The constant running, jumping, pivoting, and cutting that’s inherent in basketball places a tremendous amount of stress on your knees. The good news is that the best knee sleeves for basketball help tone that down.
A recent study by The American Journal of Sports Medicine said:
The use of prophylactic knee braces significantly reduced the frequency of knee injuries, both in the total number of subjects injured and in the total number of medial collateral ligament injuries incurred.
Are you looking for the best knee sleeves for basketball?
To add, knee braces provide constant compression, support and joint stabilization, and warmth. All these benefits can effectively help reduce joint pain.
But, not all knee sleeves and braces are made equal. Some have materials and special features that make them better for basketball.
We ranked and reviewed them here to save you some time and – hopefully – money. Check them out!
Top Picks
Best Overall: Braceability Patella Stabilizing Knee Brace
Complete with side stabilizers, open-patella with buttress, and velcro straps that help keep it in place.
Best Knee Sleeve: ArmaJoint Compression Sleeve
Perfect for swelling and pain relief, whether it be in-game or post.
Best for Recovery: Cocoon Knee Flex Pro
Comfortable compression with thermotherapeutic properties. There’s nothing else like it.
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Top Picks
- Best knee braces and sleeves for basketball
- Criteria
- Conclusion
The 7 Best Knee Braces and Sleeves for Basketball – Reviews
1. Braceability Patella Stabilizing Knee Brace
Pros
- Open-patella design with U-shaped buttress
- Thick but breathable material
- Top and bottom velcro straps for stability
- Side supports without compromising movement
- Wide size range
Cons
- Pricey
- Only comes in black
Braceability has made a name for itself as a hub for all kinds of joint supports. From elbows, to ankles, and of course, to knees. Among their many products, their best brace for basketball ironically isn’t even marketed for the sport.
This patella stabilizing knee brace is geared more towards people with chondromalacia but its design is made perfect for playing ball.
It has a U-shaped buttress that comfortably nestles your knee caps, effectively relieves your patellar tendon of excessive pressure, and helps keep your knee cap aligned.
It also has side stabilizers that add support to your ligaments as well as velcro strips at the top and bottom that help keep it in place.
Recommended: Top knee supports for chondromalacia patella
2. ArmaJoint Compression Sleeve
Pros
- 360 degree compression for uniform pain relief
- No movement restrictions
- Comfortable and stylish
- Silicone gel strips for stability
- Competitively priced
Cons
- No side hinges for ligament injuries or laxity.
Our very own ArmaJoint Compression Sleeve will be your go-to sleeve for all types of activities, including basketball.
It’s sleek, it’s effective, competitively priced, and comes highly recommended from our team of physical therapists.
Our ArmaJoint compression sleeve is made with a blend of fabric that’s not only comfortable and breathable, but also offers 360 degrees compression. This makes sure that all parts of your knee gets the same type of love and pain relief – all without limiting your movement.
We designed are sleeve to be thin but still sturdy enough to handle intense activity. Our team is packed with sports enthusiasts after all.
Not to toot our own horns but our ArmaJoint sleeve is competitively priced and well worth every penny.
3. Cocoon Knee Flex Pro
Pros
- Superb quality
- All around compression
- Doubles as a heat or ice pack
- Retains its temperature at the appropriate duration
- Perfect for pre- and post-game recovery
Cons
- Expensive
- Not the best option for playing through ligamentous injuries
Simply put, there’s nothing else in the market that’s quite like these Cocoon Knee Flex Pros. I’ve seen many who’ve tried but neither of them look as good, feel as comfortable, and are built as well.
The Cocoon Knee Flex Pros are made from luxurious lycra and are stuffed with hydrogel. The latter allows it to be heated in the microwave or cooled in the freezer, making it capable of both being a heat or ice pack.
And that’s not even the best part!
Once taken out of their thermo bags, these cocoons will retain their cool/warm temperature for roughly 15 minutes.
This makes sure you don’t overdo your thermotherapy. Along with its excellent compression, using the Cocoon Knee Flex Pros is like taking a physical therapist with you on the sideline.
4. McDavid Hex Knee Pads – Best Knee Pads For Basketball
Pros
- Multiple sizing and colors
- Special patented hex protection
- Breathable with hDC moisture control tech
- Very durable
- Enhanced fitting with extended size
- Muscle warming therapy
- For multiple sports
Cons
- Reported sizing chart issues
McDavid Hex knee pads are one of the most popular choices in the market.
They provide great value for money.
The front hex pad, on each sleeve, is especially built to sustain impacts and bumps, without letting your knee feel a thing.
This is made possible by using a patented system of small 9 mm hex cells on the padding – each cell decreases the impact before it reaches your knee.
Moreover, the dry tech keeps your leg skin dry, even if you are playing basketball for hours.
If you are looking for adequate protection, while maintaining your full range of motion, then these are very suitable.
Like other best knee sleeves for basketball, this pair also provides body heat therapy, which heals your basketball injuries faster and promotes muscle recovery.
Comfort and Stability
Due to the integrated moisture wicking technology, the knee sleeve is comfortable to wear for long hours.
It offers enhanced fitting and comfort.
The compression is very effective and keeps your leg muscles pressed, without being overly tight.
Durability and Quality
McDavid knee sleeves are made in the USA and have a very high quality, especially when you consider the price range they come in.
Each sleeve is made from high quality polyester nylon composite, which allows it to be very rugged.
It will not tear easily, even after long and intensive basketball sessions.
The sleeve has been double stitched to prevent it from coming apart.
Cost and Value
These are some of the best knee sleeves for basketball, considering the value for money.
Moreover, with almost 3000 customers on Amazon, it is the number one best seller, which reflects the quality you are getting.
5. Cambivo 2 Pack Knee Brace
Pros
- Good knee support
- Anatomically shaped
- Accelerates your recovery
- Supports weaker joints
- Stable compression
- Easy to wear
- Warranty
Cons
- Sizing issues
Cambivo is another best seller in the basketball knee sleeves category on Amazon.
It comes as a pair and offers a solution to your knee pain while playing basketball by reducing swelling, inflammation and stiffness.
The knee sleeve also improves your muscle circulation and warms your muscles to promote recovery and reduce cramps.
It is flexible and offers a wide coverage, allowing for mobility and protection while playing your favorite game.
Comfort and Stability
Special emphasis has been put on comfort, with Cambivo utilizing a 3D knitting technology for creating breathable and moisture wicking knee sleeves.
Due to the 3D nature, each knee sleeve fits perfectly and has a superior comfort.
Durability and Quality
By utilizing an advanced manufacturing method, Cambivo ensures that all of its knee braces are produced with the high quality expected by its customers.
Each sleeve in this pair has double locked stitching at both ends to create a durable compression system.
This compression remains constant and does not lose its strength over time.
Cost and Value
Despite being an excellent product and coming as a pair, this Cambivo knee brace is still among the lower priced options on our list.
5. Bauerfeind GenuTrain (Single)
Pros
- Medical-grade compression
- Active knee support
- Silicone Omega pad
- Cradles your knee to prevent from impact
- Soft knit fabric
- 100% satisfaction guaranteed
Cons
- Not recommended for usage on sensitive skin
Bauerfeind GenuTrain is a better solution than the traditional neoprene braces.
It is one of the best knee pads for basketball players, with several high end and patented features.
It comes with 360 degrees of medical grade compression, which helps pump out the swelling so the body can reabsorb it, and reduces pain and inflammation.
The Omega pad circles the knee cap to help hold it in place and keep it from tracking poorly; meanwhile, redistributing forces off the patellar tendon.
The meniscus wings help stabilize and support the meniscus.
All put together, whether you’re playing for fun or you’re in the NBA, the Bauerfeind GenuTrain can be a good solution for your knee pain.
Comfort and Stability
The GenuTrain is a flexible and soft brace. It’s breathable, durable and washable.
The fabric is not a neoprene one, but instead, it’s a hypoallergenic knit that is very soft to the skin.
The anti-slip grips on either end of the sleeve prevent it from clumping on your ankles, even during intense gameplay.
Durability and Quality
Bauerfeind is a German company and as is often the case with German engineering, this knee brace is exceptionally designed and manufactured to last for several years.
It has multiple reinforced seams that let nothing on chance and ensure that the knee brace is able to endure stress equal to multiple times your body weight, without coming apart.
Cost and Value
GenuTrain is a high end knee brace.
However, if you truly don’t care and just want the best knee sleeves for basketball, then you should go with a pair of GenuTrain.
It works so well with basketball (players) that the company is officially partnered with the National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association, and many of their players are using this knee brace.
6. Blindsave Knee Pads – Compression Sleeve
Pros
- Minimal design
- Feels and fits great
- Heat molding feature is very effective
- Anti-slip gel to keep sleeve in place
- Completely ergonomic design
- Decreases knee stress and protects
- Built for high performance
- Lightweight
- Multiple sizes and colors
Cons
- The center knee padding can be a little bit cumbersome
If you prefer longer knee sleeves, with padded protection, check out the BlindSave knee pads.
The pair is listed as Amazon’s Choice (best knee compression for basketball category) and has been consistently receiving raved reviews from customers, despite being relatively new in the market.
Compared to your average knee sleeves, these are significantly longer and provide extra compression, along with added warmth.
The key feature of this product is BlindSave’s use of padding foam that actually softens up to your body heat and molds around your knee for a true one-to-one fit.
This allows you to feel like you have customized knee pads to the exact specification of your knees.
Comfort and Stability
The two entry points of the sleeve (the upper thigh and lower leg near the shin) fit perfectly and aren’t too tight, snug or stiff.
Due to its longer size, each knee sleeve has less of a chance of rolling down in the thigh area and scrunching up around the top of your knee.
Durability and Quality
When you get these in hand, you’re really going to feel the difference in quality.
The pair is soft, stretchy and it doesn’t lose its shape even after two months of use.
Blind save uses a combination of polyamide and lycra for the fabric of this pair, which is a more durable and lightweight combination than a polyester spandex combination (used by most manufacturers).
Cost and Value
These come from Europe so you will be paying a premium for them.
However, for the quality and the truly personalized knee care on offer, we think the price is quite fair.
7. Vive Hinged Knee Brace
Pros
- Provides lateral stability
- Offers support for injured knees
- Made of lightweight and breathable materials
- Comes with extra-strength fasteners
- Adjustable
- Can be useful for injury prevention
- Comfortable to wear
- Affordable
Cons
- The sizing chart can be very confusing
- Might not fit larger thighs
The Vive Hinged Knee Brace is made with neoprene. It also comes with aluminum hinges, an open patella design, and 4 straps.
It isn’t the most stretchy hinged knee brace, but it bends enough to still be comfortable. The hinges are removable in case you don’t need them but they do add support that helps protect your ligaments.
Now, while it sounds a lot like Braceability’s Patella Stabilizing Knee Brace, this knee brace isn’t actually as durable. At least from my experience playing with it. It also doesn’t have any size options, so the fit won’t be great for large and petite ballers.
It is, however, quite a bit cheaper.
Factors to Consider When Choosing The Best Knee Sleeves for Basketball
Comfort and Stability
Not only should your knee brace be comfortable, it should also not restrict mobility at all, allowing you to perform your daily routine without thinking about it.
For ensuring stability, look for variants in the market that come with an anti-slip design.
Durability and Quality
Look for a high quality knee brace made from flexible fabric and with optimum fitting.
A knee brace with locked seams and reinforced stitching will hold up well for a few years.
Also, always make sure that the product you are buying has a return policy and at least 1 year of warranty from defects.
Cost and Value
The value of a knee brace depends on your own needs, your condition and your budget.
It is better to get a high quality knee brace for once, rather than opting for cheaper options if you have to compromise on the quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do knee sleeves help in basketball?
Yes, knee sleeves not only protect your knees from getting injured, but they help in improving blood flow and reducing fatigue.
This keeps you pain-free and pushes you to deliver a better performance each time you hit the court.
How tight should knee sleeves be?
Knee sleeves should fit you snug.
This means that they should not be loose to roll down when you start running, nor should they be so tight to pinch or cut-off your blood circulation.
What do compression sleeves do for basketball?
Compression sleeves help to warm your leg muscles and improve blood flow.
Due to the durable outer fabric, the sleeves prevent any impacts or scratches from causing a bruise on your leg.
Are knee sleeves worth it?
If you want to minimize your risk of knee damage or promote your recovery process, you should definitely consider buying yourself a pair of knee sleeves.
Are knee sleeves bad?
Wearing knee sleeves reduces the chances of developing any knee conditions.
The use of knee sleeves does not cause any damage to your knees; however, if you are young, you should not keep the sleeves on all the time, to allow your leg muscles to work naturally.
Note: The answers are not a replacement for medical advice. Please visit a doctor for advice on recovery from your ailment, if you have a serious condition.
Conclusion
This concludes our review of the best compression knee brace for basketball.
We have picked top products that have surpassed most options in the market, in terms of comfort, durability and features.
Not only will any of our listed knee braces help you in managing your knee injury, but it will help you recover from muscle fatigue and improve your overall game.
