Shock Doctor Ankle Stabilizer with Flexible Support Stays (Black)

So, I have a slightly clubbed foot that has led to weak ankles and, now that I'm getting older, has started to mean a brace to prevent me from causing damage to my Achilles tendon.I have been trying various braces over the last several months because my feet just aren't that big and also, because even though it LOOKS perfectly normal (even the husband can't remember which one it is WHILE giving me a foot rub no less!), the bones inside are most definitely "weird" so, ANY kind of "arch support" hurts like hell really, really fast!So, I decided to give this particular brace a try because it seemed to have what I needed: heavy duty ankle support and zero "arch" compression.Now, I'll admit it, when I first pulled this brace out of the package, I was a little disappointed. The bottom felt weirdly stiff and the sides felt weirdly flexible. It also looked oddly small too.If you're guessing that I put it on and changed my mind, congratulations, have a cookie.First off, the thing actually fit. One thing I've been learning over this last 6 months is that half of them SAY they're "Small" when, they really mean, "Small for Sumo Wrestlers." But, I would measure, and I would trust and time and time again, I would be disappointed. (The ASO speed lace "small" was freaking HUGE!)That's why at first sight of this brace, I kinda shook my head. I even declared: "Oh come ON!...I may not be a linebacker but I'm not a Smurf either people! WTH?!"And yeah, of course, it fit.It didn't just fit, it actually fit into my work boot!And COMFORTABLY!First time in MONTHS, I was able to wear my every day boots to work and yeah, I was able to wear it ALL DAY! And yep! Sure enough, no pain at the back of my ankle.So, for TL;DR, here's the lowdown:PROS:Way more adjustable than it looks-Adjustable straps at all points including the stirrup part so if following the chart correctly, odds of fitting are really, really high.Seriously low profile-Have confirmed fit for the following styles: tennis shoes, combat style work boots, zippered fashion knee high boots, even zippered ankle high fashion boots. (Tried sandals during trial and it'll fit into them but, it felt a tiny bit wiggly to me- I have NOT tried while walking around though because it's winter at the moment of writing this.)Pretty comfortable-Easy to forget it's on during the day.CONS:May require a shoe-Feels a little more wiggly trying to wear around the house in bare feet or just socks- it DOES still provide some support that might still be enough for other people but even a pair of cheap tennis shoes seems to increase the support by a surprising amount so, some folks may NEED that extra support boost for this thing to work for them.Bottom likes to stick to socks-TO BE FAIR THERE'S NO WAY TO "FIX" THIS PROBLEM ANY MORE THAN THEY ALREADY HAVE!Because the bottom strap is adjustable, the velcro likes to stick to my socks making it kind of annoying to try to rip the brace off of them at the end of the day. Amazingly, on bare feet with no socks it doesn't feel scratchy- so what they made it out of was a really good choice but, yeah, I can see that causing a slightly faster wear on my socks over time- which isn't a super happy thing but imho is a fair trade off for a far better fit.See, the problem about that strap is that I canNOT see any way to "fix" that without removing the adjustable part completely- which would make it harder to fit to people, so my suggestion for the manufacturers is to leave it the hell alone and keep making it just the way that their making it right now.For those of us using it, I suggest just setting aside a few extra pennies in a piggy bank for our sock budget over time and deal with it. Well, either that or find a length you like and sew a small strap of thin cloth from a dish cloth or an old set of sheets across that part of the inside of it if it bugs you too much. Me? Since I wear a lot of different thicknesses of socks, I'm just going to cope.Anyway, this is a really good brace and I fully plan on getting more for backups. It is well worth the money for me and because of the being so adjustable, I would suggest giving it a try before dropping money on more expensive braces like it.

Brace really helped me get relief from a sprained ankle. Provided needed support. Wore it all day for about 4 weeks. I Recommend it.

I sprained my ankle recently during a football game and didn't feel comfortable playing my first game back without some support. I've worn other ankle wraps before but this stabilizer intrigued me with its good looks and quick strap system. So not only did I buy one for my comeback, I purchased two so I could wear them on both ankles for preventative purposes for every game. Here are my thoughts:PROS- If you get the right size, it fits well (go to shock doctor website to see sizing). I measured 9" above my ankle so I bought a Large since that's supposed to be for 9"'-9.5". I chose correctly because it's very snug.- Using the straps is very quick (but takes a moment to slide the tight fit begin with). Once it's on, it's not coming off!- It is very comfortable.- My movement, running and side-to-side cutting, was not impacted at all.- It will not ruin my shoes unlike others I have used in the past. The profile is very slim.- For mild protection, this does the trick.CONS- The first time I ran with these, it put some strain on my entire foot. I had to loosen up bottom of the foot velcro strap, which made the support slightly less supportive.- Even after only a few uses, it looks like the velcro straps are already slowly deteriorating/fraying the brace where I strap down. Not sure how long the brace will last but definitely doesn't look brand new. Hopefully the velcro will continue to stick for the long haul.- I know this isn't supposed to be as protective as level 3 (this is level 2), but I thought I'd get something stiffer running up my ankle, which feels about as supportive as stir straws.OVERALL- These will do the trick and I'm generally satisfied. Moving forward, I will wear these regularly and see how it goes. However, I would not be surprised if I upgraded to the lace-tie support in the future.

My daughter (HS/club volleyball) has been using these for three years on both ankles. They are light and fit well. The only complaint is that the Velcro tabs only last four to six months of use. They just stop sticking. So, we’ve gone through several sets. They’ve recently worn out again and I’m not sure we will go this route again. Undecided.

It was perfect for after I got out of the walking boot from an ankle fracture. I was worried it would be uncomfortable but it really wasn't. Definitely helped with finishing my recovery.