Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The 425 knee brace "WAS" the best knee brace I have ever had! I'm a very active recreational basketball player, I have minor torn meniscus in both of my knees. So, being a very athletic active guy, I have unstable knees! The old design had the cross straps start from behind the knee and come together at the top of the thigh and shin. The new design has the cross straps start at the MCL and LCL ligaments. I find this design to be flawed because, Neoprene...the stretchy material that it is...when you go to tighten the cross straps, it actually pulls the two medial/lateral rods on the side forward towards the knee cap, leaving MCL and LCL ligaments susceptible to injury! Furthermore, if you have torn or worn down meniscus cartilage which causes the knee to be unstable during instance activity...if you have the straps pulling the rods forward, all your really doing is stretching the neoprene fabric in the back and causing the front to bunch up as your being active! However, if Mcdavid had stuck w/ the original design, then the straps would come over the rods keeping them in place and support unstable knees because the cross strap would cover the entire knee from back to front, offering the "level II" support that they claim! Mcdavid says that the new design is more comfortable w/o the seamless back! I don't feel a change in comfort...and, i'd take the seamless back over a torn ligament or a slip knee any and every time!!! Mcdavid, you "HAD" the perfect product! At a very economical price too!