Great review. I love how straightforward you spoke. For me, I don't think it's a matter of being a waste of $160. I think it sounds like if you are a competitive powerlifter and these are allowed, go for it. If you are not, eh, they may not be worth the price to you.
Me personally I PR’d 10 pounds after my first use, hit 675 PR on squats. But the pain when taking them off almost was not worth the PR for me. I laugh when people say they have to cut them off but I literally had to contemplate cutting them off cause they were not coming off for good 20 mins. 😂
Yeah I think I asked like 2 weeks after you ordered to get your feedback on if you liked them or not as I was trying to decide if I should pull the trigger lol.
Nice review - this was awesome timing as I have recently been shopping for knee and elbow sleeves . I was also looking at the Sorinex Collegiate Glute-Ham that you have but wow the price has jumped from $2,000 to $2,800 over the last few weeks .
Have a pair of SBD's and they are amazing. They still work as good as new after a year of use. After buying them I never had a desire to try any other sleeve. I will say since I started mountain biking that my calves have gotten a little bigger and the SBD's definitely pull some hair when I try to squeeze them over my calves. Just part of the fun of lifting.
Knowing the supplier for Inzer in my country I laughed when you started talking about the ordering process. It doesn't matter if your are some regular Joe or a supplier, the ordering process is still just as horrendous.
another great review, thanks Brandon. I, too, measure 15 inches around the knee - which matches to a L-XL according the website/insert card, so I can't believe you could get size S on and off!
Interesting take and quite an ordeal. 😂 I will say that any company that pads there profit through shipping rates is one I typically stay away from. Thanks for sharing B.
@@snorlaxcom I don't believe that's an option. I also don't see a point of paying more for expedited shipping when it takes weeks to fulfill the order :)
Glad I caught this review I’m definitely late to the party, I bought a set of Inzer large and when testing them I almost had a panic attack trying to get them off. The seam that runs down the back of the knee can be very uncomfortable and will remove skin in some areas. A lot of what you said was similar to my experience. I usually use Elite Fitness EFS sleeves and wanted to change up because until they are broke in it’s very difficult to get them on. I like what you said about Stoic, I’m going to try them out. I’m 55 years old now and no longer compete, I have a lot of joint pain from years of heavy lifting. I really benefit greatly from sleeves because I’m 6’4” and everyone always said the longer the limb the more torque you produce and it’s hard on the joints. You got a sub brother.
Thanks for the sub! I do find these stiff sleeves break in a bit, but I think for general training they're not idea for some of the reasons you just called out!
Wow Brandon, Im impressed! First off great review as always and I like that you are promoting canadian products. When the product is amazing we need to promote it wherever its made. Keep it up!
The trick to taking them off is to slightly roll down the top so you can grip it and then AGGRESSIVELY roll it down the rest of the way in one swift motion. It’s been working for me every time and made them way easier to get off.
@@BasementBrandon You need to have that sock all the way up and under the bottom of the sleeve before you try to slide the top down. Any contact with the skin makes it harder to slide.
Best review on these so far! The Australian yeti (I have no idea how to tag..) had a good review on these. He said people have been folding up the bottom quarter of the sleeve which seemed to give more ‘bounce’ out of the hole.. just a thought to try for the full review 🤷🏼♂️ thanks legend.
Solid review ! Love how you went in depth on all aspects . I personally love mine. If you really size down it helps more. I’m supposed to be a medium but I sized down to a S.
How tall are you? idk I’m supposed to be a medium too and I sized down to a small and I just couldn’t get these things on. So I used some assistance and got them up and then I couldn’t get them off. Seems like the taller crowd is getting them on easier vs my leg must have more meat compacted
regarding the issue with the size chart difference vs the website sizing, I heard that the newer sleeves follow the website more. By newer I mean a different edition. The older sleeves follow the sizing on the chart which is why they run tighter. For example if you notice your sleeves do not have the "95% neoprene 5% nylon" label that is shown on their website. I can also confirm this because my friend bought a size small and it was easier to get on than my size small. I tried on both pairs and my pair that I bought a while ago was still harder to get on despite on having them longer.
I have had a pair of sbds for probably way to long and feel like I’ve grown out of them so I ordered a pair of stoics today from one of your videos, excited to try them.
I'm gonna give my review... ur right if you are staring you definitely don't need them DONT JUMP IN THE BANDWAGON ... ever since I started competing I wear my stoic great sleeves ... but after a few years of powerlifting my right knee has a lot of issues so I bouth the ergo bc its stiff and it does feel ND gives my knee a better support and stability am on my 5th year lifting it's a lot of years squatting I do recommend this to advance lifter or ppl who has knee injury or some sore of discomfort
Great video, you are spot on with your assessment. I personally go get more out of the inzers than I do SBD, however I go back to my SBDs on lighter high rep days since they are way more comfortable
I don’t compete so I went with Strengthshop odins triple ply. Only like $40 or something. Very comfortable material to lift in. And noticeable rebound.
@@BasementBrandon I’m about 15.5” and went Large. Tight.. but I’m pretty sure I could squeeze into a Medium if I wanted. I’m planning on buying multiple sizes.
Guy with big calves here… I have a 14 inch knee circumference and my calves are 17 1/2 inches. So I ordered a medium like the sizing guide says. Absolutely hell getting them on and off, because of my calves. I’m not going to size up because once they’re on, these sleeves really are amazing. But I make sure my legs are shaved and be prepared to rub some skin off. Plus they will stretch ever so slightly as you break them in.
Fun fact I got 2 pairs since I was between 2 sizes, and long story short I didn’t like em so I wanted to return them. Turns out they didn’t cover the shipping label and I had to pay about $27 to ship them back :))))
Nice to hear a true knee sleeve junky give the scoops on that new hotness. Impressively stiff level of material to break down into a comfortable crease. Bullet proof. They should rate them like a Ruger. 500 round breakin period.
@@BasementBrandon just seems like alot of really stiff material in places it doesn't do much good. I much prefer a wrap. You think these will be comp legal for RAW?
Here after seeing Kevin Oak in these. I squatted a lot in wraps so switching over to sleeves felt like nothing on my knees. I don't even put them on anymore. I squatted 455 with bare knees yesterday. I was hoping this was gonna be the cheat code for me.
I bought these late March 2022 and they arrived in May 2022. The funny thing about these “ergonomic” sleeves is that mine ripped after only 5ish months of use. Unfortunately the product took 2 months to arrive, so despite only using them for 5 months, I was already past the 6 month deadline to where they can still do repairs!!
Because of the issues of taking them off, I wouldn't ever use them in competition. After my third squat attempt, the last thing I want to do is struggle to take my knee sleeves off. I need to relax, gather myself and begin prep for my bench warm-ups. Sometimes flights go really fast, depending on their size of course, but I'm not willing to stress out over stuck knee sleeves. I'll stick with SBD's or EliteFTS.
You never made it past the break-in period then. They become a lot easier to take off. I used to lose circulation in my right quad and foot the first 2 weeks. After 2 months and a meet it has loosened up and squatting heavy is a dream. Not recommended for rep work above 3, though. I use SBD for that.
@@snorlaxcom absolutely I've had mine since September and it's literally effortless to take off I can just grab and pull and they'll slide right off no problem
Similiar situation. I contacted Inzer directly as the website didn't give much of an indication of stock or an ETA. They told me, 'Orders are taking about 3-4 weeks to be made after being ordered' - Which didn't give me any info on ETA. Ordered on Amazon and shipped the next day
You should size to M at least and possibly S. They slide on and off way too easy. If you haven't thought about using the Steve Goggins trashbag trick, then they aren't tight enough. After a break-in period of 1-2 months they stretch out to a size. M destroyed me (14.6in. knee w/16.1in. calf) and I couldn't hit depth without my eyes watering from pain on day 1 and the back of my knees were black and purple. I can now take them off and on without a fuss. When doffing, you need to roll the bottom up and have the sock (long compression socks preferred) pulled up and under the sleeve. Then, roll the bottom flap down to lock the sock in place or else you will bunch up on the sock when pulling down the top. You also need to have the knee cap 1-2 inches above the logo and not in the center as the center isn't the most narrow part of the design (more like lower third). To achieve this, hike them up your leg and past your knee cap before unfolding. Walking around & bw squats will have them settle into place, but won't happen if that narrow part isn't above the knee joint. Gives me 10kg, easy. Sold my SBD garbage. Calf and thigh dimensions are also crucial to getting any pop. Team no calves have seen little benefit, even at XS. Pretty cheeky for Amazon price to go up $5 since Christmas and I suspect it could raise even another 5 if they keep selling out consistently. A friend just got his 5 days ago and be aware that the stitching process has been altered for the top and bottom openings. Originally the stitching resembled SBD (like you have) and the triangle pattern, but now it's like the back leg seam.
@@Aguynearu I heard he got large and knee of 15in. I assume he returned the L then upon advice? Good call since you have the calves for it. Also use of squat shoes and having more knee flexion aids in compressing the material and more rebound.
@@BasementBrandon Yea I rewatched it and didn't delete or edit my comment. I was surprised because I assumed it was L judging from how easy it was to put on for you. M killed me. Moral of the story is that the sizing guide is useless for these, just measure the calves lol.
would you say these are comparable in stiffness to the X sleeves? i have a pair of x sleeves and went back to my SBDs after a few months due to the bunching behind the knee like you described for the inzers. not that i would consider buying these b/c they're outrageously overpriced.
The X sleeves to me are similar to the strong sleeves just thicker (9mm vs 7mm). I have an offbrand 9mm sleeve and it still was about half the weight. Try weighing your X sleeve to get an idea of how it compares.
So I just got my first pair of Inzer ergo pros the other day but as opposed to my friend's Inzer sleeves, mine can't seem to pass the 5kg test. That is, being able to rest a 5kg plate on top of one sleeve without having it fold. Additionally, my sleeves seem to be a completely different material than that of my friend's and mine also seem to bend A LOT easier. With that being said, I've heard rumors about Inzer changing their material but for how expensive it was ($157?!) I don't think my pair were worth it. I'm going to try calling to see if I got a defect but nonetheless, I'm returning mine as they don't seem to be living up to the rep that these sleeves have!
@@BasementBrandon So I talked to my friend who also got a medium and he also is having the SAME issue with his medium ergo pro sleeves that he just bought not too long ago. I've heard that Inzer's customer service and quality control can be iffy at times so I'm thinking a whole batch of medium's just got produced with crappy quality due to a lack in quality control. I called Inzer this morning and asked if they changed materials or something and they said they didn't but anyways, I'm sending mine back to size down to a small!
i ordered mine one size down. and they are tight, but i can squat much better. only problem apart from taking them off, is the rubbing on the back of my knee
I’ve never had shipping problems with inzer *knock on wood* and when I got the wrong belt-my fault not theirs, they shipped my next belt overnight and got it in three days
I bought these sleeves and I noticed after squat session I get a nagging pain on my tendon from behind the knee running up to my outer side of hamstring I think it’s the lower part of iIT band The pain goes away after 3 days but it’s a nuisance. I’m not sure it a 10 lb increase is worth the price and pain. Also my St Strong knee sleeves feel safer cuz it keeps my knees much warmer hence keeping the muscles and tendon warm
Holy hell I’m 50 seconds into your video and I’ve already got flashbacks of something I’m still waiting on I ordered a Deadlift suit from gometal Almost a month ago very little communication still don’t have any idea when it’s getting here or even being shipped out their website and customer service sucks
So basically better to not even think about them. I had to size up due my calves and instead of getting a regular fit got a tight fit (so probably had to go up 2 sizes). Or buy a pair of EMT shears with 'em just in case
Yeah I think it's one of those things that people want to scratch the itch of the possibility of adding some weight to their total, but then that just sends you down a spiral of always looking for the next best thing.
Bought large inzer because the reviews I checked out said not to size down and I got them in the mail today and I feel the rebound out of the hole but as I walk around they seem to work down and come off very easy without a leg pump. Do you think they would stay in place better after the legs get pumped up or should I size down? I have tiny calves by the way, 1'2 inch smaller than my knee circumference lol
@@BasementBrandon thanks for the reply! Yeah I'm gonna exchange for mediums. I'd try smalls but a guy I talked to almost cut his off after squatting going 2 sizes down from his knee measurement. He said they work now that they are broke in but but he almost made an expensive decision there lol
Hi I bought S size too, have problem to put on and off but is possible, with time your sleeves are easier to put on and off ??? They will adapt ? Or I need change to M ?
I just recently got some cerberus knee sleeves because I had gotten some new elbow sleeves from them trying them out and I really like both of them compared to my other sleeves they’re my favorites right now have you tried any of their sleeves out and what are your thoughts on them
Hey Brandon, I’m asking these knee sleeves for Christmas but I don’t know what size to get because I heard the sizing was off . I messure my leg and it’s 15” so should I get the large or extra large?
If it's right at 15" I would prob say large if you want a tight fit. XL if you want to be safe and/or have an easier time on and off but likely not as tight.
@@BasementBrandon Hey Brandon! I got the small but I can get them on and off easily do you think It would be better if I downsize just because of that? On first session the slightly moved down Thanks
@@shouman3277 I think this is going to depend on if you want to fight with them or not. My smalls are hard to get on, but tdo shift down some when used, I think b/c of the shape of their design.
Brandon, i wear a large in stoics for a normal fit and an xl in sbd. I also wear large in sbd for a competition fit. What size inzers do you think I should buy for a normal fit, and a comp fit?
Unfortunately, you don't have the calves for this product to make it worth while. The design requires meat above and below the knee indentation to affix the sleeves and compress the material as you flex the knee. Chicken leg 🍗 lifters experience the same lack of spring, even with XS, on other yt vids and TikTok reviews. I'm sure that all of your friends that report significant bounce or 10kg+ out of comp fit Ergopros have meaty calves. So the verdict of "meh sleeves" is a bit misleading based on your muscle belly.
Hi Brandon, I have about 16.5 inches of knee and 18 inches of calf. I have an XL size and they don't fit my calf even though my knee fits the right size on the size guide. Do you think going up a size is too little? Is an xxl or xxxl better? Because they are really hard! Thank you
This is a tough one. I would prob go up to a 3xl since you're on the border at 18". I would however try to order through amazon who is much more forgiving with returns if needed.
I'm not sold that they are yet. They're def more compressed, but almost stiff to a detriment. I wear small stoics for daily training but squeeze into XS for meets.
@@BasementBrandon I bought them in a small 😭 hope I don’t regret it. I’ve never worn knee sleeves before so I have nothing to compare the inzer ones to
I'm on week 6 of waiting for shipment on these sleeves. I tried to do the Amazon hack, but was late to the party. Don't order these if you are expecting to have them in less than 2 months
The price of sleeves has gotten stupid. I think companies are taking advantage of supply chain issues and inflation to artificially raise prices. I'm going to source my own knee and elbow sleeves, wrist wraps, and maybe an Olympic weightlifting belt to release under the Clarksville Barbell Club brand. 🤷♂
This is almost 300$ +shipping to my country now I got it the fit is sooo weird I got XS because Im petite and I'm XS in SBD sleeves. The calf part is sooo loose and too tight on the thighs
@@jvm9816 yea that’s what I tried to do and couldn’t get it through. Maybe it’d be easier with straps that aren’t cotton like the iron mind ones. Or maybe it was just cause my legs were sweaty.
@@BasementBrandon on Inzers site this was a while back before Amazon was selling them 😅 and surprisingly took about 6 weeks (many years ago I also bought my first belt from them and it took 4 months)
Thick calves, meaty quads, furry Italian legs and I sweat like a pig...I will need a pit crew to get these on and off! I will stick with my Srong House Project's until I up the compression scale to Stoic and then SBD and then and then...we all know it never ends like a barbell collection!
Trust the older more experienced gentleman :) I've had a few people DM me saying that they do break in so it's not as aggressive as a fold, so we will see in the update!
Great review. I love how straightforward you spoke. For me, I don't think it's a matter of being a waste of $160. I think it sounds like if you are a competitive powerlifter and these are allowed, go for it. If you are not, eh, they may not be worth the price to you.
Good summary!
Me personally I PR’d 10 pounds after my first use, hit 675 PR on squats. But the pain when taking them off almost was not worth the PR for me. I laugh when people say they have to cut them off but I literally had to contemplate cutting them off cause they were not coming off for good 20 mins. 😂
I saw someone cut theirs!
FYI to anyone reading: I ordered mine from Inzer before Brandon...they still haven't shipped 😂
GG nuub. Amazon based god.
I Ordered mine the day i messaged you, and I live in India, already got em XD
When did you order ?
@@Aguynearu March 2nd
Yeah I think I asked like 2 weeks after you ordered to get your feedback on if you liked them or not as I was trying to decide if I should pull the trigger lol.
I think I’m sticking with my Stoic with the code basement ;)
Can't be mad at that lol
Thank you. Honest review just saved me $160!
Still testing em! But yeah hard pill to swallow!
Nice review - this was awesome timing as I have recently been shopping for knee and elbow sleeves . I was also looking at the Sorinex Collegiate Glute-Ham that you have but wow the price has jumped from $2,000 to $2,800 over the last few weeks .
I bet the shipping has also gone up :(
Have a pair of SBD's and they are amazing. They still work as good as new after a year of use. After buying them I never had a desire to try any other sleeve. I will say since I started mountain biking that my calves have gotten a little bigger and the SBD's definitely pull some hair when I try to squeeze them over my calves. Just part of the fun of lifting.
I do like my SBDs, but find my Stoics are better (and cheaper). But can't argue with the lifts that have been done in them on the world stage!
Which sbds
Knowing the supplier for Inzer in my country I laughed when you started talking about the ordering process. It doesn't matter if your are some regular Joe or a supplier, the ordering process is still just as horrendous.
I ordered my inzer belt and singlet from a German supplier (which was the closest to Italy where I live) and I got everything in like 5 days lol
Dang
Generally buying direct is better and cheaper. But Inzer is seemingly stuck in the 90s with how they operate their business and website.
yeah i just ordered the sleeves recently and they’re backlogged like 2-3weeks so lord knows when i’ll get em
another great review, thanks Brandon. I, too, measure 15 inches around the knee - which matches to a L-XL according the website/insert card, so I can't believe you could get size S on and off!
Small calves help :)
Interesting take and quite an ordeal. 😂 I will say that any company that pads there profit through shipping rates is one I typically stay away from. Thanks for sharing B.
Inzer doesn’t charge sales tax compared to other brands. But you’re right 20 dollars for shipping is expensive .
I just can't think of a way where it should cost more than $20 in the continental US
@@BasementBrandon next day or 2 day shipping?
@@snorlaxcom I don't believe that's an option. I also don't see a point of paying more for expedited shipping when it takes weeks to fulfill the order :)
@@BasementBrandon if you pay with Apple Pay there’s options, I think if you pay more they prioritize making your order first . Can’t confirm or deny
Glad I caught this review I’m definitely late to the party, I bought a set of Inzer large and when testing them I almost had a panic attack trying to get them off. The seam that runs down the back of the knee can be very uncomfortable and will remove skin in some areas. A lot of what you said was similar to my experience. I usually use Elite Fitness EFS sleeves and wanted to change up because until they are broke in it’s very difficult to get them on. I like what you said about Stoic, I’m going to try them out. I’m 55 years old now and no longer compete, I have a lot of joint pain from years of heavy lifting. I really benefit greatly from sleeves because I’m 6’4” and everyone always said the longer the limb the more torque you produce and it’s hard on the joints. You got a sub brother.
Thanks for the sub! I do find these stiff sleeves break in a bit, but I think for general training they're not idea for some of the reasons you just called out!
Wow Brandon, Im impressed! First off great review as always and I like that you are promoting canadian products. When the product is amazing we need to promote it wherever its made. Keep it up!
Thanks my dude!
@@BasementBrandon just realized this comment was supposed to be on the irwin j-cups!
@@pob1845 Figured, but no biggy!
The trick to taking them off is to slightly roll down the top so you can grip it and then AGGRESSIVELY roll it down the rest of the way in one swift motion. It’s been working for me every time and made them way easier to get off.
I tried this at first and didn't have any success as the bottoms stayed stuck :(
@@BasementBrandon You need to have that sock all the way up and under the bottom of the sleeve before you try to slide the top down. Any contact with the skin makes it harder to slide.
Best review on these so far! The Australian yeti (I have no idea how to tag..) had a good review on these. He said people have been folding up the bottom quarter of the sleeve which seemed to give more ‘bounce’ out of the hole.. just a thought to try for the full review 🤷🏼♂️ thanks legend.
Appreciate the tip, I'm going to keep messing with them, but thought my first impressions would be good to compare to after using them for awhile.
Great review! my sbd knee sleeves still feel great to me. Ill stick with those.
Right on!
Solid review ! Love how you went in depth on all aspects . I personally love mine. If you really size down it helps more. I’m supposed to be a medium but I sized down to a S.
Going to see if they break in some with time!
How tall are you? idk I’m supposed to be a medium too and I sized down to a small and I just couldn’t get these things on. So I used some assistance and got them up and then I couldn’t get them off. Seems like the taller crowd is getting them on easier vs my leg must have more meat compacted
@@mikep1584 Im 5'8 but my calves are the roughly the same size as my knee joint thats why. I have 14.5 knee joints.
should i size down as well? i would be a large
regarding the issue with the size chart difference vs the website sizing, I heard that the newer sleeves follow the website more. By newer I mean a different edition. The older sleeves follow the sizing on the chart which is why they run tighter. For example if you notice your sleeves do not have the "95% neoprene 5% nylon" label that is shown on their website. I can also confirm this because my friend bought a size small and it was easier to get on than my size small. I tried on both pairs and my pair that I bought a while ago was still harder to get on despite on having them longer.
I'll have to take a look!
@@BasementBrandon let me know!
I have had a pair of sbds for probably way to long and feel like I’ve grown out of them so I ordered a pair of stoics today from one of your videos, excited to try them.
Hope you like em!
I'm gonna give my review... ur right if you are staring you definitely don't need them DONT JUMP IN THE BANDWAGON ... ever since I started competing I wear my stoic great sleeves ... but after a few years of powerlifting my right knee has a lot of issues so I bouth the ergo bc its stiff and it does feel ND gives my knee a better support and stability am on my 5th year lifting it's a lot of years squatting I do recommend this to advance lifter or ppl who has knee injury or some sore of discomfort
Thanks for the feedback!
Great video, you are spot on with your assessment. I personally go get more out of the inzers than I do SBD, however I go back to my SBDs on lighter high rep days since they are way more comfortable
Are you SBDs sized down as much?
@@BasementBrandon I do size down my SBDs as well
@@BasementBrandon I made the mistake of sizing down and pulled my back trying to get them over my calves 😂
I don’t compete so I went with Strengthshop odins triple ply. Only like $40 or something. Very comfortable material to lift in. And noticeable rebound.
I had those but ordered way too big of a size (XXL)
@@BasementBrandon I’m about 15.5” and went Large. Tight.. but I’m pretty sure I could squeeze into a Medium if I wanted. I’m planning on buying multiple sizes.
Guy with big calves here…
I have a 14 inch knee circumference and my calves are 17 1/2 inches. So I ordered a medium like the sizing guide says. Absolutely hell getting them on and off, because of my calves. I’m not going to size up because once they’re on, these sleeves really are amazing. But I make sure my legs are shaved and be prepared to rub some skin off. Plus they will stretch ever so slightly as you break them in.
Big calf problems!
Fun fact I got 2 pairs since I was between 2 sizes, and long story short I didn’t like em so I wanted to return them. Turns out they didn’t cover the shipping label and I had to pay about $27 to ship them back :))))
Ur complaining about 27$ when u just dropped 350$ on knee sleeves?! Wow
Lol didn’t drop $350, it was like $280 I believe. And hell yeah lol When I return something I want my money back 😂
It’s very common for companies to charge shipping to send it back. Amazon is like the only company I know that covers shipping
Damn :( That's why I wanted to go Amazon if possible, they take back anything.
I’ll stick to my Stoic. Great review as always.
Right on!
Back in the basement!? When is the last time you filmed outside of the basement
Just the other day to fill up my truck with trash!
Nice to hear a true knee sleeve junky give the scoops on that new hotness. Impressively stiff level of material to break down into a comfortable crease. Bullet proof. They should rate them like a Ruger. 500 round breakin period.
Hey Rockman maybe if you get a pair of these you could finally work up the confidence to squat 5 wheels without your wraps pulled tight LOL
Seems to be the consensus of those that own them, so will give another report back after a month or two!
@@BasementBrandon just seems like alot of really stiff material in places it doesn't do much good. I much prefer a wrap. You think these will be comp legal for RAW?
This video just reminded me why I'm switching to wraps
lol
Here after seeing Kevin Oak in these. I squatted a lot in wraps so switching over to sleeves felt like nothing on my knees. I don't even put them on anymore. I squatted 455 with bare knees yesterday. I was hoping this was gonna be the cheat code for me.
Could be. Def feel unlike all other sleeves I've owned.
I bought these late March 2022 and they arrived in May 2022. The funny thing about these “ergonomic” sleeves is that mine ripped after only 5ish months of use. Unfortunately the product took 2 months to arrive, so despite only using them for 5 months, I was already past the 6 month deadline to where they can still do repairs!!
Damn, that's a bummer.
Because of the issues of taking them off, I wouldn't ever use them in competition. After my third squat attempt, the last thing I want to do is struggle to take my knee sleeves off. I need to relax, gather myself and begin prep for my bench warm-ups. Sometimes flights go really fast, depending on their size of course, but I'm not willing to stress out over stuck knee sleeves. I'll stick with SBD's or EliteFTS.
You never made it past the break-in period then. They become a lot easier to take off. I used to lose circulation in my right quad and foot the first 2 weeks. After 2 months and a meet it has loosened up and squatting heavy is a dream. Not recommended for rep work above 3, though. I use SBD for that.
@@snorlaxcom absolutely I've had mine since September and it's literally effortless to take off I can just grab and pull and they'll slide right off no problem
That might help me, I tend to start warming up too early!
Lol thanks for sharing the pain of the Inzer website user experience
Tell me about it!
Nice review Brandon cheers
Much appreciated!
Similiar situation. I contacted Inzer directly as the website didn't give much of an indication of stock or an ETA. They told me, 'Orders are taking about 3-4 weeks to be made after being ordered' - Which didn't give me any info on ETA. Ordered on Amazon and shipped the next day
Lol figures
Solid video, debating ordering STrong sleeves myself, I definitely don't think these would be for me
My only issue with MB products is that they don't seem to last as long for most.
As a guy with bigger calves, watching this made me feel claustrophobic. I'll stick to my semi-bougie SBD sleeves. Thanks for the video!
Haha yessir
Thanks Brandon, I was debating getting these but I think I'll stick with the stoics
Will report back after I've had more time.
You should size to M at least and possibly S. They slide on and off way too easy. If you haven't thought about using the Steve Goggins trashbag trick, then they aren't tight enough. After a break-in period of 1-2 months they stretch out to a size. M destroyed me (14.6in. knee w/16.1in. calf) and I couldn't hit depth without my eyes watering from pain on day 1 and the back of my knees were black and purple. I can now take them off and on without a fuss.
When doffing, you need to roll the bottom up and have the sock (long compression socks preferred) pulled up and under the sleeve. Then, roll the bottom flap down to lock the sock in place or else you will bunch up on the sock when pulling down the top. You also need to have the knee cap 1-2 inches above the logo and not in the center as the center isn't the most narrow part of the design (more like lower third). To achieve this, hike them up your leg and past your knee cap before unfolding. Walking around & bw squats will have them settle into place, but won't happen if that narrow part isn't above the knee joint. Gives me 10kg, easy. Sold my SBD garbage.
Calf and thigh dimensions are also crucial to getting any pop. Team no calves have seen little benefit, even at XS.
Pretty cheeky for Amazon price to go up $5 since Christmas and I suspect it could raise even another 5 if they keep selling out consistently.
A friend just got his 5 days ago and be aware that the stitching process has been altered for the top and bottom openings. Originally the stitching resembled SBD (like you have) and the triangle pattern, but now it's like the back leg seam.
The guy in the vid says he wears smalls but he didn’t size down.
I went size small! I've heard a few people say they need to break in, so will report back in a bit.
@@Aguynearu I heard he got large and knee of 15in. I assume he returned the L then upon advice? Good call since you have the calves for it. Also use of squat shoes and having more knee flexion aids in compressing the material and more rebound.
I'm beginning to think you didn't watch the video lol. I said from the beginning I got small and based it off thinking my knee was 13.5" :)
@@BasementBrandon Yea I rewatched it and didn't delete or edit my comment. I was surprised because I assumed it was L judging from how easy it was to put on for you. M killed me. Moral of the story is that the sizing guide is useless for these, just measure the calves lol.
Good work, Brandon.
Thank you!
Yo Brandon
Sup dude, here’s to a good rest of your week
appreciate ya!
would you say these are comparable in stiffness to the X sleeves? i have a pair of x sleeves and went back to my SBDs after a few months due to the bunching behind the knee like you described for the inzers. not that i would consider buying these b/c they're outrageously overpriced.
The X sleeves to me are similar to the strong sleeves just thicker (9mm vs 7mm). I have an offbrand 9mm sleeve and it still was about half the weight. Try weighing your X sleeve to get an idea of how it compares.
You need a sleeve up to get them on and off. I don’t know how people do it without one
Getting better at taking them on and off, must be breaking in!
So I just got my first pair of Inzer ergo pros the other day but as opposed to my friend's Inzer sleeves, mine can't seem to pass the 5kg test. That is, being able to rest a 5kg plate on top of one sleeve without having it fold. Additionally, my sleeves seem to be a completely different material than that of my friend's and mine also seem to bend A LOT easier. With that being said, I've heard rumors about Inzer changing their material but for how expensive it was ($157?!) I don't think my pair were worth it. I'm going to try calling to see if I got a defect but nonetheless, I'm returning mine as they don't seem to be living up to the rep that these sleeves have!
Are you sure they sent you the right sleeves?
@@BasementBrandon So I talked to my friend who also got a medium and he also is having the SAME issue with his medium ergo pro sleeves that he just bought not too long ago. I've heard that Inzer's customer service and quality control can be iffy at times so I'm thinking a whole batch of medium's just got produced with crappy quality due to a lack in quality control. I called Inzer this morning and asked if they changed materials or something and they said they didn't but anyways, I'm sending mine back to size down to a small!
i ordered mine one size down. and they are tight, but i can squat much better. only problem apart from taking them off, is the rubbing on the back of my knee
Def takes some getting used to
ill wait for the follow up video before dropping $160
Sounds good!
An almost 17m video on knee sleeves? Hmm... well I guess there will be some innuendos to keep me going.
I thought this first impressions was going to be quick too lol. I did like 3 takes and this was the shortest one I was able to do.
Imagine how much use you'd get out of them in a Transformer Bar Review video!
Lol. I have a feeling the Transformer bar video will be out after my meet once I start working it in more.
@@BasementBrandon Doesn’t stop me from asking 🤣
I’ve never had shipping problems with inzer *knock on wood* and when I got the wrong belt-my fault not theirs, they shipped my next belt overnight and got it in three days
Nice!
I bought these sleeves and I noticed after squat session I get a nagging pain on my tendon from behind the knee running up to my outer side of hamstring I think it’s the lower part of iIT band The pain goes away after 3 days but it’s a nuisance. I’m not sure it a 10 lb increase is worth the price and pain. Also my St Strong knee sleeves feel safer cuz it keeps my knees much warmer hence keeping the muscles and tendon warm
Sorry to hear, haven't had that issue!
Holy hell I’m 50 seconds into your video and I’ve already got flashbacks of something I’m still waiting on I ordered a Deadlift suit from gometal Almost a month ago very little communication still don’t have any idea when it’s getting here or even being shipped out their website and customer service sucks
Yikes!
So basically better to not even think about them. I had to size up due my calves and instead of getting a regular fit got a tight fit (so probably had to go up 2 sizes). Or buy a pair of EMT shears with 'em just in case
Yeah I think it's one of those things that people want to scratch the itch of the possibility of adding some weight to their total, but then that just sends you down a spiral of always looking for the next best thing.
great video!
Thanks man!
Bought large inzer because the reviews I checked out said not to size down and I got them in the mail today and I feel the rebound out of the hole but as I walk around they seem to work down and come off very easy without a leg pump. Do you think they would stay in place better after the legs get pumped up or should I size down? I have tiny calves by the way, 1'2 inch smaller than my knee circumference lol
I think you likely could size down, but it likely won’t give you much time n return since they’re so stiff already.
@@BasementBrandon thanks for the reply! Yeah I'm gonna exchange for mediums. I'd try smalls but a guy I talked to almost cut his off after squatting going 2 sizes down from his knee measurement. He said they work now that they are broke in but but he almost made an expensive decision there lol
@@raymondbeechner5749what’s your knee size and calf size!?
True!! Love inzer but man their timing and lack of web update and the fact they made you buy regular shipping 20.00
Yeah def the dark ages of ecommerce.
Hi I bought S size too, have problem to put on and off but is possible, with time your sleeves are easier to put on and off ??? They will adapt ? Or I need change to M ?
I'm not sure if they've stretched some or I just got more efficient in my technique, but yes it did become easier.
Awesome comprehensive review 👍
Thanks Mr. PR Breaker.
I just recently got some cerberus knee sleeves because I had gotten some new elbow sleeves from them trying them out and I really like both of them compared to my other sleeves they’re my favorites right now have you tried any of their sleeves out and what are your thoughts on them
Have heard good things, but no first hand experience.
How long would I be looking at for them to arrive ? I bought them roughly 2 weeks ago and am purchasing from the UK?
Did you order from Inzer? I heard they were selling stock when they didn't have any stock recently.
Which brand of knee sleeves do you recommend for someone who prefers comfort and convenience over performance?
Stoics or Rehbands
Stoic or sbds if you’re powerlifting .
I keep my strong knee sleeve by Mark Bell.... but i would love to try them one day 🤣
Markbells sleeves are the absolute bottem tier of quality sleeves
@@kindafatkindastrong5683 well from my side i like them . But i would try with pleasure other brand to compare . What are your favorite?
I have owned a few pair, some are great, but some had quality control issues.
Inzer took forever to ship mine. 2 weeks to be exact. It literally took a phone call for them to do anything.
That's actually pretty quick for them!
@@BasementBrandon Should've went through Amazon originally
Hey Brandon, I’m asking these knee sleeves for Christmas but I don’t know what size to get because I heard the sizing was off . I messure my leg and it’s 15” so should I get the large or extra large?
If it's right at 15" I would prob say large if you want a tight fit. XL if you want to be safe and/or have an easier time on and off but likely not as tight.
Im just gonna wait the 1 to 2 years before sbd/more brands releases a "pro" sleeve
You have a ways to go, they have to release all the odd colors no one cares about first!
My Knee measurements are 13.5" and calfs are 14" would you recommend getting S(12.5"-13.5") or XS(11"-12.5") in INZER?
I'd prob go smalls or even mediums, you're prob still going to find them ungodly tight lol.
@@BasementBrandon Hey Brandon! I got the small but I can get them on and off easily do you think It would be better if I downsize just because of that? On first session the slightly moved down
Thanks
@@shouman3277 I think this is going to depend on if you want to fight with them or not. My smalls are hard to get on, but tdo shift down some when used, I think b/c of the shape of their design.
@@BasementBrandon by fight with them you mean getting them on? Or for competition?
@@shouman3277 Sorry I meant fight to get them on and off.
In terms of strength. Inzer > sbd > everything else. Inzer knee sleeves are the thickest and strongest and will help you maximize load
Technically they're all the same thickness. I'd say Inzers are stiffest, but my Stoics offer more support than my SBD.
Brandon, i wear a large in stoics for a normal fit and an xl in sbd. I also wear large in sbd for a competition fit. What size inzers do you think I should buy for a normal fit, and a comp fit?
I would say likely XL, but may be able to squeeze into a large.
Unfortunately, you don't have the calves for this product to make it worth while. The design requires meat above and below the knee indentation to affix the sleeves and compress the material as you flex the knee. Chicken leg 🍗 lifters experience the same lack of spring, even with XS, on other yt vids and TikTok reviews. I'm sure that all of your friends that report significant bounce or 10kg+ out of comp fit Ergopros have meaty calves. So the verdict of "meh sleeves" is a bit misleading based on your muscle belly.
Not at all.
personally over time, Ive added 25 lbs more when I wear those. I switch to sbd for my paused squats though because I dont need that much support.
Interesting, I didn't get much (if anything) out of them.
@@BasementBrandon well i think its because I dive bomb now to get the most bounce out of the sleeve LOL
I got a heavy single with 463 Lbs I just got these 2 days ago I’ll test them out
How did it go!
@@BasementBrandon I actually love them. The week after I did 485 lbs last single before my first meet this Saturday!
Helps if you have on compression shorts that run at least 3/4 down your legs. Only way I'm able to get my SBDs on.
I've always had issue as the sleeves make them bunch up even more
Hi Brandon, I have about 16.5 inches of knee and 18 inches of calf. I have an XL size and they don't fit my calf even though my knee fits the right size on the size guide. Do you think going up a size is too little? Is an xxl or xxxl better? Because they are really hard! Thank you
This is a tough one. I would prob go up to a 3xl since you're on the border at 18". I would however try to order through amazon who is much more forgiving with returns if needed.
@@BasementBrandon just like I thought! thanks for the advices! very kind
Do you think these are better than the Stoic Knee Sleeves? Also if you’re a small in Inzer, are you also a small in Stoic?
I'm not sold that they are yet. They're def more compressed, but almost stiff to a detriment. I wear small stoics for daily training but squeeze into XS for meets.
@@BasementBrandon I bought them in a small 😭 hope I don’t regret it. I’ve never worn knee sleeves before so I have nothing to compare the inzer ones to
hmm - for peaking i usually wear stoic size small. knee is 15.75 in - do you think small would still work in the inzer?
I think it would be a struggle.
I’m currently 5’6 178lbs since I’m doing a cut from 198, what size should I order ?
Measure your knee and your calf, and use that to size.
I'm on week 6 of waiting for shipment on these sleeves. I tried to do the Amazon hack, but was late to the party.
Don't order these if you are expecting to have them in less than 2 months
Damn dude, sorry to hear
@@BasementBrandon if they add a few kgs to my total it'll probably still be worth the wait
Bought larges, and since the sizing goes only off the knee ended up having a double tourniquet on my calves.
🪦
The price of sleeves has gotten stupid. I think companies are taking advantage of supply chain issues and inflation to artificially raise prices. I'm going to source my own knee and elbow sleeves, wrist wraps, and maybe an Olympic weightlifting belt to release under the Clarksville Barbell Club brand. 🤷♂
I agree on that, I know my boys at Pioneer are working on their own and there's literally no one in the US that makes neoprene like this.
you can get almost 3 pairs of stoics with code basement for the price of one ergo
I mean I'm not mad at that lol
So did they recently drop the price like after this video. I got mine from amazon for 80 bucks. Just curious if anyone else has noticed this.
Those are the Power knee sleeves. Not the same thing.
@@BasementBrandon ohhhhhhh gotcha thanks for the info
Most aesthetic squat in the game.
Lol too high for most!
Should I size stoics and/or inzer the same as my SBDs? I have a size small in SBDs and thinking of getting some stoics.
So for me, I sized my stoics down one from SBD.
Did you ever try the Yellow Jackets? if so what did you think of them?
I had the original ones, I have a video on them that's like 8 years old. Wasn't a fan. Found them too boxy for my leg type.
This is almost 300$ +shipping to my country now I got it the fit is sooo weird I got XS because Im petite and I'm XS in SBD sleeves. The calf part is sooo loose and too tight on the thighs
Yeah def a weird fit!
How would you compare these to the x sleeves from Mark bell?
these are much more stiff.
@@BasementBrandon and I thought the x sleeves were stiff. Im gonna need to amputate my legs to take these off. Thank you for the reply!!
Where can I get those grey camo shorts you’re wearing in the video?
I bought them from Alphalete on clearance lol
@@BasementBrandon thank you!
I still using the same Stoic knee sleeves I’ve had for several years! Lol
They are still in good shape though. Yes tall socks are a big help!
I do like me some Stoics (obviously) :)
Do you think they will get banned from comps?
I do not think they will unless they get more specific about what type of neoprene is allowed. It's too slippery a slope.
You think maybe they need broken in a little? The way you were describing the material made me think that.
Absolutely I've had mine since either September or October they take a while to break in but once they do most of these issues are resolved
Once they break in it’s significantly easier to get on and off, unless you sized down a lot
Seems to be the feedback. Will def report back in an update, but wanted to just get my first impressions out!
@@BasementBrandon Good video, best of luck in your meet!
still over here using my elitefts from 10 years ago
Nice, I still have my old rehbands!
I have 15.5" knee circumference. Is XL too big or do I need to size down to Large for full effect?
I would think size down. I'm at 15" and a small
@@BasementBrandon yeah but would you be able to wear them for a full workout? Even now, Did they start to stretch a little more ?
@@alexrossi5441 They stretch more, but I wouldn't wear them for the entire session.
Nah my SBD sleeves are good. Should I want more support/pain I've got a set of wraps which are a fun training tool.
Right on!
a size small!!!!???? i just got these in large and i spent an hour trying to get them off and almost passed out from frustration
Haha yes, not fun at all.
Love the stoics.
Same!
Way too expensive. I'm still rocking my OG Rehbands LOL
Me too! 😂 Have had them for like 10 years. My ST strong sleeves busted at the seems only 3 years of use. Rheband still going strong though
I wear them on occasion, I think those are the only ones people actually wear for just warmth.
If you run straps through both sides it’s much easier to put them on and take them off !
Will give it a go
I tried that it’s literally impossible to get straps through them
@@mikep1584 fold the top and bottom of the sleeve then run the straps on both sides.
@@jvm9816 yea that’s what I tried to do and couldn’t get it through. Maybe it’d be easier with straps that aren’t cotton like the iron mind ones. Or maybe it was just cause my legs were sweaty.
Shipping to Hawai’i was $70 so I shipped it to family in the states and they sent it to me for $17
Nice! Even through Amazon?
@@BasementBrandon on Inzers site this was a while back before Amazon was selling them 😅 and surprisingly took about 6 weeks (many years ago I also bought my first belt from them and it took 4 months)
You can wear like a slippery leggin to help get them on/off and help with the discomfort
Right on!
Just a long nylon sock does the trick. Goes all the way up to my knee and i dont have to tear off any leg hair
@@joemfahey that's what I just said lol
My total was 158 from inzer. Guess it has to do with location.
Could be! I'm in the Northeast.
Early algorithm
my man
Thick calves, meaty quads, furry Italian legs and I sweat like a pig...I will need a pit crew to get these on and off! I will stick with my Srong House Project's until I up the compression scale to Stoic and then SBD and then and then...we all know it never ends like a barbell collection!
Sweating a lot actually helps in taking them off. They also stretch a bit from heat, so a long squat session is great.
@@snorlaxcom Thanks, I like to bike or row as a warmup, getting them on might be all the warmup I need!
Yeah that sounds about right with the pit crew lol. I've seen some videos of people needing several helping hands already.
Hmm, probably the 2nd time I disagree with you on your recommendation, the first being that you like 35 plates 😅. But yes, def not for everyone haha
Trust the older more experienced gentleman :) I've had a few people DM me saying that they do break in so it's not as aggressive as a fold, so we will see in the update!