How do you Create the World’s Best Gardening Kneeler?
At Genus, when we design a new product, our goal is to make the best in its class. It must be practical, functional, durable, and better than anything else out there.
Thinking About Knees
We spend a lot of time thinking about knees: how to keep them dry and protected, and which fabrics would be durable and comfortable enough for the job.
What’s Wrong with Existing Kneelers
To be frank, we didn’t really like the kneelers we had tried. They were cumbersome, a faff to move around, got wet easily, and stayed wet. The foam often compressed too quickly, the surface area was too small, or the padding wasn’t good enough to justify using one over just the knee pads in our trousers. There was nothing that met our needs and our standards, so we decided to create our own.
Choosing the Right Fabric
Many other pads that we looked at used waxed cotton, or cotton canvas – which were quite heavy, especially when wet. Others used a knitted fabric that soaked up water too easily. We had strict criteria: tough, waterproof, easy to clean, looks good – The fabrics that we used in the Caddy Bag were perfect for the job!!
Practical Design
Some kneelers on the market only have one handle, which is inconvenient when you’re moving around the garden. We chose two handles, big enough for a gloved hand, making it easier to carry and hang up when not in use, and to move around easily in use. We also made sure the pad was large enough firstly to enable us to move around without having to readjust its position as frequently and secondly to sit on comfortably, important for testers who had knee replacements and could no longer kneel.
Perfect Padding
The padding was crucial. It had to protect on different surfaces—grass, mud, gravel or rocky ground—while offering cushioning without bottoming out, comfort and ample stability to allow you to reach into your beds without toppling over.
Our research led us to look at other kneelers and bouldering mats (used for a type of rock climbing), carpet fitter’s knee pads, and builder’s knee pads.
After testing various materials, we found we couldn’t get the desired performance with a single material. Finally, we chose a 70mm deep foam sandwich that had the right levels of compression, cushioning, stability and protection without too much weight:
- Bottom Layer 1 - 10mm dense EVA closed cell foam: Sturdy foundation, protects against rocks and gravel, low water absorption.
- Layer 2 - 20mm closed cell EPE foam: Stable without being too firm, low water absorption – on its own it would be too rigid, so we added layer 3.
- Layer 3 - 20mm PU open cell foam: Compresses easily and rebounds for great cushioning. On its own it would compress too easily and would bottom out.
- Top Layer 4 - 20mm EPE closed cell foam: Distributes pressure evenly, enhancing stability and comfort.
Making It Last
To make the kneeler last as long as possible, we made the foam removable for thorough washing, especially after wet seasons. A zip on the end allows easy removal of the foam and makes repairs easier if the outer fabric gets damaged.
By focusing on practical design, quality materials, and user-friendly features, we’ve created a gardening kneeler that is comfortable, durable, functional and meets our own high standards.