If you wear knee pads for your sports then why not for your gardening. If you know that you are going to be on your knees then go out and get those chap pads that will protect them. You only have one set of knees and they have to last otherwise you will be miserable! And these knee rest pads are so cheap. I got mine at a local Walmart for $5 and right now everything is marked down so you really should go shopping to get stuff for next year.