How to Measure For Knee Sleeves: A Simple Step-By-Step Guide
Knee sleeves are extremely beneficial tools for the gym, especially if you’re into weightlifting. However, you get to only reap the full benefits of it if you have the right fit! That’s why it’s important to learn how to measure for knee sleeves to prevent injury and get your form right.
But how can you do that properly? Read on as I’ll be showing you how to measure for knee sleeves!
How to Measure For Knee Sleeves
To select the right knee sleeves, it’s best to get a pair that gives you good support without it cutting blood circulation OR sliding down your legs. Here are easy steps to find the exact measurements for your knee braces.
You’ll need:
- Flexible tape measure with inches or centimeters
- A size chart to look refer to
Read more: The Differences Between Knee Sleeves vs Knee Wraps
1. Bend Your Leg
First off, look for the position of the center of your knee cap. This will be the starting point when taking measurements of your leg, both when standing and bent.
Afterward, measure about 5 and 15 centimeters down to your calves. Make these measurements the basis of the knee brace size in popular brands, which I’ll be showing in the next section.
Now bend your knees at about 30 degrees, acting as if you were in the position of squatting. This is because knee sleeves should fit your leg while you’re either standing straight and/or at the bottom of your squat.
2. Measure Your Leg Circumference
Knee sleeves should contour your knee joints and the surrounding hamstring muscles, calves, and quads. So if you want to get the best measurements, start by measuring the circumference of the top of the calves. This is located around four inches below the kneecap’s midpoint.
Once you’ve completed all the measurements, I recommend that you do it again. It’s best to double-check so you know you’re sure to get the particular sleeve brace.
3. Check The Sizes For Reference
Once you’ve already figured out your measurements, you can now refer to the different sizes and their exact dimensions. This determines what size you need to purchase. Take note that sizes can vary from brand to brand, so I’ll be showing you a general list you can refer to, depending on where you want to purchase your knee sleeve.
- XS: 31-33cm or 12-13 inches
- SM: 33-35cm or 12-13 12/16 inches
- MD: 35-37cm or 13 12/16 – 14 9/16 inches
- LG: 37-40cm or 14 9/16 – 15 12/16 inches
- XL: 40-43cm or 15 12/16 – 16 15/16 inches
- XXL: 43-46cm or 16 15/16 – 18 2/16 inches
Note that some people prefer to go one size lower than their actual size. This is because they want to maintain a slightly tighter fit once the sleeves get looser. I highly recommend that you get the smallest size that can fit you tightly as long as you can squat comfortably and properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have more queries? Here are some frequently asked questions:
1. What happens when I’m between sizes?
Some people are between sizes and that’s okay! As mentioned above, people prefer going one size smaller. That’s why I suggest that you invest in one that’s on the smaller end of your fit.
This is because knee sleeves tend to start tight, though they loosen up the longer you use it. They may also loosen up if you lose weight and inches. That’s why when you measure for knee sleeves, round down instead of getting a size bigger (unlike shoes), so you have good support and the knee sleeve can be useful for longer.
2. Should I get the 5MM or 7MM?
Knee sleeves have two different thickness options, which are the 5mm and 7mm.
5mm provides more support to maintain agility. It’s made best for WODs and/or metcons.
7mm provides more protection if you lift for shorter periods and heavier weights.
If your goal is to protect your joints and push for heavier lifts, then 7mm is the suitable choice. 5mm is thinner, which is made best for more dynamic movements and metcons for more stability. If you’re more focused on knee stability and WOD, you’ll like the 5mm better.
3. Why is size so important?
Both compression and support are crucial aspects of knee sleeves. If you use the wrong size, it can compromise both support and compression, deeming the sleeves useless.
It may even negatively affect your lifts, as you don’t receive the right support you need, especially when lifting heavy! So invest your time and effort in measuring your knee and calves to lift heavy and effectively.
4. Purchase online or in-store?
I know the difficulty of purchasing in-store if you don’t have the time to visit shops physically. It’s why people choose to shop for their tools and equipment online. However, I highly recommend that you visit a store to try on various sizes, seeing which one suits your size the most.
But if you’ve already bought knee sleeves before and have taken accurate measurements, you can refer to the specific brand’s sizing chart and purchase it online. If ever you receive a wrong or inaccurate size, you can always opt to return it, though it’s best to double-check and ensure you’re getting the right one.
Wrapping It Up
When it comes to knee sleeves, there are different factors to consider to get the one suitable for you. One of them is the size, which shouldn’t be too loose or tight for optimum lifts. With the right size AND quality knee sleeve, you can start achieving records!
I hope this article on how to measure for knee sleeves helped you out! So don’t wait any longer and look into getting the right type of one sleeves today.
If you have any questions or want to share your tips and experiences on how to measure for knee sleeves, do I share them in the comment section down below? I would love to hear what you have to think.
