UKC

Looking to get a cheap kneepad and the only options seem to be the send wizard sleeve or the red chilli kneerock (unless anyone here is trying to sell a used one). Has anyone tried one or both of these pads, are they worth getting or is it better to save up for a nicer pad and just cut my thigh up for a bit longer?

I've got a Send Wizard Sleeve for sale here in case it's of interest: https://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/for_sale+wanted/send_wizard_sleeve_knee_p...

I have a send wizard sleeve and the strapped send one as well.

The wizard sleeve is great if it fits you but if it does it’s a ball ache to put on.

The strap version is imo better just cos it’s easier on / off and you can tailor the fit.

Do you find the sleeve slips at all, do you tape it?

Mine fits perfectly so I don’t tape it, doesn’t slip at all. It does take a few minutes to get it on though!

We use knee pads for caving.  The best ones have vecro straps.  Quick to put on and easy to get a snug fit.

My wizard sleeve must be a slightly looser fit because it only takes me 5 seconds to put it on.

The fit isn't as precise as on the strapped Send but I find it good enough for 99% of kneebars without tape. It was my main kneepad for 5 or 6 years and I only resorted to tape for 2 routes in that time. Both times were for marginal technical kneebars after many moves of steep, 3D climbing. 

Not having a strap makes it more comfortable, I can leave it on for a whole session. I have to wear shorts as it's too tight to fit over trousers. 

For overall performance, I think the Send strapped is best. But if you consider value for money, I think the Wizard sleeve is a good option.

They really named climbing knee pads Wizards Sleeves? Fantastic. 

E9 do one that looks like a copy of the send classic and it’s on offer at the mo for £40! bargin!

Where is it on offer, sounds very intriguing

Banana fingers, E9 nib

Yes, but before each crawl I bet you have to pull them back up again? Unfortunately I have the ultimate delicate-princess knees which only got worse as my knees got older (and elbows too) so ones with hard plastic outer and gel inside are now de rigueur for me.

Not certain climbers' ones are quite the same thing though!! 🤣

Yes, the original caving knee pads used to slip off your knees but the velcro ones do so much less often.

the send ones are the bomb. way better than red chilli in my opinion. They wrap and stick really well to your leg. the mini is nice for climbing, the downgrader is like sitting in a sofa when you find a good knee bar. the sportiva pad is also good, and the rubber is thinner and hangs lower over your knee, but its not really neoprene lined so more awkward to get super tight in my limited experience (eg the inital wrap isn't mega stretchy).

I don't like the sleeve type pads, impossible to get tight... like marginal kneebars or any that you end up dragging or hanging off it will likely move (but fine for standard ones where you knee is just cam'd in). the send mini/dg are never going anywhere no matter how hard you yank them