The 10 Best Knee Braces

From a German orthopedic maker that also sells through clinics, the Bauerfeind GenuTrain pulls on like a sleeve but does more than squeeze. A soft ring pad around the kneecap is meant to help keep it in place, and flexible stays on both sides add a little side-to-side support. It's pitched for strains, tendinitis, swelling and a mildly unstable knee, and it's slim enough to wear under pants. The catch is price, and sizing takes two tape measurements.

For a knee that feels loose from side to side after a sprain, the McDavid 429X adds geared hinges down both sides and two cross straps that pull it snug above and below the joint. An open, padded ring keeps pressure off the kneecap. The neoprene is latex-free, and the hinges slide out so the sleeve can be washed. Like any neoprene brace it runs warm, and the hinges make it too bulky for slim pants.

Made for everyday aches, walks, hikes and gym days, the UFlex Athletics Sleeve is a thin knit sleeve with no hinges or straps, so it bends freely and fits under most pants. Two silicone bands inside help stop it from sliding down, and the stretchy knit breathes better than neoprene. It comes in lots of colors, and sizing down gives a firmer squeeze. It offers warmth and light compression, but it won't hold a loose knee steady.

Unloader braces like the Ovation Game Changer are usually suggested for arthritis on one side of the knee. A single upright runs down one side, and a dial shifts pressure toward the inner or outer side, meant to take some load off the sore part. Push-button buckles suit stiff hands, the single upright keeps it slim, and you order it by side. Research on these braces is mixed, so ask a doctor before relying on it.

You don't have to pull the Bodyprox Stabilizer Wrap over your foot: this open-front brace wraps around the knee and closes with hook-and-loop tabs. A coil spring in each side gives some flexible support, a gel ring cushions the kneecap, and two crossing straps tighten above and below the joint. For a modest price, it does more than a plain sleeve. The fabric runs warm, and look-alike wraps sell under other names, so check the brand.

Aimed at court and field sports, the Shock Doctor 875 comes from a company best known for mouth guards. Hinges on both sides limit side-to-side movement, and two straps cross in an X to hold it in place when you cut and jump. The neoprene is vented to let some heat out, and a padded ring surrounds the kneecap. It's bulkier than a sleeve and still runs warm, so save it for games and practice.

The McDavid 401 is a plain neoprene sleeve that has been around for years. It holds warmth around the joint, which some people with arthritis or old injuries find soothing, and it gives firm, steady compression. Flat seams cut down on rubbing, and a mesh panel behind the knee lets some heat out. It's sold one at a time, so buy two for both knees. It adds comfort, not ligament support, and it's hot in summer.

Nordic Lifting Sleeves are thick neoprene tubes for squats, lunges and other heavy leg work. It keeps the knees warm between sets and feels tight and springy at the bottom of a squat. The pair comes with reinforced stitching and a one-year warranty, and the sizes run small, so measure with care. Nordic Lifting is plain that these are training gear, not for medical treatment or recovery after surgery, and anyone sensitive to neoprene should skip them.

A narrow band, the Bodyprox Patella Strap buckles around the leg just below the kneecap. Straps like this are meant to put light pressure on the tendon there, and runners and jumpers wear them for the ache often called runner's or jumper's knee. A silicone pad sits against the tendon, vent holes let heat out, and a hook-and-loop tab sets the tightness. It does one job only, so it won't help a loose or swollen knee.

Built for arthritis, the Bauerfeind GenuTrain A3 swaps the usual ring for a star-shaped pad that presses around the kneecap and shifts as you move. Bauerfeind says that gives a massaging effect meant to ease swelling. A silicone band inside the top edge helps stop it from sliding. It's knitted in Germany and pitched for early knee arthritis and kneecap tracking problems. It costs a premium, it's sold by side, and stock was thin at last check.