If you’ve been into yoga, you know how stressful it can be to your shoulders, elbows, hands, wrists, and knees. You don’t have to worry about these pains with yoga knee pads. These pads are designed to offer a soft cushion to your joints and act as an extension to your current yoga mat.
There are so many yoga knee pads available today, so much that choosing one can be overwhelming. We have done all the legwork for your convenience to help you find what you’re looking for. Here are our top recommendations and guidelines for the best yoga knee pads.
Quick Answer:
Before we get into details, let’s present a quick overview of our top three best knee pads for yoga:
SukhaMat offers the best yoga knee support you’ve been searching for. It’s 15 mm thick, which is good enough to offer a nice cushion to your knees, elbow, and wrist when doing yoga on hardwood floors. Aside from offering a soft surface for your joints, it’s also ideal for use as a mat extension to rest your head during Savasana.
Whether you’re doing yoga, Pilates, or any floor-based exercise routine, Heathyoga Yoga Knee Pad can be put in good use. It complements any yoga mat and can be used on any surface. If you like to travel, you’ll love this yoga knee pad a lot because it comes with a convenient carrying strap.
If you want a more affordable option, REEHUT Yoga Knee Pad might be your best choice. It offers almost the same features as other brands. REEHUT is 15 mm thick and made of non-toxic NBR foam material.
Editor’s Pick: Best Yoga Knee Pads
Yoga Knee Pads Buying Guide
Before you make your first purchase, here are a few things you need to know when buying yoga knee pads.
Benefits of Yoga Knee Pads
Yoga knee pads are definitely essential if you suffer from any muscle or joint pain. Despite its name, yoga knee pads aren’t meant solely for knees. These cushions can also be used for your hands, back, feet, elbows, wrists, and feet.
The main benefit of yoga knee pads is to protect your sensitive joints and bones without the hassle of piling blankets or folding the yoga mat. Simply use a yoga knee pad to provide more cushion when doing regular yoga routines, Pilates, or floor-based exercises.
Now, camel pose, headstands, boat pose, and other difficult yoga poses can be done without the tormenting pain.
How to Choose a Yoga Knee Pad
Think about your body type
If you easily get achy joints and are currently suffering from any injury, choose a thicker mat for extra cushion. Choose a longer knee pad if you’re tall.
Consider the type of yoga you’ll plan to do
If you’re a beginner, a less high-quality knee pad or a basic pad will suffice. Flow yoga needs more complicated movements, so you’ll need a knee pad that provides more traction to keep you stable.
For yin yoga, the grip is less important, so you can go with a soft knee pad. If you engage in hot yoga, choose a knee pad that has a closed-cell structure to prevent the absorption of sweat or any liquid.
Consider the place where you’re performing yoga
If you plan to do yoga outside your house, choose a lightweight knee pad that you can carry easily. It’s a great bonus if the knee pad comes with a storage bag or a carrying strap.
What to Look For
Thickness
The best knee pad should have adequate thickness to provide comfort and support while doing various yoga poses. You don’t want it too thick that it would cause instability nor too thin that it would hurt your knees. The recommended thickness is between 5 mm to 25 mm.
Material
The best yoga knee pad should be made of an eco-friendly material free from PVC, phthalates, and harmful chemicals. It shouldn’t absorb any moisture as you tend to sweat during yoga practices. It should have a non-slippery surface, so you can perform your yoga poses with full stability. Your best options are TPE and NPR.
Shape and size
The design of the knee pad is also crucial for your purchase decision. If you want to minimize joint pains and muscle aches, look for round knee pads. Look for wider or longer knee pads if you want plenty of room to move around.
Warranty
The warranty usually hints about the quality of the product. A longer warranty means a high-quality product. If you want to ensure the quality of the yoga knee pad and be worry-free after purchase, look for a longer warranty.
5 Best Yoga Knee Pads Review
1. SukhaMat Yoga Knee Pad
Enjoy real yoga comfort with the SukhaMat Yoga Knee Pad. This pad has a thickness of 15 mm to cushion the elbows, knees comfortably, and any other sensitive pressure points. It’s 10 inches long and 24 inches wide to accommodate people of all sizes.
The SukhaMat is made from the highest density of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) foam, which is free from phthalates and latex. We love that this mat is lightweight and fits nicely into a bag, so you can carry it anywhere. Best of all, it offers a lifetime guarantee which is a testament to SukhaMat’s impressive quality.
PROS:
- Lifetime guarantee
- Made of toxic-free foam
- Available in many colors
- Extra thick and comfortable
- The non-slip surface gives a secure grip on the floor
- Lightweight and portable
CONS:
- It doesn’t come with a carry strap or bag
Best For:
The SukhaMat is best for people who want extra thick cushion for their knees and elbows when doing yoga, Pilates, and other floor exercises. With its many color options, you can surely pick a mat with your favorite color.
2. Heathyoga Yoga Knee Pad
The HeathYoga knee pad is 10 inches long and 26 inches wide, which is a bit wider than the SukhaMat. It’s 12 mm thick, which makes it really lightweight. It comes with a carry strap, so you can easily carry it along when traveling.
This knee pad is made of thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), a blend of rubber and plastic. It’s free from PVC and latex, so it’s safe to use. The closed-cell composition of the foam makes it easy to clean as no sweat or liquid will be absorbed.
PROS:
- Comes with a carry strap
- Doesn’t absorb sweat and moisture
- Good grip on the floor
- Free from PVC and latex
- Has a large width
CONS:
- A bit thinner than others
Best For:
The Heathyoga Knee Pad is ideal for people who sweat too much. TPE's closed-cell structure won't absorb any sweat as other NBR foams can. It comes with a carry strap, making it perfect for travel.
3. REEHUT Yoga Knee Pad
Measuring about 24 inches wide and 10 inches long, REEHUT is a great complement to any standard yoga mat. It’s 15 mm thick, making it effective in relieving the pressure points in your elbows, ankles, knees, forearms, hips, and back.
Just like Heathyoga, REEHUT offers a free carrying strap for easy travel. It’s made of high-density NBR foam, which is non-toxic and environment-friendly. The best thing about REEHUT is that it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 2-year warranty for a worry-free purchase.
PROS:
- Comes at an affordable price
- Includes a free carrying strap
- Made of non-toxic NBR foam
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Extra thick at 15 mm
- Lightweight and easy to store
CONS:
- The middle part thins out easily
Best For:
REEHUT is best for people who have a limited budget. It’s affordable but offers basic features, like extra thickness, 2-year warranty, and a free carrying strap.
4. RatPad Yoga Knee Pad
While the other yoga knee pads on this list have a rectangle shape, the RatPad is oval-shaped for a small footprint. This means you can store and carry this yoga knee pad in your bag without taking too much space. Its dimensions are 11.75″ x 7.5″ with a thickness of 1 inch.
The RatPad is made of thick neoprene, which is non-toxic and biodegradable. It has a closed-cell structure, meaning it won’t absorb any moisture. You can use it alongside your yoga mat to perform your daily yoga routine.
PROS:
- Compact, yet thick
- Won’t absorb sweat or any liquid
- Easy to clean
- Made of non-toxic material
CONS:
- A bit small
Best For:
The RatPad is perfect for those who want an extra cushion. At 1-inch thick, you’ll execute all yoga poses with comfort. Its round shape design makes it perfect for those who want to reduce joint and muscle pains.
5. Kinesis Yoga Knee Pad
With a length of 12.2 inches and a width of 24 inches, Kinesis is probably one of the few large yoga knee pads on the market today. It’s 25 mm thick, so you can imagine how comfortable it will be to your joints. It’s a nice fit for your standard-sized yoga mat.
This Kinesis cushion is made from an environment-friendly NBR foam material. It’s free from any harmful chemicals like PVC. Best of all, its updated version is Velcro-free and comes with a breathable mesh bag for easy transport and storage.
PROS:
- Has a nice cushion and length
- Free from toxic and hazardous chemicals
- Includes a nice mesh bag
- Non-slippery and odorless
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
CONS:
- A bit expensive
Best For:
The Kinesis Yoga Pad is perfect for people who want plenty of room to do yoga practice. It includes a breathable mesh bag, making it also ideal for travel.
FAQs:
Q: Is it okay to do yoga with knee pain?
Yes, it’s safe to do yoga even with knee issues. However, you need to listen to your body. If it hurts, then it’s a sign that you shouldn’t go too far with the yoga poses.
Q: What are the best yoga poses for bad knees?
Yoga is an effective solution for most physical and mental illnesses. Specific poses will help strengthen your knees and the muscles around them. The recommended poses for bad knees are the mountain pose, warrior pose, and bridge pose.
Q: Are PVC knee pads safe?
No, PVC isn’t safe because its main ingredient is vinyl chloride, which is carcinogenic. The best materials for knee pads should be free from PVC and other harmful chemicals.
Conclusion
Among the five best yoga knee pads we reviewed above, our favorite is the SukhaMat. It’s extra thick and wide enough to provide a comfortable cushion to people of all sizes. It’s made of NBR foam free of latex and phthalates, and it offers a remarkable lifetime guarantee.
A good alternative is the Heathyoga which offers good support to your joints when doing all yoga poses. This yoga knee pad is wider but thinner than the SukhaMat. It includes a carrying strap which makes it ideal for travel(It’s perfect to be with travel yoga mats!).
Allen Wei is someone who believes in living his best life, focusing on balance, happiness, and relaxation. He fosters a positive lifestyle in terms of his body, mind, and environment, and he is a huge proponent of learning to be balanced via relaxation techniques integrated into our busy lives.
