Stability while lifting heavy weights is crucial, especially in your knees. Knee sleeves — like these 7mm sleeves from Gymreapers — can provide your knees proper support and stability, as well as warmth for more fluidity. While there are knee sleeves specifically meant for powerlifting, Olympic lifting, or CrossFit, these sleeves can get the job done on all fronts.
Due to the 7mm thickness, your knees will receive a solid amount of compression, which can lead to more blood flow and less pain while squatting. However, since they have a contoured design, the stitching allows you to be pretty mobile, so you can still wear them while hitting a clean & jerk. Anyone looking for a new pair of knee sleeves to toss in their gym bag may want to take a look at these. They’re some of our favorites at the moment thanks to the combination of support and mobility — plus, they’re also approved by the USPA, making them a great choice for any competitors.
Main Takeaways
- These knee sleeves feature a contoured design. This allows you to stay mobile, so you can perform explosive movements (like the snatch).
- The high-quality neoprene shouldn’t tear or weaken on you, but Gymreapers also includes a one-year replacement guarantee with these 7mm sleeves.
- Since these sleeves are approved by the USPA, powerlifting and weightlifting competitors alike can use these for their next competition.
These neoprene knee sleeves come in three different color combinations, and with your purchase, you'll receive a free gym bag. They are constructed with reinforced stitching, and retain heat.
Gymreapers Knee Sleeves Video Review
Our reviews writer, Jake, slides on a pair of these knee sleeves, and puts them to the test during his detailed review. Follow along as he breaks down everything there is to know about these sleeves, and decide for yourself if they should be the next addition to your gym bag.
Gymreapers Knee Sleeves Highlights
When working out with the Gymreapers Knee Sleeves, we felt like our knees had the right amount of compression and stability to lift heavy. Some days our bodies can feel like the Tin Man from Wizard of Oz — in those cases, these sleeves are the oil that can help us get moving again. The 7mm thickness of these sleeves makes them a great fit for powerlifting since you receive extra support from the compression. This can help keep your knees aligned to achieve proper form. The contour design also helps out in terms of Olympic and CrossFit workouts.
Knee sleeves that feature straight stitching are more stiff, which in turn makes them less versatile. 3mm and 5mm knee sleeves may be great for someone who just wants some extra blood flow to their knees, but they don’t provide the same amount of support that you get from these 7mm sleeves. Knee wraps feel more like a brace. They’re designed to be stretched around the knee as tight as possible and are primarily used for squatting, but they also tend to restrict the movement of your knees. Another cool thing about these knee sleeves is that they are approved by the USPA. So if you’re an Olympic, CrossFit, or powerlifting competitor, you may have found the right sleeves for you.
Who Should Buy The Gymreapers Knee Sleeves
- Athletes who are looking for a good all-around knee sleeve to use for all of their lifts will likely enjoy the contoured design featured with these sleeves that allows you to stay mobile, but also provides stability for heavy weight.
- Competitors who are searching for USPA-approved knee sleeves will want to consider these.
- Anyone who is on a tight budget will enjoy that these only cost about $60 per pair. Some companies charge nearly double, while others don’t sell sleeves in pairs.
Who Shouldn’t Buy The Gymreapers Knee Sleeves
- Anyone who is just interested in keeping their knees warm should look for some thinner sleeves. These are meant for compression.
- If you’re looking for even more stability, you may want to consider some straight-knee sleeves, rather than contoured ones.
- Since these aren’t very moisture-wicking, those who sweat a lot may want to find an alternative.
Price
These 7mm Knee Sleeves from Gymreapers are available for about $60 on both the Gymreapers website and Amazon. This is a pretty fair price considering their versatility. While they aren’t the cheapest option online, they certainly aren’t the most expensive. Some companies charge around $90 for a pair of their sleeves, and others charge about $60 for only one sleeve.
Overall Build and Quality
These knee sleeves feature a thickness of 7mm and are crafted with high-quality neoprene that should last you for years to come. The contoured stitching on either side of the sleeve allows you to be plenty mobile for a power clean, while still providing the proper support needed for a heavy squat. While these sleeves will restrict your movement more so than a 3mm or even a 5mm pair would, we personally had no problem with our mobility when working out with them.
They shouldn’t tear or weaken on you, but on the off chance that they do, Gymreapers offers a one-year replacement guarantee. Just notify them of your problem, and they will send you a new pair free of charge. Though we don’t expect them to weaken, they still might lose their tightness over time. You can help this by washing them with your regular laundry from time to time and letting them air dry, so they don’t shrink. This process will allow them to regain their tightness.
Features
Knee sleeves don’t typically have a ton of features, but there are still a few worth mentioning. The contoured design here allows you to be flexible in the knee while lifting. And the 7mm thickness provides ample support for heavy lifts. Plus, these are also available in three different colors.
Thickness
These are 7mm knee sleeves, and not knee wraps. Since there is a difference in the way each style is used, this is important to note. Knee wraps are designed to be stretched as tight as possible around the knee to provide you with the maximum support for a heavy squat. Three to 5mm knee sleeves are typically meant to provide warmth to your knees and allow for maximum flexibility for Olympic and CrossFit lifts. 7mm sleeves are often worn by powerlifters, but since these feature a contoured design, we think they are a great fit for all styles of lifting.
Contour Design
There are a few different ways that a knee sleeve can be designed. Some feature a straight stitch design that is ideal for powerlifting; some appear seamless, which is better suited for CrossFit, while others, like these from Gymreapers, are contoured.
This contoured design serves as a jack-of-all-trades knee sleeve, in our opinion. A contoured knee sleeve like these feature side stitching that conforms to the curvature of the knee. Since the side stitching allows your knee to stay mobile, you can easily use these sleeves for your explosive movements, such as a hang clean, while also incorporating them for a heavy deadlift.
Color
These knee sleeves are available in three different colorways — Black, Gray & Red, Black & Red, and Olive Green & Black. So if you want your pair to match any existing gear you have, there’s a good chance Gymreapers has you covered.
Product Specs
These knee sleeves feature a 7mm thickness and are made from high-quality neoprene. Gymreapers includes a one-year replacement warranty on the off chance your pair gives out on you. Plus, to go along with the three different color options, these sleeves are available in five different sizes ranging from small to XXL.
Materials
These knee sleeves are made from high-quality neoprene to provide optimal support for a heavy lift, while still allowing you to be flexible at the same time. The contoured design features reinforced stitching that will help keep these sleeves together even after years of use. Since these are approved by the USPA, you can rest assured this is a sound product. The only downside may be that they aren’t very moisture-wicking.
So if you tend to sweat a lot, you might want to consider another pair with a more breathable fabric. After taking our pair off post-workout, our legs were pretty sweaty. Though that does show how much warmth these sleeves provide — which is also crucial for your lifts.
Sizing and Dimensions
Gymreapers designed these sleeves with a 7mm thickness. They’re also 10 inches long to cover above and below your knee, and have an opening of eight inches for a tight fit. Regarding sizing, you want to fully extend your leg and measure around your kneecap to find your proper size. Once you have your numbers, you actually want to go down a size on the size chart from what you measure to achieve a tight fit.
The small is ideal for anyone who measures between 11.8 and 13 inches, the medium ranges between 13 and 14.2 inches, while the large is going to be better suited for anyone who measures between 14.2 and 15.7 inches. The XL is the best bet for those who range between 15.7 and 17 inches, while the XXL is best for anyone who measures between 17 and 18.3 inches. Due to the number of options available, we’re confident you’ll be able to find one that suits your needs.
Warranties
Gymreapers includes a one-year replacement guarantee with these knee sleeves. This does not cover negligent use, but it does cover manufacturing defects, such as the stitching coming undone.
Places to Buy
You can buy these knee sleeves directly through the Gymreapers website or through Amazon.
Company Information
Gymreapers’ goal has been to assist athletes with the proper support for their lifting since 2014. If you want to find out more about their practices, you can contact their US support team at 1-208-203-7498, and their international team at 1-866-220-2684. Or head over to their Contact Us page where you can fill out a request for one of their crew to email you.
Final Word
Knee sleeves can be huge when it comes to confidently lifting some heavy weight, and preventing injury. The compression produced by these sleeves can increase blood flow, which may reduce pain, and can even help you lift heavier and keep proper form. While many options vary in style, we think these 7mm knee sleeves from Gymreapers are arguably one of the best options for an athlete to consider, regardless of lifting style.
The contoured design allows your knees to be flexible enough for an Olympic or CrossFit lift, while the 7mm thickness provides the proper support a powerlifter needs before they hit their new one rep max. They keep you stable, and we felt they allowed us to be more confident in our lifts. Since they’re also approved for usage in competitions by the USPA, competitors may want to snag these for their next competition. At the end of the day, when you consider their price, functionality, and support, these 7mm knee sleeves from Gymreapers are tough to beat.
FAQs
How much do the Gymreapers 7mm Knee Sleeves cost?
A pair of these knee sleeves will run you right around $60. This is a pretty solid value, in our opinion thanks to the high quality of the neoprene and supportive (yet flexible) design of the product. Plus, many other companies charge this much for only one sleeve.
What workouts can I use the Gymreapers 7mm knee sleeves for?
Due to the contoured design, we believe you can use these sleeves across all of your lifts that one may wear knee sleeves for. This includes the clean & press, the snatch, and squatting, among other lifts. Yes, they’re thicker than what most people use for explosive movements, such as the snatch, but since they don’t feature straight stitching, you can stay flexible in your knees.
Are the Gymreapers 7mm knee sleeves better than a pair of 3mm or 5mm ones?
While they may not necessarily be “better” across all lifts, we believe they have a high level of versatility. So if you’re looking for a pair of knee sleeves that can handle everything you throw at them, we think these are tough to beat.
