To knee, or not to knee? That is the question.
Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the stings and arrows of sharp limestone, or by wearing a knee pad, crush them.
For many climbers, this dilemma strikes when facing the idea of buying that first kneepad. But, let me reassure you - in today’s climbing world, a kneepad is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessary weapon and few models embody this better than the Red Chili Knee Rock Kneepad.
Designed with modern sport climbing and bouldering in mind, the Knee Rock delivers both comfort and versatile performance in an affordable package. Developed with a focus on flexibility, the Knee Rock comes in with a slightly smaller, thinner surface area than some of its competitors, and with good reason. What the Knee Rock lacks in size, it more than makes up for in its fit, feel and precision. This is the most supple kneepad I’ve used, conforming effortlessly to the leg and delivering feedback from the rock with the same sensitivity as a high-performance competition shoe. For tenuous knee bars and sketchy scums, this is nothing short of a game-changer.
The standout feature is, of course, the superbly sticky RX-1 rubber panel, which bites into rock like a feral dog and produces more friction than sandpaper. Coming in slightly thinner than usual, the Knee Rock has more feel than most and moves with your knee as if it were an extension of the climbing shoes on your feet. Whilst not quite as protective as some thicker rivals, the Knee Rock is the most sensitive knee pad around.
None of this would be possible without a secure fit to keep the pad in place through every placement. A non-slip neoprene backing combined with Velcro and elastic straps keeps the pad firmly in place, no matter how aggressive the move. Despite this security, the Knee Rock remains more comfortable over extended project sessions than the competition - in part, this is down to the supple nature of its construction, but is absolutely helped by the premium materials used by Red Chili throughout.
Durability rounds out the package. Built to take abuse, the RX-1 rubber and signature orange fabric have survived repeated battles with sharp limestone, striking a rare balance between toughness and flexibility. Whether you’re locking into steep limestone classics or milking rests on a long sport route, the Knee Rock is built to deliver.
In short - if you’re serious about modern sport climbing and bouldering, the Red Chili Knee Rock Kneepad is a total game-changer. It’s not just protection - it’s progression.
