Save the Patella campaign...

[Steve Helmick]

For several years, Jack Pitcher has been using a little kneeling pad, and I always thought it looked a lot handier than the usual gardening pads (I have one). I finally copied the ID data on the pad, and Googled for it. One of the first 'hits' was Amazon.com, so I bought four ($40.44), to split the shipping cost, and to sell them to club members (at below cost!....$10).

The picture shows the carded item as it hangs on the peg in the retail stores, if you can find one. The pad itself is folded in half, and is about the size of a wallet. Fits nicely in the hip pocket, but also has a mini-carabiner snap that will hang it on your belt loop. Jack said he caught his lines in it once when rolling the lines up, and ruined the lines, so the hip pocket is safer. The pad has a tough rubbery surface that goes against the ground, and a nice nylon-ish surface for your knee cap to rest on. Inside is a 'gel' pad...supremely comfortable. The nicest thing about it is that you can have it in your hip pocket (or hanging on the belt loop) all day long, so if somebody asks you for a launch, you are ready to do so without knee pain or getting grass stains on your new chinos...

Google for Tommyco Handy Kneeler. If you find the manufacturer's website, you may be able to find a local retail source, but Amazon.com is pretty easy to deal with.    Steve

[Leo Mehl]

I have a pad that is about 8" in diameter that I bought at the dollar store but when it rains it gets wet on both sides and it looks like that one will too. But mine only cost a dollar. I think 10 dollars is too much!

[Steve Helmick]

I have a pad that is about 8" in diameter that I bought at the dollar store but when it rains it gets wet on both sides and it looks like that one will too. But mine only cost a dollar. I think 10 dollars is too much!

Leo...I've never seen you use that 8" diameter kneeling pad. That's the point of the Handy Kneeler...you can carry it with you. I suppose you could roll up that 8" pad, shove it into the back of your pants and freak out Scott and Richard...ok, that would be worth a dollar or more...  Steve

[phil myers]

  I just use a pair of tradesmans knee pads, one straps on to each knee then you can forget about them. They stay in place too! £7 ($11, ish) from my local hardware store.
Phil

[keith varley]

I have noticed that the C/L Team Race guys , use pads strapped to their knees a lot , so many years ago .I showed up to fly stunt with knee pads strapped on.Boy I was quickly laughed at. "Not stunt fashion ! Did you ever see Paul Walker show up like that? etc., etc." .Now I usually show up at home with my trouser knees all dirty , after flying. Keith Varley
ps.Perhaps the guys in England are more impressed with being practical , than with being fashionable .And besides making you look like a dork , they really aren't that comfortable.

[Peter Ferguson]

I put in a positive word for Steve's gel pad. It works great, it has a seam down the middle that lets you fold it in half and slip it in your back pocket. Its with you when you need it. Just don't get it mixed up with your wallet.
Soon we will be trying the wet test on it (any day now), since its a gel pad I don't think it will soak up the water. Like my bike seat you just wipe it off. Its way better than the gardening sponge pad I was using. I'm not much for vanity but I wouldn't be caught dead flying with knee pads on, way too many jokes.

[phil myers]

You chaps in the States are waaay... to sensitive about wearing knee pads! True, they're not the height of fashion, but as the man said, they are so practical and surely no worse than carrying a gardening mat strapped to your waist  . I suppose you could pull some weeds from the flying field in between flights; yeah, thats practical...
Phil