Hobo Knee Pads! [ 1920s Hack! ]

Discover the secret of 1920s hobos with our DIY guide on making 'Hobo Knee Pads!' - a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution to protect your knees. Learn how to craft these durable knee pads using simple tools and recycled materials, perfect for gardening, outdoor activities, and camping. Join us in this easy, step-by-step tutorial to create your own knee protectors that are both practical and historically inspired!
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[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching! Please leave a thumbs up and a comment in the section below. Also, check out the classes we teach, the class dates, required gear list and WayPoint Survival Merch at www.waypointsurvival.com.

[@moorshound3243]

This series is wonderful. Would be great to see you doing a travelling hobo video where you use your hobo kit and gear and maybe look for odd jobs along the way?

[@sierragrey7910]

Excellent and very useful. As someone who has done some manual labor, knees get worn out. The knee pads cover the wear area and get a slight bit of cushion. This is useful info in these times. Hobos were the ultimate survivalists in difficult times. I’m sure they endured some difficult cold nights as they traveled for work.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed they were! Thanks for watching!

[@westtexasprepper]

As a History Major, I love this aspect of history that often gets overlooked. Ties in well being a train buff too! Glad I found your channel. Great job!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much!

[@apancher]

I've got a degree in history too!

[@johndalessandro6433]

No degree here. But I am a life student of history, these videos really help us understand the life of a hobo. I enjoy them very much.😊

[@Gozer_is_God]

The part of history in the late 1800s to early 1900s that gets overlooked, when it pertains to rubber, is where it came from and how. Hobos putting old bicycle tires on their knees? I don't think you've done King Leopold justice.

[@matthewellisor5835]

Ranger-bands weren't a new invention, just another from the "make it do or do without" generation. I hope you show what else you make from that tube. James, thank you again for a great example and fun while we're watching.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much!

[@Captain-Max]

Brilliant! Adding a folded handkerchief or other piece of clothing under the rubber would increase the knee joint protection further if needed. I know my knees are no good for crawling around.

[@WayPointSurvival]

That's a great idea!

[@user-jn2gc8fk6q]

We used a version of this for the hands and thumb years ago to load/unload bricks by hand before truck cranes were invented 😊

[@WayPointSurvival]

Excellent!

[@daveburklund2295]

Man, that's a great idea to keep my knees clean and dry any time I'm out camping! Them hobos can teach us a lot.

[@WayPointSurvival]

You got that right!

[@robertwillis4061]

They can also be used a shin protectors for walking through gorse and sharp grass. Would help to keep Ticks off you in scrupland

[@Georgecobb-s1v]

Excellent! Necessity is the mother of invention! Have you ever heard of using an inner tube filled with water & placed in the sun as a Solar Shower Remove the valve to fill the tube & cap to keep from losing water. To use: remove valve cap or stopper & connect a piece of tubing & a shower head or plant watering spray-head to make a HOBO SHOWER! May God bless you & yours & all those with the true Hobo spirit!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Great idea! God bless you too!

[@Dreoilin]

This Hobo stuff you're doing is very cool man. It's definitely a great thing that isn't talked about enough. You're constantly providing great information that we can still use 👍

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@PMK7734]

Your videos make it obvious you do a lot of research. Thanks for keeping these skills alive.

[@WayPointSurvival]

I appreciate that!

[@PMK7734]

@@WayPointSurvival And I appreciate your videos.

[@drewthomas7621]

I would love to see your take on the legendary hobo markings

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks! We are thinking of doing something like that.

[@pinetree9343]

With some rubber cement, take those spare rubber parts and double the thickness and resulting protection. If no rubber cement is available, stitch the pieces in place.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Good idea!

[@frankschultz6572]

Latex and acetone might work

[@kylewilkinson6975]

Usung your head for more than holding a hat, brother. One idea leads to another.

[@christy032866]

Southern Ohio!? Well, hello neighbor! 👋from Northern Cincinnati!!❤❤❤❤

[@WayPointSurvival]

Hello! Thanks for watching!

[@lukasbocker6740]

I'm always fascinated by how inventive Hobos were. Those pieces are made from scrap but are so useful for daily business. Make some and put them in a window of a modern upcycling shop as a piece of gardening equipment and I bet they'd sell immediately. Damn, I even want to make some for myself for the next time I'm working in the forest. Maybe I'll even get some smaller tubes as well so make myself some gaiters for hiking in wet conditions. Also the scrap pieces you cut out could do a great job when you are outdoors and can't find a dry spot to sit on. Just place them on a wet log or something and sit down without getting your trousers wet.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes, I think there's a lot of ways that these could be used.

[@keithmoore5306]

i think tin snips or aviation shears would cut that easier James! and you'd definitely want to add some padding in behind them!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes, they're definitely several ways you could modify this to make it more comfortable. Thanks for watching!

[@OliveDrabAlliance]

Excellent video. I use kneepads when i install flooring. Without them, I couldn't do it. I really enjoy your videos!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@jamesellsworth9673]

In your case, the padding is important.

[@OliveDrabAlliance]

@@jamesellsworth9673 That's for sure!

[@57WillysCJ]

Great idea. One I have been thinking about is what they could pick up for food along the way. We use to eat field corn while it was green. Either eat it outright or cook it like sweet corn. Most farmers didn't have a problem with it as long you didn't get carried away. Of Course if the corn was dry you could make a corn meal of a course grind. I would assume that could be possible for all crops in the field. Still you didn't want to be obvious. I knew a fellow who was alive in the 30s and the family picked vegtables. They got a lot of extra food from the produce culls that were thrown in to barrels near the fields. They would pick a lot to eat. It was fresh but had blemishes that no one would buy. I would think there was fruit near old farms and along ditches much like the wild apples of today. They could catch fish as well. Stealing chickens, other small farmstock as well as eggs is where trouble started.

[@WayPointSurvival]

The real hobo would not wish to stoop to stealing. As a matter of fact it's recorded that some of them went several days without eating because they would not stoop to beg or steal. Also, many of them would willingly work for the food and so they were kind of valuable around farming areas. I would say that a lot of them actually ate pretty well.

[@57WillysCJ]

@@WayPointSurvival Yep, only gleaning was allowed. Not that it's all that small even today. I have picked up buckets of potatoes, fresh green peas as well as field corn that was dropped in loading or lost in various ways. Farmers who planted sweet corn for places like Delmonte would let people they know pick sweet corn on the end rows as it was just run over and wasted. Some were rather tight fisted that would poor fuel on excess and burn it.

[@WayPointSurvival]

@57WillysCJ That's really sad. With so many needy people around, you would think those farmers would have had more of a heart.

[@Craig144_1]

I watch your channel for, exactly, this type of valuable knowledge!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@Terry_weston4570]

What a superb idea, I use inner tubes for a variety of things, but never thought of a knee protector, just plain common sense. I will be doing this for sure. Thank you

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you liked it!

[@TerryC69]

Hi James! As you point out, this tool is super practical for so many outdoor jobs. I was just thinking these would be great for working around the plant beds of my house or in the garden. Good stuff!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Absolutely!

[@Kangsteri]

I recommend to try construction work pants with pockets for cushioned kneepads. They are the best for any serious bushcraft people. They usually have big additional hanging pockets too.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@worm_vaquero]

The CAT brand are trash, so many loose threads, and I have had to sew pant cuffs, crotch, and pocket corners and reinforce many other areas

[@Kangsteri]

@@worm_vaquero Wurth has been a good brand. But a bit too expensive.

[@rnrdecor]

Love this! Thanks for sharing. I’m making a pair for my husband. He’s a contractor and is always working on his knees. This will help save his knees 👏👏👏❤️

[@WayPointSurvival]

That is awesome!

[@user-pv8pj4jg2d]

I like this project and besides this would make good armor for going thrue things like briares and what not you can even make sleave protectors and palm protectors for thin gloves for the same reason for bow hunting or hunting in general for protection.

[@WayPointSurvival]

True!

[@hanginwithbullfrog4657]

Very interesting information... Hard times but as ppl we always overcome... We wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for rough tough ppl such as ur uncle... Thx man!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Well said!

[@j.f.7509]

Several years back, I spent an evening sipping brandy with an uncle of mine who used to be a Hobo, and he shared many interesting stories travelling all across North America on freight trains! Actually, I did it too once with a friend, from Kamloops to Vancouver BC 😃

[@WayPointSurvival]

Very cool!

[@johndorney3269]

I'm 70 now, back when I was a young fella I rode from my hometown to a town 26 miles away and a town 65 miles away several times with a neighbor friend, on the old southern Pacific and Santa Fe lines.

[@skydivingcomrade1648]

Necessity is the mother of all inventions.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed!

[@petepete66]

Cool 🔥🍀✌️😜✌️🍀🔥 … you have more knie shield if you let the rubber as a tube ( without cutting spaces out ) … maybe … ✌️😜🍀

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes, but it would be almost impossible to put on.

[@fonimer]

This info is very useful to me. I'm a mill worker and I constantly need to kneel on concrete. I'm gonna source me some rubber tute suite.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad to help!

[@TimHargreaves]

nice ...as a flooring guy ... you might want to try adding some padding

[@WayPointSurvival]

Absolutely. Another commenter mentioned putting a handkerchief under each one.

[@donscottvansandt4139]

Very useful! Gotta make some... very useful on the homestead! Tending the garden and many other things...

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes indeed!

[@randy-9842]

Thank you, James. You are doing such a wonderful (and needed) job of correcting my misconceptions of the old Hobos! The old inner-tube knee pads are a great idea!

[@WayPointSurvival]

You are very welcome!

[@epetrie]

Very clever idea. Love the series on the hobo's.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@KevinsCampingAdventure]

That's a great hack all the way around. Our American hobos were genius. Thanks for sharing. ✌️ 👍

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@Strangernightg]

Those rubber knee pads are true life savers and save us from buying more clothing or not but this was another hit outta of the park . Outstanding video whenever you speak about Hobo's you do a great job Thank you 💯❤️😇🙏🏻🙌🏻

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're very welcome and thanks for watching!

[@williamprince1114]

I like this idea a lot. Has me thinking that material could make a nice gaiter for hiking too.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Definitely!

[@bobg.8954]

Very cool video, very smart people back then!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed.

[@geoffreylohff3876]

You have added to my toolkit of improvised gear. Frankly, I see this being VERY useful for knee chaps or gaiters (especially for motorcycling if the weather turned on you.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad it was helpful!

[@FrankMuchnok]

Very inventive and you sure can't beat the price !

[@WayPointSurvival]

Right!

[@jessiepayne737]

Thanks for the information I can use these when I metal detect. When I bend down to dig a target, thanks for the tip.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Good idea!

[@user-sg2xb7fj8y]

The extra piece of rubber material, along with a folded piece of cloth, could be placed between your trousers and tire tube to provide more cushion for the knees.

[@WayPointSurvival]

True!

[@synappticuser5669]

Brilliant! Even the knife was the same as my own. Seriously impressed. Best Wishes, Jock.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Cool! Thanks for watching!

[@kylewilkinson6975]

I've cut straps from a 4" diameter (various widths) innertube and use them as ranger bands. I do some SRT tree climbing and metal detecting, and I think this idea is smart for both.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed. Thanks for watching!

[@littlebrookreader949]

Thanks! Great history and knee protection demo! Much enjoyed! 👍👍

[@lukasbocker6740]

I just saw this video after I was at my bushcraft camp all day and got my knees really soaky by kneeing on the ground. Wish I had some of those in my bushcraft kit.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes, I think they could be really useful!

[@RomeoDelta-gw7dd]

Very ingenious! Thanks for sharing

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@stefanleichnam4426]

I like your Hobo series ❤

[@lisamcqueen8509]

Good one, for sure! Innertubes are a great resource, for many things! Gives me an idea! Thanks for sharing, have a great day, Steve

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks, you too!

[@user-rf8fx2zx8s]

nice !!! ....and they would make great trail gators too !!!!

[@WayPointSurvival]

True!

[@detroitredneckdetroitredne6674]

If you were to glue more layers of rubber there would be even more protection. Great video brother thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise and for taking us on your adventures through time and history GOD-BLESS

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're very welcome and God bless you too!

[@peiper454]

Your a genius.....I've never seen or thought of this

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@pek5117]

Great video. I was hoping you were going to do one about the symbols/signs. I look forward to it.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@Thom1973]

I can see alot of uses these can be used in just day to day life

[@WayPointSurvival]

True!

[@sveltland]

This series is amazing.

[@WayPointSurvival]

I appreciate that!

[@11oldpatch]

That’s pretty cool at first I was thinking I would not like this but they really turned out nice thanks

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@thomasbarrett8861]

I'll be adding a set of those to my gardening/yard work gear for sure. Thanks for a great solution!!

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@RickBelt]

Hobo, the new "old" style for the most of americans of the 21 century. Unbelievable but true!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed!

[@jamesellsworth9673]

Thank you for a fine tip! I believe innertubes are more difficult to find than in my youth.

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@user-zh6cp6we7j]

I love my old scissors I've learnt how to sharpen them and they are the best scissors I've ever owned and I only bought them for £3

[@WayPointSurvival]

Wonderful! Good find!

[@michaelthomas7178]

My Uncel Jeff traveled as a hobo. He told me of ways to keep warm and find food, water and work. He work as a migratory all farm and ranch hand. He work wheat harvest from Texas to Canada. Then soy bean harvest back down same route. He would stuff newspapers in his clothing for insulation and use as barrier when sleeping in hay. In 1984 there was large Hobo jungle on Wewoka creek, just south of the famous Wewoka switch tracks. Rock Island RR switch tracks Wewoka Oklahoma was a place where stray box cars would sometimes be found. Rock Island railroad personal would say of material lost is transit as a Wewoka switch. This Hobo jungle was large. It would accommodate around twenty comfortably. There large cardboard box shelters, a cooking area with several fire pits and old table. There were many items courteously left for the next guy coming down the line. Mirror with soap and towel cans, pans even forks would left around this camp. There was old icebox. Ice could be had at ice plant on the switch about three hundred feet north of the jungle. This place was really busy as part of the greater Seminole oil boom. In early 1930s more cargo was ship here than anyplace in USA. My Uncel was a very knowledgeable man, with much know how coming as living as a Hobo. I enjoyed your talk of knee pads. It reminded me of my Uncel who died 2004. I look forward to you history presentations. By the way Seminole Nation Museum at Wewoka maintains archive of Rail Road and oil boom. This museum is world class wonder in a small town.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much for the info and for the great stories!

[@jesterflight8593]

My wife would ❤a pair of those, for our 30th wedding anniversary, her friends & colleagues shall be envious 😊

[@WayPointSurvival]

Well, it would be a cheap anniversary gift!

[@jesterflight8593]

@@WayPointSurvival Touche’

[@drowsycannon5179]

Another great video James, hope all is well with you and the family. Thanks for the great content!!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much. All is well here.

[@SCRAMBLER390]

I could see using smaller tubes for elbow pads/protectors also. Also packing cotton or some other soft material as actual knee "pads" for kneeling on hard surfaces

[@WayPointSurvival]

Absolutely. Thanks for watching!

[@kevinmathis1278]

Awesome bit of ingenuity.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@lanedexter6303]

Interesting! These hobo tips for getting by when you don’t have much are good. Tough times ahead. Reminds me, I accidentally ruined a new 7.50-16 tractor tube a while ago, saved it for the rubber. Waste not, want not. Trivia: Gas rationing in WWII was not because we were short of fuel. We were short of tire rubber. Japan controlled the rubber plantations. WWII gave a HUGE boost to production of petroleum based synthetic rubber. Retired now, I wish I’d discovered knee pads 40 years sooner. Carry on, James!👍

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching and for all the great, historical information!

[@shawnflynn1713]

I absolutely love this series. Great video. Brings American history to life. And lets us see how man survived. ❤

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@indyoutsider]

That is very cool. I bet you could flap piece of rubber into your pocket and flap it over to protect your pants from dirt from your hands. You would have to either sow it on or rivet it to your pants. I guess you could also use snaps. Thanks for the video and getting my mind working.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Absolutely. There's a lot of things you can do with scrap pieces of rubber.

[@seedy-waney-bonnie4906]

Very good. Hobo knee pads, I would have never thought of that. Cool.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you like them!

[@seedy-waney-bonnie4906]

Very cool. @@WayPointSurvival

[@donscottvansandt4139]

I love this series! Very interesting and looks like fun ...

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@glennpurchase807]

Wow. What a great idea. Awesome. Thanks.

[@WayPointSurvival]

You are so welcome!

[@johnkoelliker8480]

This series is awesome

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much!

[@theodorekaczynski8147]

1:50 I know Goodyear made flexible rubber rain ponchos for the Union army which could also be used as groundsheets. Don’t know how well they would hold up over time, though

[@WayPointSurvival]

They do pretty well but are a lot more expensive to replace, whereas these can be made from scrap material.

[@jenandjim149]

wow great idea I love the Hobo knee pads

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@CU65LATER]

Good for garden use.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes, definitely!

[@RichardKeeton]

Man this stuff is inspiring. I love it! Keep learning me stuff! Woo!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@starlingblack814]

Thanks James for the video and this inner tube hack.

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@irmuggle]

Once again one of the most amazing things they already precurved. And now I have to do is find me Some Thank you for your time and your knowledge. And your will to freely give out great information.

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@bruce8429]

My mother would have wanted those for me 60+ years ago. I had lots of iron on knee patches.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes, I tore plenty of knees up in my own pants as well as a kid!

[@kristianolsen4555]

Thank you for the video. Yes a video about making a post. From Kristian in Denmark

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks for watching!

[@stevesloat6544]

That is an awesome idea with the intertube

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@Dominic.Minischetti]

That’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@sherrybender8763]

Such a wonderful ingenious idea ! !😊

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@donl1410]

Thanks again for another addition to the series. The reserved tube scarps might be used for additional padding

[@WayPointSurvival]

True!

[@theoneandonlycarlton]

You Could Easily Fold Up A Couple Bandanas And Slide Them Down In There To Make Them Padded James 👍

[@WayPointSurvival]

Great idea!

[@321-Gone]

harder to find tubes that size these days(most likely commercial truck shops) but can use em to guard against most snakes too.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Indeed.

[@becca318]

🇺🇸🙋‍♀️🐴🍃.Great idea, even if you're just hiking, might be needed moments.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@drewsteffen8166]

You rock James, love it

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@thankmelater1254]

Alright! I'm going to collect the next big inner tube that I find :)

[@WayPointSurvival]

Sounds good!

[@user-dg5ze3hy7h]

That's a good idea I never thought of that

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@01kilik10]

I wonder if you could make chaps from inner tubes. I'm sure they wouldn't be as durable as leather or denim, but I bet it would help. I am looking forward to a video covering hobo codes.

[@WayPointSurvival]

Yes, chaps would be an option for sure.

[@Mr.Doodlebob]

That patch of rubber you cut out the back and said to keep my immediate thought was to use it for tarp,tent,backpack/rucksack etc. repair

[@WayPointSurvival]

True.

[@JohnDoe-qw4gc]

If you left a strap in the middle, it might be a little more difficult to get on, but it would keep the rubber around the kneecap pulled into the sides as well.

[@WayPointSurvival]

True.

[@kylewilkinson6975]

My first though was to leave much more on the sides. All you want to do is open the back up so it doesn't pinch or bind behind the knees.

[@dondiego3709]

A necessidade de trabalhar dignamente longe de casa forçam as pessoas a desenvolverem tecnicas e adaptações diante das dificuldades do dia a dia. , parabens pela explicação e transmissão de conhecimento

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks so much!

[@greasey520]

I just found a new item going in my garden shed. Thanks, James!

[@WayPointSurvival]

You're welcome!

[@sudoroot5457]

I like it, thank you for this approach and demonstration !

[@WayPointSurvival]

You are welcome!

[@francisblair]

Brilliant idea

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@j.chriswatson6847]

I may have found an additional trapping tool here. Thanks!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad I could help!

[@moriarty6958]

No idea how the heck I ended up here, but that was a really interesting video, thank you

[@WayPointSurvival]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@gusbuckingham6663]

My great-grandfather fought in WW1 and had 'shell shock'. He couldn't sit still. He moved my great grandmother around a lot. He was very technically skilled. He kinda hoboed. He rode a bicycle from east Tennessee to South Texas to work for AT&T. And back

[@WayPointSurvival]

I believe that was true for a lot of those who were in the wars. Thanks for watching!

[@gusbuckingham6663]

I don't usually look at survival videos. But you hooked me shoestring survival. Great channel@@WayPointSurvival

[@RoyWilliams-n8p]

Such a great idea

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!

[@snowjoe43]

Good one James!

[@WayPointSurvival]

Thanks!