If you’re an avid gardener or spend a lot of time working on the landscaping around your house, you know how your knees feel after pulling weeds or otherwise tending to your garden for a few hours. They’re often stiff or achy, and sometimes it’s even hard to stand up. But there is a way to avoid this discomfort: a garden kneeler.
A garden kneeler can save your knees and make your gardening experience that much more enjoyable. Not only will it feel better while you are gardening, but you’re less likely to wake up with aches and pains the next day. There are many options to choose from, too. Let’s take a closer look at garden kneelers and what they can do for you.
What is a garden kneeler?
There are many garden kneelers designs, which we’ll get to, but the simplest one is a thick, waterproof, durable foam pad that you place on the ground to kneel on while you garden. Not only does a garden kneeler pad provide cushioning and comfort, but it also protects your knees from damp grass and soil.
Types of Garden Kneelers
Before choosing the garden kneeler for you, it helps to know what your options are. Here are some of the most common types of garden kneelers and some excellent alternatives:
Garden Kneeling Pads
A garden kneeling bad is the basic foam cushion design that we described. It’s thick, durable, and comfortable yet supportive. This type of garden kneeler is easy to use. All you have to do is place it on the ground where you plan to kneel, and you’re done.
One of the best things about this simple style of garden kneeler is how portable they are. They are usually made of lightweight foam and are either small enough to carry around or easy to roll up for transport. Plus, there come in a wide range of materials, colors, and shapes, so you can choose one that suits your style.
If you’re in the market for this simple type of garden kneeler, here are some of the best ones we found:
Deerstone Memory Foam Kneeling Pad – This folding garden kneeler is one of the most comfortable ones around. It’s made of thick layers of memory foam to prevent sore knees and features a water-resistant neoprene cover coated in nylon, making it durable and easy to clean. One of the best things about this kneeling cushion design is that it easily folds in half, and the handles are convenient for transport and storage. It comes with a 30-day money-back satisfaction guarantee.
Wrendale Outdoor Padded Garden Kneeler – If you’re looking for something that’s both functional and adorable, take a look at this garden kneeler from Wrendale. The thick foam padding and waterproof cover are perfect for your gardening tasks, and the surface easily wipes clean. This kneeler has a convenient carrying handle so you can easily move it around, and the adorable bunnies and birds are the icing on the cake.
Garden Knee Pads
Another option is garden knee pads. As the name implies, these are knee pads that act as a cushion to the knee. Instead of kneeling on a pad, each pad is attached to your knees. When you wear knee pads, your gardening kneeling pad moves with you. This portability makes them very convenient as you don’t have to worry about picking up a pad and moving it around.
There are a few types of knee pads. Some are made of soft cushioning and pull up over your feet, while others offer firm protection and attach to the knee with velcro straps. Basic knee pads are made from foam and cloth, while others are rubber and provide greater coverage.
Here are some of the best options for gardening knee pads:
Bosmere BosNeeleze Knee Pad – These knee pads are comfortable and waterproof, perfect for gardening. The neoprene outer skin is waterproof and easy to wipe clean, so you won’t have to live with grass stains. The inner memory foam cushioning provides ideal comfort. They’re lightweight and easy to put on, thanks to the simple velcro straps. That’s not all– there are also nine distinctive colors to choose from.
Thunderbolt Knee Pads – Another comfortable option are these knee pads from Thunderbolt. They feature high-tech foam padding and a non-slip surface perfect for working outside, and the easy clip fasteners make it easy to get the perfect fit.
Garden Kneeler Benches
Garden kneeler benches are a bit bulkier, but they also offer more functionality. A garden kneeling bench is reversible. It’s made of a simple frame with a cushioned garden seat. Set it on its legs, and you can use it as a bench to tend to taller plants. Flip it over, and you can use it as a regular kneeling pad to get closer to the ground.
These benches usually also feature things like storage pockets, so you have a place to stash your gardening tools, and the frame doubles as a support for easier standing.
Garden kneeler benches usually have a simple style. There aren’t as many cute or colorful options as there are with kneeling pads, but if you’re a serious gardener, a bench offers more utility.
Take a look at some of the most popular garden kneeling benches:
Crystals Folding 3In1 Garden Kneeler With Handles – This 3-in-1 bench features steel tubing and a kneeling platform made of EVA foam. The arms are adjustable, so you can change them as needed for the job, and you can flip it over to use as a seat or stool. When you’re done using it, the legs fold down for easy storage, and it comes with a convenient polyester pouch for tools.
XCSOURCE Garden Kneeler and Seat – There’s a lot to love about this bench from XCSOURCE has wide cushions and is durable enough to hold up to 300 pounds. It flips easily to suit whatever gardening task needs completing and features plenty of storage pockets for your tools. The tool pouch is removable, too, so you can position it on your body to have your tools right at hand. This bench also comes with a full apron and a fixed tool kit on the steel pipe frame.
How to Choose a Garden Kneeler
As you can see, there are a lot of options available for garden kneelers, so how do you know which one to choose? Here are the main factors to keep in mind.
Type
We covered three specific types of garden kneelers here: a gardening pad, gardening knee pads, and a gardening bench. While they all serve the same general purpose, each is very different. Now that you know more about each type of garden kneelers, you should have an idea of which one suits you best.
Comfort
Comfort is the most important thing. The whole point of using a garden kneeler is to be comfortable, so you must make sure your garden kneeler is truly comfortable. Make sure they provide enough cushioning so you don’t feel any pebbles or rocks underneath you when kneeling. The more comfortable your garden kneeler is, the longer you can work without discomfort.
Durability
Because garden kneelers are used outside, they experience a lot of wear and tear. Mud, rocks, dirt, water, all of them take their toll. Choose a garden kneeler that’s made of strong, durable material. A waterproof or water resistant garden kneeler is ideal to ensure that it’s easy to clean.
Price
There are so many options for high-quality garden kneelers that it’s easy to find something in your price range. That said, keep in mind that you get what you pay for. That’s not to say that you can’t find a good bargain, but remember that garden kneelers are put through a lot of abuse so make sure you choose one that’s made of a material that’s going to stay up to it.
One way you can tell if you’re getting a good product at a fair price is to look for a product with a warranty. A warranty is the best evidence that the company stands behind its product, and if you’re disappointed, you can usually get your money back.
How to Use a Garden Kneeler
The best thing about a garden kneeler is that it is so easy to use. Kneeling pads and benches simply need to be placed on the ground and knee pads pulled onto the knee. Yet, despite this, they provide exceptional comfort and make a big difference in your enjoyment of gardening.
Every style of garden kneeler has its benefits. If you want something simple and portable, go with a kneeling pad. If you prefer something with a little more structure and versatility, a garden kneeler bench is a good choice. If you want something really simple, go for some gardening knee pads. Whichever you choose, you’re sure to find you’re feeling more comfortable when you’re doing your gardening and avoid any knee pain the morning after.