Chronic knee pain and instability is undoubtedly capable of putting your life on hold. Fortunately, the best hinged knee braces can be easy solutions that will get you moving again.
However, the current market is saturated with choices. Some of them are downright terrible, some are okay, but there are a select few that are exceptional.
Hinged braces offer a tremendous amount of support to your joints. This makes your knees more stable and, of course, less painful.
Our team tested dozens of these products, ran them through our strict screening process, and compiled a list of the best ones. You can check out our short reviews of them below. Scroll further down and you’ll find a buyer’s guide there, too.
Our Top Picks:
Best Overall: Braceability Hyperextension Knee Brace
The most unique knee brace on this list, Braceability’s hinged knee brace can work for any kind of knee instability.
Most Popular: Shock Doctor 875 Maximum Knee Brace
Its popularity is not misplaced. It’s tough, allows full range of motion, and comes in many sizes to fit as many people as possible.
Most Heavy Duty: Z1 K2 Comfortline Knee Brace
This might be expensive but it’s as close to custom-fit as any other knee brace we’ve seen. Comfortline truly outdid themselves here.
IN THIS ARTICLE
Top 8 Hinged Knee Braces – Reviews
1. Braceability Hyperextension Knee Brace
Pros
- Durable hinges
- Hinges can be adjusted to limit several degrees of movement
- Hinges can be removed
- With finger loops for easy donning
- Excellent customer service
- Wide size range (S-4XL)
Cons
- Pricey
- Only comes in black
Braceability has multiple hinged knee braces on their fleet but this right here is their best one.
Its hinges are made of aluminum, sturdy, on both sides, and don’t feel like they will break easy. They are also removable, so you can take them out when washing. This should help prevent squeaking.
But, what sets Braceability’s hinged knee brace apart from its competitors is that their hinges can be adjusted to limit several degrees of your knee’s movements. This works best with those of you with buckling knees, sprains, meniscus injuries, and even arthritis.
It’s also secured well in place with 2 heavy-duty velcro straps. To add, Braceability’s Hyperextension Knee Braces are easy to slip on because, well… you just have to pull on the finger loops and it snuggly slips through.
Its price is a bit steep, though.
- Size: S-4XL
- Color options: Black
Recommended: Top knee braces for hyperextension
2. 875 Shock Doctor Maximum Knee Brace
Pros
- Plenty of sizes available.
- Bilateral hinges for maximum support and safety.
- Built like a tank.
Cons
- Very tight fit.
Without question, the SD 875 is built like a tank!
For people suffering with moderate to serious knee injuries, Shock Doctor – famous for their mouth guards – offers the SD 875 hinged knee brace.
The SD 875 is one of the toughest hinged braces we’ve tested. Besides that, this Shock Doctor knee brace also has removable, aluminum, bilateral hinges that offers phenomenal stability, and flexibility.
In addition, two solid Velcro straps (on top and bottom), making it dead simple to secure the knee brace tightly – offering superior support. If you’re experiencing joint/patella instability, the Shock Doctor locks your knee firmly together while also allowing freedom of movement.
The SD 875 is incredibly tight. You may need to break it in similar to how you would with a new shoe.
- Material: Latex-free neoprene
- Size: S-3XL
- Color options: Black
For further reading: How tight a compression sleeve should be
Best Product Review – Shock Doctor 875 Ultra Knee Brace Bilateral Hinges
3. Z1 K2 ComfortLine Knee Brace
Pros
- Incredibly sophisticated design.
- Unmatched knee support and safety.
- Fully customizable.
Cons
- Velcro stitching isn’t very durable.
The Z1 K2 Comfortline Knee Brace is all about being fully customizable.
This hinged knee brace can be worn on either your right or left leg and comes in the widest array of sizes we’ve ever seen on knee supports. As far as over-the-counter braces go, the Z1 K2 Comfortline Knee Brace feels as personalized as it can get.
The high-strength, stainless-steel, polycentric hinges, keep your body weight off the knee joint. While the silicon-coated, padded foam straps, provide maximum grip and comfort.
For how bulky it looks, it’s actually lightweight. So, whether you’re coming off knee surgery after serious ACL or meniscus injuries, or you’re struggling with osteoarthritis, the Z1 K2 can be your first line of defense for unparalleled knee support.
To be fair, however, it doesn’t feel very comfortable and the stitching on the velcro also doesn’t seem to be all that durable.
- Material: Neoprene liners, plastic frame
- Size: 23 sizes
- Color options: Orange & black
Recommended: Top knee braces for basketball after ACL surgery
BONUS: ArmaJoint Compression Sleeve
Pros
- Top-quality fabric (durable, breathable, comfortable)
- 360-degree compression
- Effective for mild pain relief
- Great for after any activity where you would need a hinged brace
Cons
- No hinges (not very supportive)
This ArmaJoint Compression Sleeve may not have hinges but it may be very useful if you need to use one of our recommended best hinged knee braces.
It’s made with high quality fabric that durable, breathable, and comfortable. It also has silicone strips on the inside to help it stay in place.
Use this code and get a 15% discount on your purchase!
The compression that ArmaJoint Compression Sleeves bring is uniform all throughout your knee, so all parts of your joint get equal pain relief. Hence, it works well for mild-moderate arthritis pain, minimizing swelling, and regulating symptoms of mild-moderately injured knees.
However, these sleeves won’t provide all that much support since it doesn’t have hinges. Still, when you’re back home and just want to be pain-free and comfortable after engaging in physical activity, this sleeve will serve that purpose.
- Material: 80% nylon, 20% spandex.
- Size: S-XL.
- Color options: Black
4. Vive Hinged Knee Brace
Pros
- Lightweight Neoprene design.
- Removable dual hinges.
- Exceptional breathability.
Cons
- Build quality not as good as others.
Vive offers one of the most comfortable hinged knee braces on the market.
Vive’s knee brace is made from lightweight neoprene with two removable tempered aluminum braces. It has an open patella design to help keep your kneecaps in place, as well as sturdy velcro straps for ease of us.
And, should you require a compression sleeve, simply remove the hinges and the Vive knee brace makes an impressive compression sleeve in an instant.
The reason it fell this far on our list, however, is that its build quality is simply not up-to-par with the Shock Doctor or Comfortline. Though, it’s still great for those of you with MCL and ACL tears as well as muscle strains.
- Material: Latex-free neoprene blend.
- Size: One size fits most
- Color options: Black
Hinged Knee Brace by Vive
5. McDavid 429X Dual Disk Hinged Knee Brace
Pros
- Incredible support.
- Great for knee cap instability.
- Exceptional build quality.
Cons
- Difficult to order the correct size.
- No return policy.
The McDavid 429X features their exclusive cross-strap designed for that extra level of stability.
The geared bilateral hinges offer a level of support that other braces have seldom surpassed. Moreover, its open patella design with padded buttress isolates and stabilizes the patella for those of you with patellar tracking issues.
Overall, it’s a sturdy brace that offers top-notch support, patellar stabilization, and comfort. It’s so good, in fact, that it’s going to be effective in dealing with the pain and instability that comes with most knee sprains.
My only complaint with the McDavid 429X, however, is the sizing. I ordered a medium based on their size chart. The brace I received was far too tight, it wasn’t even worth trying to break in.
- Material: Neoprene
- Size: S-XXL
- Color options: Black
6. McDavid Bionic Knee Brace
Pros
- Most advanced knee support
- Unique comfortable support
- Dual hinges
- Breathable and comfortable compression fabric
- Designed with human body-in-motion in mind
- Self-adaptive Flex-Fit
- Warranty
Cons
- Some complaints about the fit and comfort
The McDavid Bionic Knee Brace has the most complex design we’ve ever seen.
The McDavid Bionic Knee Brace separates its pieces on its way to becoming the brand’s most supportive and best knee brace.
Its aluminum hinges are attached to molded plastic pieces that take the shape of your thighs and calves. Soft neoprene is then added underneath for comfort while a pair of sturdy velcro straps lock it in place.
This design leaves openings on front and back of your knees, eliminating any chance of it bunching up and pinching your skin when you walk. It also makes the knee brace unbelievably breathable.
It almost looks alien as it is, to be honest. Thankfully, McDavid puts in a free compression sleeve to cover it all up and make everything look pretty. It’s stupid expensive, though.
- Material: Molded plastic, aluminum, neoprene
- Size: XS-XXL
- Color options: Black
7. DonJoy Drytex Hinged Knee Brace
Pros
- Bilateral polycentric hinges
- TPR pull tabs
- Wrap around design
- Unisex; fits all
- Provides improved blood circulation
- Maximum breathability
- Stash pocket
- Warranty
Cons
- A bit more complicated than usual to put on
- No padding on hinges
The Donjoy Drytex Hinged Knee Brace uses a unique wraparound design.
I think this wraparound design is both its boon and curse.
It’s an advantage because it allows you to contour the knee brace around the shape of your legs for better fit. It also comes with an open patella and an opening behind your knee, further boosting its comfort.
However, this same design makes it cumbersome to put on. Instead of just pulling the knee brace over your leg, you will have to put in a little bit more effort. It’s still easy to put on but if you’re in a hurry, it can become quite the hassle. Almost like wearing slip on shoes versus ones with shoelaces.
Nevertheless, it still comes with sturdy bilateral hinges that offer a ton of support for your knee joint. The hinges don’t come with paddings, though, so it might not be the most comfortable if you plan on wearing these for hours at a time.
- Material: Dryden fabric
- Size: XS-3XL
- Color options: Black
Donjoy Drytex Hinged Knee Brace Review
8. BodyProx Hinged Knee Brace Plus Size
Pros
- Multiple sizes
- Relieves any kind of knee pain
- Dual Removable Support Hinges
- Ring-Shape Open Patella
- Latex-Free, High-Grade Material
- Satisfaction guaranteed
- Completely adjustable
- Warranty
Cons
- Sizing can be tricky
BodyProx has worked with physicians to create a knee brace that is easy to wear, affordable, but still effective.
The knee brace comes with features such as removable patella buttress, removable stabilizer springs, and fully adjustable straps. Overall, this design offers boosted stability on all directions without being too bulky.
That being said, it’s especially great for preventing ACL injuries as the orientation of the straps helps prevent your lower leg from shifting forward.
The BodyProx knee brace, however, isn’t as supportive the rest of the braces on this list. It’s also more complicated than most to put on because of its straps.
If you’re good with all that, this knee brace will make for an affordable option that works.
- Material: Neoprene
- Size: One-size-fits-most and XL
- Color options: Black
Factors to Consider When Choosing The Best Hinged Knee Brace (Buyer’s Guide)
Most people do not know how to choose a hinged brace. The below factors are the most critical in making a buying choice:
Comfort and Stability
This is the first thing that you should care about when considering the best hinged knee braces.
Your recovery will be dependent on the comfort and stability of your hinged knee brace.
If it is not comfortable, you are not going to wear it for long periods.
Similarly, if the knee brace does not offer stable compression, then there is no difference between wearing one and not wearing one.
Durability and Quality
Durability is directly connected with the quality of the hinged knee brace.
The best hinged knee braces are durable, which mean they are made from special fabric that has been strengthened to provide compression without coming apart.
Many premium models come with reinforced stitching that further increase the life of the braces.
Cost and Value
A hinged knee brace listed in our article can be expensive or cheap for you, depending upon your budget.
What we have done while researching is to ensure that we list the best hinged knee brace while ensuring that there is a product for every budget range.
FAQs:
What are hinged knee braces used for?
A hinged knee brace provides your knee with ultimate support, by restricting any extension that can aggravate your injury.
Instead of letting your ligament and joints endure the stress, the hinges in the knee brace act as shock absorbers as well.
Should I wear a knee brace all day?
The best hinged knee braces can be worn throughout the day. You can keep them on as long as you are feeling pain in your knee.
For further reading: How long you can wear a knee sleeve
Are knee braces effective?
Yes, braces are effective for mild to moderate knee pain. However, if you are suffering from a serious knee condition or are coming off knee surgery, you should first refer to a doctor.
Why you should trust Knee Force
Kris is a physical therapist who specializes in sports rehab and sustainable fitness. His expertise has led him to treat athletes from a wide variety of sports with an even wider array of knee joint injuries.
He also has his fair share of knee ailments – from full-grade ACL tears, torn menisci, and sprains on other knee ligaments. He’s also had to use hinged braces during his recovery and when he was getting back into his sport (basketball).
Hence, he draws his medical opinions from both evidence-based knowledge of physical therapy and experience.
For this article, he and our team of physical therapists tested dozens of knee braces, took note of important features, and compared his own findings with other people’s experiences. Finally, he chose what he found were the best ones.
Conclusion
After reviewing the best hinged knee braces in the market, we are confident that you would have got a few products that meet your requirements and your budget.
What we wanted to achieve with this review is to cut down on your product research time and give you an expert opinion.
If you think our review is helpful, share it among your friends who might require the best hinged knee brace.
