characteristics and ranked the Knee sleeves accordingly. I’ve scored each pair of knee sleeves based on compression, support, material quality, comfort, and value for money. Check out the quick summary table below.

Product	Total	Compression	Support	Material Quality	Durability	Comfort	Value for Money
Iron Bull	60	10	10	10	10	10	10
Rogue	59.5	10	10	10	10	10	9.5
Gymreapers	59	10	10	9.5	10	9.5	10
Nordic Lifting	58.5	10	10	9.5	9	10	10
ProFitness	58.5	10	10	9.5	9.5	9.5	10
Rehband Rx	57	10	9.5	9.5	9	9.5	9.5
Rocktape Assassins	57	10	10	9	9	9.5	9.5

Iron Bull Strength manufactures high-end bodybuilding and powerlifting accessories and equipment, including weight belts, wrist straps, and knee sleeves.

The brand goal is to give you the freedom to perform your home gym workout with a full range of high-quality fitness equipment. They want to provide comfortable fitness equipment for everyone to enjoy using.

The 7 mm knee sleeves from Iron Bull strength are top of my list for good reason. The well-designed, durable knee sleeves are constructed of high-quality SCR neoprene and come at a much lower price point compared to similar knee sleeve options.

The 11.5″ sleeve length makes these Iron Bull Knee Sleeves stand out from the competition. They are almost 2″ longer than most other knee sleeves, providing lots of extra knee support for functional fitness.

The 3-D knee sleeve design process ensures the contoured fit provides excellent knee compression and support whilst sitting comfortably against your knees.

Once the knee sleeves are in place, they don’t budge. The double silicone gel straps lock the sleeves securely into place meaning you don’t need to reposition them during an intense fitness workout.

The sleeves have a great size range, going from S-2XL and are available in several different color options.

Founded in 2006, Rogue Fitness quickly grew to be a leading producer of high-end fitness equipment that's well-known around the world.

They produce a range of strength and conditioning equipment including weights, racks, and gym accessories. The brand aims to provide durable workout gear at affordable prices.

Rogue has designed an excellent pair of high-quality, versatile knee sleeves that can be purchased according to the amount of compression you need. This makes them an ideal choice for fitness athletes who want good knee support with the freedom to move around.

The 3 mm, 5 mm, and 7mm size options cater to a wide range of exercise choices, making sure you pick the perfect pair. The thinner knee sleeves provide less compression but are great for cardio whilst the thicker sleeves are mainly used for heavy-duty lifting.

This makes the range of choices ideal for athletes who need to choose the sleeve thickness based on their needs.

In terms of the materials used, the blend of neoprene and SBR makes the sleeves comfortable to wear whilst providing great durability so they won't tear or break easily.

With the contoured seams and flexible compression material, the knee sleeves sit on your knees without moving around and annoying you during a workout.

The sleeves come in XS-XL and are available in 5 different colors, providing plenty of options for you to customize them according to your preferences.

The Gymreapers brand was built by athletes for athletes. The brand aims to work alongside customers to continuously create and improve products that help achieve your goals in the gym.

The Gymreapers brand offers another pair of high-quality 7mm knee sleeves made from neoprene but they come with a convenient little carry bag so you can keep your gym bag organized.

The reinforced stitching ensures the knee sleeves are made to last and are well-suited for athletes performing intense, dynamic functional fitness movements.

The 7mm neoprene compression material retains heat when wearing them which reduces muscle stiffness and helps to keep the knee joint healthy.

As the Gymreapers brand is by athletes for athletes, you can be sure that the 7mm knee sleeves have undergone extensive testing to make sure the sleeves do exactly what they say.

They have a great size range from S-XXL and come in 3 color choices - white, red, and green.

Nordic Lifting’s main core values are outstanding product quality and excellent customer support. When manufacturing their products, each one must adhere to rigorous building standards with a fair price tag.

Nordic Lifting is well-known for its durable weightlifting and powerlifting accessories, so it's no surprise that they have produced a pair of 7mm neoprene knee pads for functional fitness that offer great compression and support.

Whilst the 7mm thickness means they are less flexible compared to thinner choices, the maximum compression is great for the more intense, compound lifting involved in functional fitness.

They are made from 100% neoprene with reinforced stitching featured throughout the sleeves giving them extra durability for high-impact, dynamic fitness movements.

The available sizes range from S-XXL suiting most lifters but they only come in black, something which could be improved. The brand is so confident that you’ll love their product, they offer a 1-year hassle-free warranty.

ProFitness is a gym equipment and accessories company that wants to help assist people in their fitness journey. Their extensive range of fitness products is designed for people wanting to improve their health and combat debilitating pain.

Just like the Gymreapers brand, ProFitness products are made by athletes for athletes. With the neoprene material and extra-strong nylon thread construction, you can see that the ProFitness Knee sleeves have been designed with durability in mind.

The 7 mm neoprene material provides maximum compression whilst the strong nylon thread keeps the sleeves secure against the knees when lifting.

Once you've picked the right size from the large range of options, the knee sleeves fit comfortably against the skin when performing high-intensity fitness workouts. If you like customizing your knee sleeves according to your gym outfit, they are available in 6 different color options.

Rehband is a global producer of gym accessories with over 50 years of industry experience. The brand is one of the most prominent players in the sports protection and support market.

Their products provide exceptional solutions to active people - from professional athletes to recreational gym-goers.

With the 5mm thicknesses option, the Rehband knee sleeves have been specifically designed with fitness in mind. The 5 mm option gives you the freedom to move whilst providing a good level of knee compression.

The longer, more maneuverable design of these knee sleeves makes them ideal for high-intensity cardio such as running and rowing, both used heavily in functional fitness.

What makes these knee sleeves stand out is the patented anatomical design. The knee sleeves are designed to move with the body's motion so they don't slip when moving around. The anatomical design also makes the compression more even throughout the whole length of the sleeve, giving them an advantage over other designs.

The huge range of size options offered in the Rehband knee sleeves is a huge selling point. The XXS size option isn't offered in many other brands. Alongside this, the great range of unique color options are great for lifters who want to express themselves through their accessory choices.

Rocktape assassins is a popular fitness brand, mostly known for its kinesiology tape. Alongside this, they now produce supportive gym accessories such as knee sleeves.

If you're a fitness athlete who needs the freedom to choose your knee sleeve thickness depending on the type of workout you do, the Rocktape Assassins knee sleeves make a great option. They give you the option to choose 5 mm or 7 mm thickness, providing slightly different levels of compression and movement.

The neoprene material sits comfortably against the skin with the long sleeve design helping to keep the knee sleeves securely in place and providing good protection all around the knee area.

Alongside having a cool name, the design of the Rocktape Assassins knee sleeves is appealing as far as knee sleeve designs go. The front of the sleeves feature the brand name in big white writing whilst the sides feature camo print.

Why use Knee Sleeves for Functional Fitness?

With fitness consisting of high-impact exercises performed in large numbers over a small period, the use of knee sleeves is very important.

1. Knee Support

During a  functional fitness workout, lots of stress and pressure is placed on your knee joints due to the repeated impact over a short period of time.

By providing knee support, knee sleeves give your knee joints much needed stability and help keep the knee joint aligned correctly during the different fitness movements.

2. Knee Compression 

Alongside providing crucial support, knee sleeves use compression material that increases blood flow and reduces swelling and pain caused by an intense workout.

Wearing compression knee sleeves during functional fitness is a great idea purely due to the amount of volume performed. As the knees are under so much pressure during the fitness workout, anything that helps to alleviate pain and swelling is a great idea.

3. Knee Recovery

Knee sleeves don't just help during a functional fitness workout, they help with recovery after too. After performing a high-intensity fitness workout, the reduced pain and swelling helps you to recover quicker through the compression warming effect.

For functional fitness athletes looking to perform multiple workouts with short rest periods in between, the use of knee sleeves is vital.

How to Choose Knee Sleeves for Functional Fitness

When trying to find the right knee sleeve for fitness, you need to consider the amount of compression required vs the movement the knee sleeve allows. Alongside this, here are the main factors to look at:

1. Durability

Once you've purchased your knee sleeves, they should last for years even with repeated heavy use. Alongside the material used, make sure it's held together with high-quality stitching. If your pair of knee sleeves come with a longer warranty, it ensures peace of mind when purchasing.

2. Fit

Firstly, you want to make sure the knee sleeve is the right size against your knee joint. The knee sleeve needs to provide sufficient compression without sitting too tightly against the knee. Make sure to use the fitting guides and measure around the knee area correctly before choosing the right size for you.

3. Thickness

As I mentioned earlier, sleeve thickness plays a huge role in determining the amount of compression and movement it provides. Knee sleeves usually come in 3 main sizes — 3 mm, 5 mm, and 7 mm.

The thinner the sleeve size the more movement it gives but the lighter compression it provides. This makes the thinner sleeve length good for high-intensity cardio but not so much for heavier lifting movements.

The thicker sleeve sizes provide maximum compression but tend to reduce the range of motion of the knee joint, making them not as suitable for fitness movements that require dynamic, whole-body moves.

Before purchasing, consider the different types of exercise you'll be doing and choose the sleeve thickness size based on that.

How to Use Knee Sleeves for Functional Fitness?

When performing a fitness workout and looking to use knee sleeves, follow these steps to fit them correctly:

1. Follow the size guide provided by the sleeve manufacturer to correctly measure for the size you need. Each manufacture guide tends to be specific to their product
2. Pull the knee sleeve over your floor so it's covering your shin
3. Fold the top of the knee sleeve over itself
4. Use both hands to pull the sleeve above the knee joint
5. Flip the top half back over so it covers the bottom of your quads and hamstrings

FAQ

What Is The Best Thickness For A Knee Sleeve?

The best thickness for a knee sleeve depends on the exercises you'll be doing. As fitness consists of a mixture of high-intensity cardio and Olympic lifts, the best knee sleeve thickness is the one that best suits the exercises you’ll be doing.

Why Do My Knees Hurt After Functional Fitness?

Functional fitness mainly consists of compressive exercises that put a lot of stress on the knee joints. As fitness workouts usually involve the athlete performing a large number of repetitions in a short time with small periods of rest, the stress placed on and around the knee joint can make them hurt if knee support isn't used.

How Tight Should Knee Sleeves Be For Functional Fitness?

Make sure the knee sleeves sit firmly against the knee joint in a snug fit. You want them to not be too loose or too baggy, so they provide the right support without cutting off your blood flow.

conclusion

After doing one of the most comprehensive fitness knee sleeves reviews, here is what I've found:

With multiple different knee sleeves on the market with different design features and providing different levels of compression, it's hard to know what's the best knee brace for fitness.

From my extensive review of the 7 best knee sleeves for fitness, the Iron Bull Strength 7mm Knee Sleeves are my top pick choice. The clever design features, durable material, and longer sleeve length puts them above the rest.

When buying knee sleeves for fitness, make sure to consider the materials, thickness, and design features and follow my step-by-step guide to fit them correctly.

Have you experienced knee pain when doing fitness before? How much difference has using knee sleeves made to your workouts? Let me know in the comments.

Also read:

• Best Knee Sleeves for Squats
• 5Mm Vs 7Mm Knee Sleeves
• Knee Wraps Vs Sleeves
• Knee Sleeves Deadlift
• Best Squat Racks
• Best Knee Brace

References:

1. Knee Sleeves | The Complete Beginner's Guide // Powerlifting Perfection: https://powerliftingperfection.com/post/knee-sleeves