base layers with knee bracing

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Jeff Hornick

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Nov 22, 2024, 9:20:40 PM11/22/24
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Having issues with my knees (no thanks to the snowboarder who whacked me last Sunday) and thinking about getting a pair of base layer pants with built-in knee support. Anyone have experience with any of the various options (including the leg sleeves)? Wide range of price points and I'd like to get my $$$ worth.

TIA!

Jeff

Linda or Bruce McGavin

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Nov 22, 2024, 9:27:31 PM11/22/24
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Jeff, 

Sorry to hear that you were damaged by a snowboarder. 

For many years now I have been wearing tights manufactured by Opedix (still wearing them and loving them), but the company is no longer in business.  There is another company I have been hearing about called Bracelayer, which I think you should check out.  https://bracelayer.com/ 

They will be having a Black Friday sale with 35% off sitewide if you sign up.  

Good luck!

Linda McGavin

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Sally N.

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Nov 22, 2024, 9:44:45 PM11/22/24
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Sorry to hear you got hurt Jeff! I have both the Alpine and the regular weight bracelayer compression pants. I’m not sure they are specific enough to substitute for a knee brace, but I don’t ever use  a knee brace. They are very effective as compression wear. I like to wear compression knee high socks when I ski.  These would likely fill the bill if you don’t mind an all day squeeze. They don’t slide down. Be sure to order one size up or you won’t be able to breathe!
Sally Niedermeyer

Emilio Trampuz

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Nov 22, 2024, 11:55:17 PM11/22/24
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Hi Jeff,

I don't think that anything woven into a base layer would give you enough support for your knees.  I really think you would get more support from a real brace.  

Knee braceI have been wearing this knee brace from a company called Mueller for many years, purely as prevention against injuries.  I didn't really need a knee brace but I was wearing it just in case.  I purchased the knee brace at a Walgreens pharmacy for around $30 or $35.

You wear it over your base layer, but under your pants, so nobody even knows you are wearing a brace. It is held in place with two velcro straps, one above the knee and one below the knee.  It goes on and off very easily and quickly.  Attached is a photo.
 
You might also be interested in a series of articles about knees, injuries, treatments, and more, that were originally published in separate sements in Lift Lines (our newsletter). Several of our members contributed their experiences.  In the end, we put all these segments together into a several pages long booklet and posted it on our website.  You can find it on our ARTICLES page at: http://www.mthigh.org/Articles.htm .  See it under "Safety".  It is item 12 on the list of safety articles.  It includes a section about knee braces.

Or, if you prefer, go directly to that article by following this link:  http://www.mthigh.org/Articles/Knee-Treatments.pdf
 
Emilio
Knee-brace-Muller-w.JPG

Volker Czechowski

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Nov 23, 2024, 12:37:24 AM11/23/24
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Looked at those as well and talked with my Physical Therapist about them. Not convinced. Check out Donjoystores.com and check their knee braces. They offer right now 40% Black Friday discount. I used one of these braces and they are phenomenal. 
Best regards
Volker Czechowski
Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 22, 2024, at 6:44 PM, Sally N. <sally...@gmail.com> wrote:



Volker Czechowski

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Nov 23, 2024, 12:40:05 AM11/23/24
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Don joy performance full stop knee brace 
Currently on sale for $ 219 plus another 40% discount. 

Best regards
Volker Czechowski
Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 22, 2024, at 9:37 PM, Volker Czechowski <volker.c...@gmail.com> wrote:

Looked at those as well and talked with my Physical Therapist about them. Not convinced. Check out Donjoystores.com and check their knee braces. They offer right now 40% Black Friday discount. I used one of these braces and they are phenomenal. 

Emilio Trampuz

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Nov 23, 2024, 4:10:18 AM11/23/24
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Or get Mueller's Sports Medicine self-adjusting hinged knee brace for anywhere between $24 and $55, depending on which store you buy it from.  I bought mine for about $30 or $36 several years ago at Walgreens Pharmacy.
 
Emilio

Linda or Bruce McGavin

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Nov 23, 2024, 11:18:02 AM11/23/24
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I can vouch for Donjoy as well - I used them before my knee replacement.  Afterwards I had a custom titanium brace which held my new knee in place while skiing the first year after surgery.  Since I stopped using it I'm just using the Opedix tights.

Linda McGavin

Felicia Gavett

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Nov 23, 2024, 1:55:27 PM11/23/24
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Thanks Emilio! 

Felicia Gavett 
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Jeff Hornick

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Nov 27, 2024, 9:59:57 PM11/27/24
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Thanks, all.

Ordered a couple of the Bracelayer Alpine pants. On sale they were about the same as a lot of other regular baselayer pants so thought it was worth a shot. I've got a couple of light compression sleeves; a stretchy, pull-on sleeve with bracing along the sides; and a stouter brace with velcro straps and hinged supports, all from Walgreens. Trying to find a solution for my race suits that doesn't involve velcro (which I understand doesn't play well with race suit material). I can't imagine it plays well with silk or wool, either. 

I did ski with the light sleeves and the stretchy brace Sunday and Monday and it worked OK but the brace was a bit hard to get on over my long johns without the material getting bunched up. I don't know whether it'll fit under a race suit. Suppose I should try...

Supposed to be here Friday so I'll post some thoughts then. In the meantime, going to dig through the Donjoy website.

Keep doing those snow dances. Long-term forecasts have temps going up next week. BOOOOO!

Jeff

Jeff Hornick

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Jan 5, 2025, 9:43:15 PMJan 5
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Thought I would do an update. I've skied with the Bracelayer pants several times and they have worked great for me, with and without the light support knee sleeves. It is a little bit like wearing a wetsuit on your legs (knees, specifically) but they aren't uncomfortable once you get used to them. Highly recommend if you need some support but don't need full-on knee braces.

Jeff

Volker Czechowski

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Jan 5, 2025, 10:29:25 PMJan 5
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Great to know. I have also heard from several people great reviews about the Stoko base layers with the adjustable fiber cables where you can dial in the level of support, similar to the BOA system. Just google or YouTube Stoko ski knee support and you find out all the info. So you have a baselayer with integrated knee support for both knees. 
I personally have no experience with these, just hearing from several skier and other sport friends good reviews. 
Best regards
Volker Czechowski


On Jan 5, 2025, at 6:43 PM, Jeff Hornick <tptply...@gmail.com> wrote:

Thought I would do an update. I've skied with the Bracelayer pants several times and they have worked great for me, with and without the light support knee sleeves. It is a little bit like wearing a wetsuit on your legs (knees, specifically) but they aren't uncomfortable once you get used to them. Highly recommend if you need some support but don't need full-on knee braces.

Jeff Hornick

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Jan 5, 2025, 10:38:30 PMJan 5
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Looked at the Stokos but the price was more than I wanted to spend and I am concerned about the durability of the cable system. Good to hear people are having good luck with them.
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