The best knee pads and kneelers for comfy hands-on gardening

Knees, knobbly or otherwise, will appreciate a little cushioning in the garden come spring and summer. Whether you're weeding the patio, planting some new bulbs, or even doing some decorating and giving the old garden fence a little refresh, gardening knee pads are an affordable and effective way to keep your knees protected and take the strain out of gardening.

When you're kneeling for long periods of time, knee pads can prevent pain in your joints, relieve aches, and keep your trousers from getting some nasty grass stains if you haven't got your gardening overalls to hand.

A worthwhile accessory for the garden shed to whip out at a moment's notice, here are some of the best garden knee pads to keep you supported.

What to look for in your garden knee pads

There's more to knee pads than you might think! And it's not just a matter of putting down a cushion - here are some things to look for in the best garden knee pads:

Style

There are three main styles; garden knee pads, kneeling mats, and garden kneelers with seats.

Garden knee pads are designed to be worn directly on the knee caps so they're attached to you no matter where you wander in the garden. Flexible for movement and easy to attach, they need to be generous enough sized to cover your knees.

A garden kneeling mat, or kneeler, is a protective pad you put down and kneel upon to carry out your gardening. They can come in a range of shapes and sizes, the larger the surface area the better, with a handle for carrying or storing.

A garden kneeler with a seat is a versatile piece of kit for gardening at a range of heights and making sure you've got all the support you need. You can use the kneeler like a traditional kneeling mat and then flip it over onto its legs to use as a seat. The legs can double as a support for helping you stand up and sometimes come with handy pockets attached. You'll want to make sure this type of kneeler is a good width to accommodate you when kneeling and sitting.

Material

To make sure your kneeler is as comfy and supportive as possible, you should look for knee pads filled with a cushioning layer of memory foam to evenly distribute body weight and ease the stress on your joints.

For the outer fabric, it's recommended to opt for knee pads that are wipe-clean, water-repellent, and/or waterproof in order to stand the test of time especially as you're likely to kneel on wet grass or muddy soil from time to time.

The best gardening knee pads and kneelers

Available in 10 colours, the Burgon & Ball Knee Pads are filled with a cushioning layer of memory foam and a deep layer of shock-absorbing EVA foam to keep your knees protected from the impact. Each knee pad has little handles for storage and carrying and is encased in waterproof, durable neoprene that's quick-dry and wipe clean.

Promising review: "These knee-pads are excellent, goodbye to painful, wet, and muddy knees when gardening! I like them better than a cushion pad because they stay on my legs and move around with me, while I keep misplacing the pad. I also like dress-making and cutting large pieces of fabric on the floor, the knee pads are very useful for that, too. However, as other reviewers stated, these won't fit a person with very slim legs."

Measuring a large 43cm in length and 7cm in thickness, the HappyPicnic kneeler pad is bigger and thicker for ample knee protection on tough ground. It's filled with high-density foam and covered in a durable polyester cover that can be taken off by zipper and washed if it gets particularly grubby. Despite its extra thickness, it's still lightweight and easy to carry around and store with the handle.

Promising review: "Really like this kneeling mat as it is much thicker than any others I have seen on the market. Very comfortable to us whether kneeling or sitting in the garden. Would recommend."

This multi-function kneeler can be used as a regular garden kneeler or be turned upside down to become a seat for you to work at a more comfortable height - or sit back and admire your hard work. Made from a durable and strong steel frame and wipe clean fabric, it's foldable for easy storage and comes complete with handy pouches for your garden tools.

Promising review: "Exactly what I expected, love it, makes life easier in the garden."

Developed by Kew's Horticultural Team and Spear & Jackson, the Spear & Jackson Knee Pads wrap around your knees to provide comfort and support. Each pad has a Velcro strap for easy fitting and adjustment, a neoprene lining for water resistance, a quick-dry, easy-clean nylon cover, and three-layer foam construction for extra comfort.

Promising review: "These knee pads are the 3rd pair I've tried but they are by far the best. Very good cushioning on the pad itself and because the fitting straps are thin you don't get the pinching at the back of your knees. I wear them at work and have worn them for 8 straight hours and have not had any problems. This is the first pair I can say that about! Recommended."

As with their knee pads, Burgon & Ball have applied the same support construction to their garden kneelers too. With 12 colours to choose from, the ultra-cushioned kneeling mat is made of shock absorbing foam, surrounded by luxurious memory foam. It has a waterproof neoprene cover with wipe-clean nylon coating, and has an in-built handle for convenience.

Promising review: "After using several other kneeling pads, I have finally found this one. This is the best kneeling pad I have ever used. It's big, it's super comfy, it washes well and it's a nice colour. What more could you want? Highly recommended. Great value for money."

This robust and sophisticated garden kneeler from Garden Trading at All Things Brighton Beautiful will blend in effortlessly in your garden shed. Crafted from a khaki, waterproof canvas the handle, edging and backing is made of a soft brown faux suede for a subtle contrast with the foam inner providing proper comfort and support.

Promising review: "Good strong material and well-padded. Everybody needs a kneeler like this."

Another fantastic two-in-one option, the Ohuhu Garden Kneeler and Seat has a sturdy yet lightweight steel frame, easy-clean EVA mat, foldable construction, and two complementary gardening tool pouches that are attached with Velcro should you wish to remove them. Use as a handy, elevated garden kneeler or flip over to use as a garden chair to tend to your long-stemmed plants.

Promising review: "Bought this for my mum and she absolutely loves it!!! I myself am very pleased with the build quality and can see straight away it will last many a year. Mum does find it slightly difficult to fold them up but she has pretty bad arthritis in her hands... still managed to do it though!"

These knee pads are literally the bee's knees. With Velcro straps and made from canvas and synthetic fabrics, they'll provide comfort on your knees and protect your clothes from grass stains too. This lovely design features Sophie's buzzing bees on a beautiful navy background and is wipe-clean with a soft damp cloth.

Perfectly matching the garden theme, or so fancy it's worth gifting to your green-fingered friend, this Luxury Garden Kneeler by Celina Digby is beautifully decorated with the florals of a Welsh meadow on both sides. Made from durable water and stain-resistant fabric and filled with a high-density 7.5cm reflex foam inner, the cover can be removed and machine washed at 30 degrees.

At Modern Gardens, we're a big fan of the iconic Orla Kiely designs so we couldn't resist this uniquely square garden kneeler with a striped tulip print in pine. It has shaped edges for additional comfort, an easy-to-clean coated canvas outer fabric, and a sturdy leather carry handle.

Promising review: "Orla Kiely items are so iconic. This is stylish and practical with the waterproof fabric and leather handle. Almost too nice to kneel on in the mud so I haven't used it yet!"

Designed by Niwaki and inspired by the innovative Japanese tools used in ‘organic topiary’, this large kneeler is equipped with a 5cm thick foam pad and covered in a khaki heavy-weight, waterproof canvas. It has a handy red strap for carrying and the outer canvas can be removed via the zip closure to give it a wash if necessary.

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