Best Ankle Brace Reviews 2018

Ankle braces are products that cover a wide range of functions. They work for patients with rheumatic or arthritic pains, weak ankles, sprains, post-surgery trauma, and many other issues. Due to this wide spectrum of functions, they also vary in price. The more heavy-duty function it’s able to perform the higher the price. Some are just ankle sleeves or compression socks that are meant to provide relieve for sprained ankles and other slight injuries or issues, and these types would typically cost around $10 to $40, whereas the ones that are used for structural support and other heavy ankle therapies would cost about $100 to $170.

This is not to say that the prices mentioned are the pegs for prices of all ankle braces; keep in mind that the materials the materials used, the brand, the performance rating, and a number of other factors could also affect the price. Through the course of our research, we came across some cheap ankle braces that we didn’t deem them worthy of being on your shopping list due to the low quality and performance ratings, so you can rest assured that all the products featured here would afford you best results at reasonable prices.

Due to the wide variety of ankle braces in the market, it is necessary for you to know the purpose of some of the features that can be provided. Some of the features to look out for include the following:

• The material of the brace - This affects a lot of things in the overall performance of the brace
• The tightness of the brace - This would affect the kind of support or relief it would provide
• The size - The correct size would determine level of efficiency
• Adjustability - The ease of adjustability can be a key issue for your comfort
• Versatility – The ability to use it for various activities is a plus
• Ease of use – check out how easy it is to put on and take off
• Design of the brace - This determines the kind of support it would provide

An ankle brace that is made of breathable material ensures that you can use it for your activities without it getting too warm or retaining sweat. It allows the skin to breathe, providing additional comfort. The ones with more stretch strength and flexibility also provide more support.

Braces that fully cover the ankles and have straps enable the wearer to wrap it around the ankles and provide adequate structural support, as well as helping to enhance proprioception. The straps sometimes also come with Velcro to help adjustability, allowing the wearer to adjust the brace to the level of tightness which is most convenient and comfortable.

The design of ankle brace affects its overall performance. Some are made to fully cover the ankle, while some have an additional, ventilated tongue that keeps the toes exposed, and others have an open heel that enhances motion while providing support.

Some ankle braces work as cold or hot compresses, with which it is especially important to note the material it’s made of, ideally to avoid irritating the skin (can provide moist heat or comforting cold without causing trauma to skin or nerve),is microwave compliant and doesn’t change form or shape with use.

In days gone by, ankle braces where made as a one size fits all, which made overall performance not too good, whereas in today’s market, we have many sizes available. Some are made for men, some for women, and others for children. There are even some that are designed as right and left ankle braces. All the available factors are meant to enhance the tightness of the brace which affects its overall performance. Wearing the wrong size may have adverse effects.

Some braces are more versatile than others, which means that you can wear them while engaged in a variety of sporting activities. Depending on the level of your activity, you would want to find out which one would really afford you the versatility needed.

Ankle braces that are made of elastic materials are sometimes called ankle sleeves, and while they may provide relief to the wearer in case of recovery from slight injury, they don’t give the wearer the structural support needed.

If you must wear your ankle brace for only short periods, then you’ll want to note the ease of putting them on. Some ankle braces can be a bit cumbersome to put on but when done correctly, they serve the purpose well - these types are best suited for people who would wear them for long. Some others can be easily adjusted without you having to remove your footwear, which is also a good feature to look out for.