Bauerfeind Genutrain P3 Review

Comfort: 8

Stability: 10

Protection: 10

Durability: 9

Review:

The Bauerfeind Genutrain P3 is an incredibly stable and protective knee brace that maintains the classic Bauerfeind comfort. The P3 is a more protective version of the Genutrain that uses the same materials to create a similar feel. The main differences are that the P3 doesn't have the polyurethane strips on both sides of the brace, instead just using a thick softer material. I found that this still offered a good amount of side to side protection however not as much as the Genutrain. The other main difference is around the knee cap. There is a corrective guide piece that runs up the outside of the knee cap which prevents the knee cap from drifting laterally (outwards). The gel pad encompassing the knee cap runs up higher into a tear drop shape on the medial side (inside) of the knee. This again offers more support and better joint awareness which really helped my patella tracking issues. Finally, there is a small corrective strap on the medial side of the brace around the knee which allows you to adjust the fit in that section as required. With these changes, the P3 is an incredibly stable and protective brace and I felt extremely confident in the support it provided. The added stability around the knee cap helped reduce a lot of my knee pain that was quite severe at the time.

The breathable material created a very comfortable feel. The reinforced tougher material present around the front of the knee prevents tears when diving. The clever design to combine lightweight breathable material in sections of less load and contact, with thicker materials in higher contact areas, resulted in a mobile brace that promotes performance while making sure that it is highly durable to last many seasons. The profile of the brace was excellent making for a great fit around the knee. The quality elastic material ensured that there were minimal adjustments needed once the brace was put on.

The Genutrain P3 comes in 1 to 6 sizing which makes sure you will find the right fit that offers maximum comfort and protection. The sizing chart uses the circumference of your lower thigh and upper calf. If you are on the lower end of a size category I would suggest dropping to the size below to ensure that the brace will fit nice and tight.

I found that the material remained in a very good shape with no tears to be seen even with it being washed every few months. Towards the end of the season there were minimal signs of general wear and the elastic still offered great compression throughout. This is a very durable brace that will last multiple seasons.

Overall I think the P3 offers great support to the knee while maintaining good mobility which is important for performance. The materials used are extremely comfortable and the profile of the brace fits great around the knee. Although it is quite expensive, this is one of the best knee braces available and I think it is a worthy investment.

Rating: 9.2/10

Pros

• Very comfortable material & profile

• Extremely stable & protective brace

• Long lasting a durable design

• Wide range of sizes

Cons

• Very expensive brace but it is the best available

My verdict: I loved the amount of stability and protection this brace had while still retaining a great degree of comfort and mobility. Often the more protection you have the more uncomfortable the brace is, but I was very impressed with the movement and overall feel that was offered. I couldn't recommend this brace enough to anyone with knee issues looking for a protective brace!

Value: $240 AUD - This an expensive brace but its quality protection, comfort and durability makes it a worthy investment!

Questions?