Spending 120 hours for research, interview and testing, the RACATAC 01RAC3 Kneeling Sitting Creeper came up as our best rolling knee pad. From its rubber foam knee pads to the adjustable seat, plus the chest support, The RACATAC 01RAC3 can give users the right comfort, ease, and speed. The rubber foam shows durability, while the adjustable feature of the seat provides users more versatility while at work. Its chest support can enhance your use of the upper body allowing you to focus on the actual job.
Comfort. Speed. Convenience.
Three main things that we look for in equipment.
But, when we think of knee pads, we may not always have all of these especially speed and convenience.
We put on, but we still walk in fours and sometimes risk knee pains because we cannot magically float and glide.
We need to do our job, or we need a job done. For whatever needs we may have we wish we could just slide while doing.
Reality is not far from that fantasy because you can roll while doing repairs, painting, maintenance for whatever activity that you need to do while bending down on your knees.
How?
Rolling knee pads. It kind of sounds funny, but this is powerful equipment.
We came up with five of them and placed them on the test to see which of these are suitable for you. So now you can relax and be comfortable while doing work.
Best Rolling Knee Pad
| Mailbox Flag Replacement | Dimension | Weight | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAIL Tattle-Tail Mail Alert Flag | 1 x 1 x 16 inches | 6.4 ounces | Aluminum and Stainless steel |
| Miles Kimball AVM-01 Automatic Visual Mail Signal | 2.5 x 1.5 x 6.8 inches | 0.8 ounces | Metal and plastic |
| Mail Time! ® Mailbox Alert Signal Flag for Long Driveways | 6 x 4 x 0.8 inches | 0.32 ounces | Aluminum and Metal |
| DVault Heavy Duty Steel Mailbox Replacement Flag Kit | 7.25 inches (estimated Height) | 1 pound | Steel |
| Solar Group RF000R06 Aluminum Flag Replacement Kit, Style May Vary | 2.6 x 4.2 x 10.2 inches | 0.8 ounces | Aluminum and Plastic |
How Do Rolling Knee Pads Work?
Rolling knee pads are quite straightforward; these are mobility tools with various uses. It is an upgrade from the regular knee pads that you strap on. The equipment has a padded compartment for knees, that is either connected or comes individually. But, it is totally different in a way that it is connected to a platform with wheels.
These tools are basically used for repair work like that of home constructions and on vehicle maintenance or repairs. Unlike the regular knee pads, it may not be used in sports activities due to its make and design. However, you may find other uses of the rolling knee pads such as when you have special physical needs or other home, office or field activities.
See video on how to use them.
Buyer’s Guide
Who can use rolling knee pads?
There is no right or wrong person as to who can use the rolling knee pads. It is greatly dependent upon the kind of activities that you are doing. So long as you found a safe use for it, then you can take advantage of it.
Some rolling knee pads, however, are especially geared for doing repair and maintenance that will require you to crouch and bend on your needs. It is useful for flooring construction, painting, car detailing and the likes.
What are its advantages and disadvantages?
Using these equipment allows you to be on your knees comfortably because it has pads to create a cushion for your knees instead of just using the floor. It further improves mobility because you can roll or slide across the area without getting up. Imagine that you are just like skating using your knees.
A disadvantage of the equipment is with regard to safety. It might take for new users to get used and to maintain balance considering that the equipment has wheels. You might also find it difficult to use it on uneven or jagged surfaces as wheels might get caught.
Buying Criteria:
1. Seat or No Seat
Surprisingly, rolling knee pads nowadays are not just made for the knees. There are those made with seats for you to sit. That is, there are two kinds of design you can choose, the regular rolling knee pad without the seat and one that has an attached seat.
You might find it more comfortable to have a seat because you have added support when working. However, it might also feel heavier or bulkier when you need to move.
2. Individual or Connected
What is meant by individual or connected is the knee pad design. Most of the rolling knee pads we’ve found have a single platform that connects the two pads to make a single equipment.
There are also those that have separate knee pads that can be likened to skating shoes one on each knee. Using the individual pads give you more mobility because it can be strapped separately on each knee.
3. Weight Capacity
Since these are equipment for support and movement, weight capacity is also an important criterion. You need to consider the capacity of the equipment and your weight to ensure your safety and the durability of the rolling knee pad.
You don’t have to worry too much though because these equipment has a capacity of 250 to 300 pounds or 113 to 136 in kilograms. This capacity range can cater to several people.
How We Assessed & Evaluated These Rolling Knee Pad
Before we had our hands-on testing with a team of five (5) testers, we first conducted offline and online research.
For the first phase of the research, we talked to builders, construction professionals and car maintenance experts about the product, their recommendations and how we can effectively choose the right kind.
Our offline inquiry is backed with data from our online research, wherein we look into the brands or manufacturer, the make and other features that we need to consider. Thus, we had our buying criteria and guide. We used this to rank the product we’ve found and to cut it down to five items.
We then visited our local stores to find for rolling knee pads, which at first was difficult because small stores only have the regular knee pads. The equipment is mostly available in large stores, but there was not much variety of them.
Initially, we had about ten products on our list. The team ranked them based on the criteria and buying guide, including the suggestions of the users. Based on the ranking, we chose the top 5 rolling knee pads, which were then subjected to our testing.
We tested the product with five testers of different weight and sizes. The products were tried on various surfaces like wood, cement and carpeted floors doing different jobs like painting, repairing and maintenance.
Top 5 Rolling Knee Pad Product Reviews
3" Casters with Chest Support 01RAC3CS
The defining factor of the is RACATAC 01RAC3 Kneeling Sitting Creeper the bike-like seat attached to the knee pad with chest support. Yes, it is still a rolling knee pad, but it includes a seat and chest support, which is geared towards safety, comfort, and convenience of work.
Just by looking at it, the equipment seems like an exercise machine that intimidated the testers. They said that they were not sure how it works.
Placing it on testing changed their impression and said that the added features give the testers added comfort. It can be beneficial when one has to work on the knees and to bend all day.
The chest support is a welcome addition because the testers can divert their force on the actual work they are doing and not on ensuring that they fall off.
Also, our testers loved that the seat is adjustable. Our testers considered it as an upgrade from the Racatac- Kneeling Tool For The Professionals that is also a Racatac brand minus the adjustable seat.
It enables users to tailor the seat height to their height and convenience needs. So, you can do more work with ease.
All these features are packed in a single 20 pounds equipment. While other testers do not find this a problem, there are those that see this as a burden. It can be difficult to carry around to those looking for portable equipment.
The knee pads of the equipment are made of rubber foam. It is common among vehicles, furniture and shoe apparels, which is more durable than the regular foam. Thus, our testers found the pads to really cushion the knees that can minimize pressure and pain.
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
2. Milescraft 1603 KneeBlades (First Runner-Up)
Second on our list is the Milescraft 1603 KneeBlades. It is unique from the other products we have in this review as this looks more like a skate shoe.
Milescraft, the manufacturer of this rolling knee pad is fairly new in the market only starting in 2002. But, as our testers have said, they make work look fun and exciting with their innovative equipment.
Will it affect functionality?
Our testers believe that it does not. The Milescraft 1603 KneeBlades offers a different kind of experience although designed to have the same function as the other rolling blades.
It allows you to move with more flexibility because the pads are not connected to single equipment. The testers said that they could have more movement with their legs, thus also allowing different positions while at work.
There are some testers, however, who finds this equipment a little challenging. It requires them to have more balance since the pads are not connected. They were reminded of the first time they learned to ride skate shoes.
The pads are not just made of foam; it is rather a tapered gel pad. Testers said that when it is attached to the knee and pressured is applied, the gel forms with the knee shape that lessens knee tension. Hence, it can be suitable when working for hours in a day like the mechanics and construction workers.
Each pad has a weight capacity of 80 pounds and 160 pounds when both are used. Evidently, it has a lesser capacity than the other products on review. This will mean that it may be limited with regard to the people who can use the rolling knee pad.
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
3. Racatac- Kneeling Tool For The Professionals (Second Runner-Up)
Another from the Racatac brand is the Racatac- Kneeling Tool For The Professionals. It also has an attached seat adding to comfortability feature of the rolling knee pad.
Ergodynamism is often related to desk activities, but it combines a feature of ergonomics and dynamism. Our testers love this feature, where they are relaxed and comfortable even if their work involves a lot of movement and bending.
Some of the testers are concerned with the type of chair or seat used in this rolling pad since it is a long-nosed or horn saddle, which they find comfortable. They mentioned that it might be because they are not into biking. Other testers, however, did not find a problem with the seat.
The testers though agreed that enjoyed that they can just straighten their backs and sit while they do a bit of stretching after crouching for extended periods. They don’t have to unstrap to take a rest.
The rolling knee pad’s body is made of aluminum instead of plastic unlike the other products on review. So, it might be heavier than the others with its weight of 8 pounds.
Our testers think that the weight and aluminum material may be appropriate because it has a weight capacity of 300 pounds. It feels durable and strong while they used in testing even with the heaviest of the team.
The knee pad also has a rubber foam for optimum comfort. Our testers said that it gives them the same comfort as that of the Racatac- Kneeling Tool For The Professionals.
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
The brand Western Safety, is a Seattle based safety equipment distributor partnering with various quality equipment manufacturers, and the Western Safety Rolling Knee Pads is one of the products on their portfolio.
Our third rolling knee pad equipment has an ABS plastic for the platform connecting the two knee pads. At first look, the plastic material feels flimsy and weak, which does not inspire confidence from the testers. Although, ABS plastic is especially used to resist impact, activities that require strength and stiffness.
There are two convex pads with foam that will cushion your knees. The testers’ first impression of the pad is that it is thin. However, when they tried it on, the cushions feel comfortable to the knees while working.
Some of the testers noted that while they were using equipment for an extended time, the knee pad feels uncomfortable.
Our testers like that this rolling knee pad can carry up to 250 pounds of weight. It means that it can accommodate users even those on the heftier side. The said, though, that because the material is plastic, the user should exert care in considering their weight and the capacity of the equipment.
To allow movement, the Western Safety Rolling Knee Pads has a swivel casters, which allows the equipment to rotate 360 degrees. The caster may be considered as a kind of wheel, but it has more parts like the mount, plate, yoke, etc. Having this kind of mobility part enable the rolling knee pads to move with ease and speed.
When the equipment is used on cement and wood, the testers found it to move smoothly across these surfaces. It may not be suited to use on soil or raw ground.
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
The Rolling Knee Pads by USATNM at first glance looks very similar to the Western Safety Rolling Knee Pads that one of the testers asked if these are they are the same thing.
Despite its close similarity, this rolling knee pad is notably heavier than that of Western Safety with its 6 pounds weight.
While putting the equipment on testing, our testers also noticed that it is relatively weaker and rickety as to its body than the other products we have reviewed. One of the testers was doubtful if it can carry its 250 pounds weight capacity. During the testing, the product, however, did not show breakage.
The pads worked well according to the testers. It was deemed that it is not as thick as the other rolling knee pads they have tested. It still provides a good cushioning for the knees, which served its padding purpose.
It also has caster wheels allowing it to rotate 360 degrees. Our testers loved that they can move around easily whether they are going from left to right or back and front. Thus, you might find it useful if you are doing home or professional work.
Similar to the Western Safety rolling knee pad, this equipment also has a built-in tray, where you can place your tools conveniently while working.
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
Our Recommendations
Editor's Pick: RACATAC 01RAC3 Kneeling Sitting Creeper
Our top choice for this review is the RACATAC 01RAC3 Kneeling Sitting Creeper. It is quite undeniable that this rolling knee pad has more features than the rest of the equipment. We, however, do not just based our pick on the number of features.
Based on our criteria and the hands-on testing, the RACATAC 01RAC3 unites comfort, speed, and convenience for the users. It has a good rubber foam for its pads, had an adjustable seat and added support for the upper body.
Additionally, it has a good working caster for mobility.
Runners Up: Milescraft 1603 KneeBlades & Racatac- Kneeling Tool For The Professionals
Our First Runner-Up is the most unique among the five rolling knee pads. Instead of having the single equipment, the Milescraft 1603 KneeBlades has two separate knee blades.
It affords users with more mobility, flexibility in position, all while giving cushion and support to your knees. This rolling blade even surpassed the Editor’s Choice as to its knee padding as it uses gel, which can be effective in minimizing knee pain.
The Milescraft 1603 KneeBlades fell short on equipment stability as it will require more balancing.
Finally, our Second Runner-Up is another from Racatac, the Racatac- Kneeling Tool For The Professionals. It also has a seat, but without the chest support. Its seat is though is not adjustable.
This rolling knee pad also uses a rubber foam like the Editor’s Choice that gives good support for the knees.