Knee Sleeves

Knee sleeves do two jobs. They keep the knee joint warm and compressed through a session, which most lifters notice as the knees feeling better on heavy squat days, and at 7mm they add a small, honest amount of rebound out of the bottom of a squat. They are not knee wraps: sleeves are neoprene tubes you pull on and leave on, wraps are elastic bandages you wind tight for a single set. If you compete raw with sleeves in the IPF, APA or most other federations, a 7mm neoprene sleeve at 30cm is the standard, and every sleeve on this page meets it.

Choosing thickness

7mm is the powerlifting sleeve. Maximum compression, most rebound, the one to buy if you squat heavy or compete. 5mm is the weightlifting and general-training sleeve: the four-way stretch neoprene moves with a deep clean or snatch receive without fighting you, and it is the more comfortable option if you wear sleeves for a whole session or your knees just want warmth rather than support.

Fit: standard or tight

Sizing is the part people get wrong. Measure around the centre of the knee with the leg straight and relaxed, then check the size chart on each product. That measurement gives you the standard fit, which is right for training, for lifters new to sleeves, and for anyone who wants warmth without the sleeve fighting circulation. Competition lifters chasing maximum rebound usually go one size down for a tight fit. A tight-fit sleeve is hard to get on (plastic bag, chalk on the calves, and patience) and you will want it off between sets. If your measurement sits on the border of two sizes, take the larger one for training and the smaller for competition. Sizes run from 3XS to 5XL depending on the range.

The ranges

The classic SBD 7mm sleeve in black and red is the one on most platforms and the one to default to. The Nova, Resolve, Serenity and Forge ranges are the same 7mm sleeve in limited colourways, released a few times a year; when a colourway is on this page in your size, it is here now and will not be restocked once it sells through. The Nova 5mm is the weightlifting sleeve described above. All are made in the UK from high-grade neoprene with reinforced stitching, and all are IPF approved.

Care and lifespan

Wash them. Neoprene holds sweat and a sleeve that is never washed will stiffen and smell within a month. Hand wash in warm water with a mild detergent or a squirt of shampoo, rinse, squeeze out and air dry away from direct sun; never put them in a dryer or on a heater. Rotate two pairs if you train four or more days a week. With normal care a 7mm sleeve keeps its compression for a year or two of hard training, and the stitching outlasts the neoprene.

Common questions

Do I need knee sleeves? If you squat heavy and your knees feel cranky on the first few sets, or you compete, yes. If you are new to lifting or squat light, warm up properly first and buy sleeves when the loads justify them.

Do knee sleeves add weight to your squat? A tight 7mm sleeve adds a small amount of rebound out of the hole, in the order of a few kilos for most lifters. The warmth and confidence matter more than the number.

Knee sleeves or knee wraps? Sleeves for raw lifting, training and any raw-with-sleeves federation class. Wraps only if you compete equipped or in a wraps division, and they need practice to use.

Can I deadlift in knee sleeves? Yes, and many lifters do to keep the knees warm. Some prefer them off for sumo because the sleeve can catch on the bar path.

Are they allowed in competition? SBD 7mm sleeves are IPF approved. If you compete in another federation check its approved-equipment list, but a 7mm neoprene sleeve at 30cm is accepted almost everywhere.

Knee sleeves ship from our Sydney warehouse, and you are welcome to come in store to be measured and try a pair on before you buy.