The 10 Best Ankle Braces

For a bad sprain or an ankle that keeps rolling, the Zamst A2-DX adds hard plastic shells on both sides of a lace-up brace, with straps that cross over the top like a tape job. Zamst aims it at the worst sprains and long-term looseness, and WearTesters gave it a favorable review while noting the straps take practice to learn. Each brace fits only a left or a right foot, and it can crowd a snug shoe.

Made by Medical Specialties in North Carolina, the Med Spec ASO is a plain, tough lace-up that has stayed in production for years. Two straps wrap the heel in a figure eight, much like a trainer's tape job, over a nylon boot that doesn't stretch out. One brace fits either foot and slides into most court and field shoes. The nylon feels stiff until it breaks in, and the warranty lasts only six months.

Players who want support without bulk in a low-top court shoe should look at the McDavid 195. Figure-eight straps and stiff side pieces help keep the foot from rolling, while the thin polyester shell breathes and stays light. It works on either foot and suits basketball, volleyball and pickleball. Sizing is its weak spot, since it can run small for one person and large for the next, so measure against McDavid's chart before ordering.

The Bauerfeind Sports Ankle Support is a knit sleeve with a strap you pull around the ankle in a figure eight, a reusable stand-in for athletic tape. It is made in Germany, goes in the washing machine and stays low enough for a running shoe. Runners and court players who tape before games get much of that feel without the tape. Size it by measuring just above the ankle bone. The knit can tear within weeks for some wearers.

Hard plastic shells on each side of the Aircast AirSport help block the sideways roll behind most sprains, and foam-filled air pads inside cushion the ankle bones. A strap crosses the front of the ankle, right where the most often injured ligament sits. DJO, the maker, aims it at mild to moderate sprains and ankles that keep giving way. It fits either foot, but the shells make it bulky in a snug shoe.

Volleyball players often pick the Active Ankle T2, a hard plastic shell shaped like a U that hinges at the ankle bone. The hinge lets the foot point and flex for jumping while the shell resists rolling sideways. A single strap closes it, the padding is latex-free, and one brace fits either foot. Sizing goes by shoe size. It is stiff and bulky, and the fit doesn't suit every foot.

Anyone coming back from a high ankle sprain, the kind that hurts above the joint, may want the Ultra Ankle Zoom. Its molded soft shell fastens above and below the ankle with two straps and hinges so the foot can flex, while a tall cuff steadies the lower leg. It slips into most court shoes, cleats and work boots and carries a one-year warranty. Fit is hit or miss, so check the maker's chart first.

The Shock Doctor Ultra Wrap Lace stacks three kinds of hold: laces, a wide wrap strap and bendable steel stays along each side. A mesh lining and vented tongue help sweat escape, and the materials are latex-free. It suits field and court players who want a firm hold without hard plastic, and Shock Doctor backs it for a year. It runs large for many people, so measure with care, and its edges can rub blisters on some ankles.

On a tight budget, the ACE Deluxe Ankle Stabilizer gives light to moderate hold for walks, gym sessions and the weeks after a minor sprain. A wrap strap sets how snug it feels, side stays limit rolling, and one size fits either foot. It breathes well, and 3M makes it. The support is mild, so it is not the choice for a bad sprain or for sports with hard cuts.

For an ankle that swells or aches after a long day on your feet, the Bauerfeind MalleoTrain skips hard parts for a firm compression knit. Two soft pads sit along the inner and outer ankle bones, and Bauerfeind claims they ease swelling and pain as you move. It is sized by ankle measurement and made for a left or right foot. It does little to stop a hard roll, and the price is steep.