Yoga is often stereotyped as being one of the least physically intensive forms of exercise but this simply isn’t true. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, yoga can be hard on your knees, elbows, and other parts of your body if you don’t have the right amount of support. Yoga mats are designed to offer a good amount of support for most yoga routines but depending on your joints or your skill level, you may need extra help to pull off certain poses. Don’t worry, we’re here to help – we’ve compiled the definitive list of the top 10 best yoga knee pads that you can buy today!
Top 10 Best Yoga Knee Pads – Reviewed and Rated
SukhaMat Yoga Knee Pad
It’s not surprising that this is the first item on our list. Generally speaking, the SukhaMat Yoga Knee Pad is widely regarded by many yogis to be one of the best yoga knee pads on the market.
Aside from its ability to effectively support your joints and pressure points, one of the most appealing things about the SukhaMat Yoga Knee Pad is its size. The SukhaMat Yoga Knee Pad matches up quite nicely with the standard full-size yoga mat. This makes it easy to position throughout your yoga routine and also allows it to double as a headrest if need be.
Lastly, not only does the SukhaMat Yoga Knee Pad offer adequate support for your joints, but it also provides reliable comfort for your pressure points as well.
It can easily be positioned to support all of the relevant joints; not only in your knees but also in your hips and elbows if need be.
It is thick enough to function as a headrest as well.
It is biodegradable and made from eco-friendly materials.
It cushions and supports your pressure points.
Its size complements your standard full-size yoga mat, this makes storing it or traveling with it easy.
It initially has a relatively strong rubber smell; however, this does disappear over time.
Although it is waterproof, excessive sweating can cause it to become somewhat slippery.
Heathyoga Yoga Knee Pad
The Heathyoga Yoga Knee Pad is perfect for people who have to frequently travel with their yoga supplies. This is because it is not only lightweight but it also comes with a convenient carrying strap as well.
One of the standout features of the Heathyoga Yoga Knee Pad is its efficient moisture-wicking capabilities. This makes it one of the best knee pads for yoga sessions that are overly sweaty.
It is extremely lightweight which improves its portability.
It has efficient moisture-wicking capabilities that allow it to be used in extremely sweaty yoga sessions.
It has a carrying strap that allows you to easily travel with it.
It is latex-free and made from eco-friendly materials.
It is great at supporting your joints and your pressure points as well.
It can be a little hard when you start using it and it may take a while to break it in so that it gets softer.
It is noticeably easier to indent than a lot of the competition.
ProsourceFit Exercise Balance Pad
At first glance one of the things that you’ll notice is that the ProsourceFit Exercise Balance Pad is thicker than your average yoga knee pad. This extra thickness and the overall dimensions of the ProsourceFit Exercise Balance Pad make it useful for a wide range of exercises (not just yoga).
In our research, we found that this is undeniably one of the best yoga knee pads for people that want to improve their balance in addition to their joint strength.
It is made from eco-friendly materials.
Its shape and thickness make it useful for a wide range of exercises (and activities); not just for yoga.
It is great for people that want to improve their balance as well as their joint and muscle strength.
It is still relatively lightweight even though it is noticeably thicker than a lot of the competition.
It is thicker than the average yoga knee pad, which may make it awkward to use for some poses or just generally cumbersome for some yogis.
It is not as easy to travel with due to its bulkiness.
Yoga Jellies Knee Pad
Most yogis that use yoga knee pads are used to rectangular ones that look like miniature versions of their yoga mat. However, that being said, circular yoga knee pads are not an uncommon sight nowadays and the Yoga Jellies Knee Pad is one of the most popular options on the market.
The primary appeal of these yoga knee pads is their small size. This makes them less likely to be a hindrance during your yoga routine but it can also make them unappealing to beginners.
It measures less than 6 inches, making it one of the smallest yoga knee pads on the market.
It is crafted from biodegradable and eco-friendly silicon-based materials.
Its anti-slip feature works even during the sweatiest yoga sessions.
It is extremely portable dues to its lightweight nature and incredibly small size.
It can be difficult to use due to the smaller size, especially for beginners that are still not accustomed to certain poses.
It is noticeably more expensive than the average yoga knee pad.
Yilo Warrior Yoga Knee Pad
The Yilo Warrior Yoga Knee Pad is perfect for people that are worried about slipping off of their knee pad or having the knee pad slip off of their yoga mat.
In fact, not only does it work great on a traditional mat, it is one of the best yoga knee pads for practicing yoga on other surfaces as well.
It is sweat-resistant and designed specifically to cushion pressure points.
It is latex-free and these eco-friendly yoga knee pads are made from biodegradable materials.
It grips not only to all types of mats but also to all types of floors as well.
It is durable enough for both indoor use and outdoor use.
It is durable enough for both indoor use and outdoor use.
It is slightly thicker than the average yoga knee pad, which may make it awkward to use for some poses or somewhat cumbersome.
RatPad Yoga Knee Pad
The RatPad Yoga Knee Pad is oval-shaped, which can definitely take some getting used to. However, this shape also facilitates a greater level of freedom (compared to regular yoga knee pads) when performing some complex yoga poses.
In addition to this, it is also lightweight and relatively small so it is definitely easy to carry around. However, that being said, the oval shape can make storing it somewhat awkward.
It is sweat-resistant (waterproof) and won’t slip easily.
It is latex-free and made from eco-friendly materials.
It effortlessly supports your joints and pressure points, even during complex poses.
It can be used as a back support on hard surfaces.
Its shape and size can make it difficult to store properly or awkward for traveling.
It is not sold as a set, so you will need to buy two if you need it for both knees.
Gaiam Yoga Knee Pad Cushions
Generally speaking, the best yoga knee pads on the market are usually made from foam or similar materials. This is purposefully done so that they can mimic the feel of your yoga mat. Yoga knee pads like the Gaiam Yoga Knee Pad Cushions break the mold and use a more gel-like construction so that they give less resistance to your body.
On the plus side, this means that the Gaiam Yoga Knee Pad Cushions are incredibly lightweight and versatile. However, some users may find that the texture difference between these pads and their yoga mat might be too noticeable or even off-putting.
Its versatile design makes it well suited for supporting knees, elbows, wrists, and hips.
It stays where you put it due to its non-slip design.
Its gel-like construction means that it offers less resistance to your body during your yoga poses.
It is incredibly lightweight and small in size.
It is one of the most effective gel knee pads for yoga.
It is not made from foam (like most other yoga knee pads) and so the texture difference between it and your yoga mat might be off-putting.
It does not provide as much support as some of its more traditional competitors.
GoYonder Eco Knee Pads
At first glance, the GoYonder Eco Knee Pads might seem like your standard circular yoga knee pads but they are actually designed to be extremely unobtrusive.
Furthermore, the patented “comfort foam technology” isn’t a gimmick. It does a great job of making sure that these pads effectively accommodate your body during your poses.
It is lightweight and relatively small, being approx. half an inch thick and less than 7 inches in diameter.
It utilizes “comfort foam technology” which allows it to better contour to your body.
It is latex-free and made from eco-friendly materials.
It grips to your yoga mat and most other surfaces, making it great for both indoor use and outdoor use.
It does not offer as much support as a lot of its major competitors.
It can be difficult to use due to the smaller size, especially for beginners that are still not accustomed to certain poses.
Liforme Yoga Pad
There is no denying that the Liforme Yoga Pad is one of the best items on this list in terms of build quality. However, this comes with a significantly higher price tag as well.
The Liforme Yoga Pad is great for yoga practitioners that want extra support but also don’t want to be obstructed during their routine.
It is made from biodegradable materials, including natural rubber and specially engineered eco-polyurethane.
Its relatively thin build means that you will barely notice it during your yoga routine.
It can double as a mini yoga mat for quick practice sessions.
It is expensive compared to the average yoga knee pad on the market today.
It works best when paired with the Liforme Yoga Mat and it may not grip to other yoga mats as well.
It is relatively thin, being only 0.17 inches (4 mm) thick.
REEHUT Yoga Knee Pad
The REEHUT Yoga Knee Pad is one of the more affordable options on your list and it comes with a 30-day replacement or refund window.
Although it is on par with a lot of its competitors in terms of comfort and support, the REEHUT Yoga Knee Pad isn’t going to win any awards for being the most durable. Still, it’s budget-friendly and gets the job done.
It comes with a travel strap that makes traveling with it a breeze.
Its size and dimensions allow it to easily complement any standard-sized yoga mat.
It is eco-friendly and crafted from high-density foam NBR material.
It is slip-resistant and won't slide on yoga mats or any hard surface.
It comes in two different sizes
It is not as durable as some of its main competitors but it does have a 30-day replacement or refund window.
It may eventually have indentations from frequent use.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is an option that some beginners opt to use when they are getting accustomed to certain yoga routines but ultimately it is not recommended. Yoga is best performed in clothing that doesn’t hinder your movement and wearable knee pads go against that line of thinking.
Furthermore, using wearable knee pads for yoga is not only obtrusive, this can potentially disrupt your circulation, especially if you wear them for too long.
Initially, adding a knee pad to your routine will obviously take some getting used to. However, the more you practice with it the less you will notice that it is there.
If you are worried about how your technique may be affected, the best yoga knee pads to use are thin ones that have a similar feel to your yoga mat.