I wore these for the last dozen years while working...because I never wore any when I was younger. Anyway, like most other knee pads the straps were a pain in the knee (see what I did there). I tried crossing them, wearing the bottom strap loose and the top one tight, then vice a versa. None of it was satisfactory. Then one day I broke one of the straps and hand to do with just one so I put it on the bottom. Viola! That was actually very tolerable and I've worn them like that ever since. It also makes the replacement pack of straps last longer!