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Best Knee Supports for Extreme Sports 2024

10 January 2024

Extreme sports such as skiing, motocross and climbing all come with a significant risk of injury, and those injuries put an abrupt end to any further activity. If your appetite for thrills has been stifled by a torn ligament or a twisted kneecap, we've got a range of supports that are perfect for you. We did the research and found the Best Knee Supports for Extreme Sports, and compiled them here in an easy-to-digest format.

Read on to explore our top picks in further detail, and hear what the experts have to say about each brace to help inform your purchase.

What Will This Guide Cover?

In this guide, we'll be looking at the best braces for six popular extreme sports, this includes the following:


Best Knee Support for Skiing

Winner: Donjoy Armor Knee Brace with Fourcepoint Hinge 

Donjoy Armor Knee Brace with Fourcepoint Hinge

Why We Love It...

 High-quality aluminium provides indestructible protection
 Low-profile Fourcepoint hinge promotes bilateral support
 4 Points-of-Leverage System reduces load on the knee
 Increases resistance in areas where the knee is "at risk"

Perfect For...

 ACL, MCL and LCL instability
 Meniscus injuries
 Prevention of hyperextension

Can Also Be Used For...

 Motocross (See our top pick)
 Water Sports (See our top pick)

Editor's Verdict: The demands of high-impact extreme sports are hard to meet, but the Donjoy Armor Knee Brace passes the test with flying colours. This wold-famous knee brace utilises the best materials, and combines them with advanced offloading technology to provide top-level competitors with unstoppable support.

We Asked Donjoy, Who Said: "Armor FourcePoint provides healthcare professionals the strongest prefabricated solution to protect athletes who dare to challenge their own boundaries."

Runner Up: Ossur CTi Pro Sport Ligament Knee Brace


Best Knee Support for Motocross

Winner: Ossur CTi Pro Sport Ligament Knee Brace

Ossur CTi OTS Pro Sport Ligament Knee Brace

Why We Love It...

 Protection: A firm and rigid protective exoskeleton 
 Stability: Anatomically correct Accutrac hinges
 Quality: Sturdy frame made of rock-solid carbon fibre
 Comfort: Breathable liners coated with grippy silicone

Perfect For...

 ACL, PCL, LCL, PCL instabilities
 Rotary instabilities
 Combined instabilities

Can Also Be Used For...

 Skiing (See our top pick)
 Water Sports (See our top pick)

Editor's Verdict: The Ossur CTi Pro Sport Brace has long been the support of choice for professional motocross riders, and it's no surprise why. This brace exudes quality with a high-strength carbon fibre frame that protects the knee from impacts without weighting you down, while special Accutrac hinges provide flexible ligament support.

We Spoke to Ossur, Who Said: "CTi Knee Braces are worn by the top professional motocross riders. They trust in the CTi to protect their knees so they can push their riding to the limit."

Runner Up: Donjoy Armor Knee Brace with Standard Hinge


Best Knee Support for BMX

Winner: Ottobock Genu Arexa ACL Knee Brace

Ottobock Genu Arexa ACL Knee Brace

Why We Love It...

 High-quality aluminium provides strong, lightweight support
 Click 2 Go ROM stops prevent the hyperextension
 Adaptable frame provides the perfect, anatomic fit
 TechnoGel pads provide comfort around pressure points

Perfect For...

 ACL, PCL, MCL, and LCL injury
 Arthritis-related instability
 Post-surgery instability

Can Also Be Used For...

 Skiing (See our top pick)
 Water Sports (See our top pick)

Editor's Verdict: As winner of multiple design awards, the Ottobock Genu Arexa Brace provides lightweight support you can trust. The frame adapts to the shape of your knee to deliver bespoke-like protection. This impressive adaptability makes the brace ideal for the unpredictable nature of BMX, giving you reliable protection against falls and impacts.

We Asked Ottobock, Who Said: "The Genu Arexa allows patients to be mobilised sooner because they perceive greater stability. This allows safe restoration of full loading and therefore a return to work and normal daily activities."

Runner Up: Donjoy 4Titude Ligament Knee Brace


Best Knee Support for Snowboarding

Winner: Donjoy Full Force ACL Protection Knee Brace with FourcePoint

Donjoy Full Force ACL Protection Knee Brace with FourcePoint

Why We Love It...

 Lightweight, low-profile design for use with skis
 Aircraft-aluminium offers enduring protection
 Mouldable frame provides the ideal custom fit
 FourcePoint hinge offloads excess pressure on the knee

Perfect For...

 ACL, MCL or LCL instabilities
 After ACL reconstruction surgery
 Hyperextension

Can Also Be Used For...

 Motocross (See our top pick)
 Skiing (See our top pick)

Editor's Verdict: Lightweight, strong and sturdy, the Donjoy Full Force delivers everything you expect from a high-end Donjoy brace. The FourcePoint hinge and Four-Point leverage system work together to effectively remove knee pain altogether. Available in a short cuff version that fits comfortably with snowboarding boots.

Runner Up: Donjoy Armor Knee Brace with Standard Hinge  


Best Knee Support for Water Sports

Winner: Thuasne Rebel Pro Aluminium Ligament Brace

Thuasne Rebel Pro Aluminium Ligament Knee Brace

Why We Love It...

 Aircraft-quality aluminium frame is strong and lightweight
 TM5+ hinges track motion anatomically for optimal support
 Water-ready material is suitable for use in fresh or salt water
 Range of Motion limits for both flexion and extension

Perfect For...

 ACL, MCL, PCL and LCL instabilities
 Post-reconstructive surgery
 High impact activities

Can Also Be Used For...

 Skiing (See our top pick)
 Snowboarding (See our top pick)

Editor's Verdict: Suitable for use in fresh or salt water, the Thuasne Rebel Pro provides reliable protection for dangerous sports such as wakeboarding and water skiing. Patented TM5+ hinges with ROM control significantly reduce the risk of injury, and as the brace of choice for Olympic wakeboarder Emma Pickard, the Rebel can be seen in action on the world stage.

We Asked Thuasne, Who Said: "Studies show the Rebel Reliever reduces pain and symptoms of OA, improves balance and muscle function, and provides immediate positive impacts to quality of life"

Runner Up: Donjoy Armor Knee Brace with Forcepoint Hinge

Stay Extreme with Extreme Protection

Don't let an injury set-back crush your thrill-seeking spirit, protect your knees from harm and continue living life to the fullest. The braces we've showcased provide the best protection there is for high-risk, impact sports, however, you can find plenty more high-quality knee supports by browsing some of our other ranges.

Got questions about any of the supports we've showcased? Let us know in the comments and we'd be more than happy to help.