Best Fracture Boot Reviews 2023

The price of a fracture boot will vary across the spectrum, depending for the most part on the features they offer. That said, some of these features are highly recommended to enhance the healing process, such as a wide foot bed or a low profile, rocker bottom heel—features that are almost always missing in a cheap fracture boot.

To give you a rough idea, cast walking boots can be ordered for anywhere from $30 to over $100 for products that are highly reliable and come from the stable of renowned brands. The size of the fracture boot and its design may also jack up the price, such as if it boasts a universal design to be used on both the right and left foot.

Fracture boots aren’t designed to look good, so don’t expect to see any fancy themes and vibrant colors—their sole purpose is to help with ankle, foot, and calf immobility, and to support your weight while walking. Depending on your specific needs, they can be ordered in a wide assortment of configurations, sizes, and cushioning choices to offer a better fit for each user.

Here are a few features to look for in the best fracture boot:

• Tall or short boot - Most people are comfortable with the former as it doesn’t irritate the shin, but the latter might be a good option for shorter individuals.
• Size - This goes without saying, but it’s important to refer to the manufacturer’s sizing chart to get the best fit, rather than guesswork.
• Regular or Pneumatic - The former is less expensive and the latter is fitted with an air bladder (sometimes two) that can be pumped up with air.
• Adjustability - Most, if not all, fracture boots offer some level of adjustability, usually through Velcro straps.
• Washable Inner Liner - If you’re going to be wearing the fracture boot for several weeks, look for ones that have a washable liner so that it stays fresh.
• Rocker Sole or Flat Skid-Proof Sole - The former promotes natural walking and enhances stability, while the latter is great for standing, but not walking, for longer periods.
• Material - Most fracture boots come with deluxe cushioning, but you can also get ones with steel or plastic reinforcements.

The two most common types of walking casts are short and tall fracture boots. Tall fracture boots are generally a great choice for stress fractures of the lower leg, acute ankle sprains, stable fractures of the foot, or ankle and soft tissue injuries of the lower leg. They not only provide support for immobilization of the leg, but also accelerate the healing process and allow the injured foot to bear more weight gradually.

If you don’t suffer from severe injuries that can do without much support, short fracture boots are an ideal choice. They’re mostly used for soft tissue trauma of the foot and ankle, post-operative foot surgery, and metatarsal and digital fractures.

Further, fracture boots can be soft or stiff, and the one you choose depends on the level of support you need. Most, if not all, walking casts are fitted with Velcro straps to hold the boots in place and washable liners. Some high-quality fracture boots are fitted with metal uprights that are molded to fit the calf, resulting in more comfort. In addition, this range of boots also features a rocker style, low-profile heel design that promotes a natural gait and enhances stability. The foot bed is also typically wide, to give your foot space for any swelling or bandaging. To accelerate comfort in the interior, most fracture boots are embedded with a deluxe foam liner that’s soft against the skin and lightweight.

Fracture boots are easy to put on and take off, but this also depends on how immobile you are. The air pump in some high-end walking casts basically provides the needed compression and boost stability for your injury. Swelling is a common occurrence during most leg fracture healing processes, and this added feature helps accommodate and control it with extra compression and elevation. Further, the air cells in these boots can be adjusted to be made softer or stiffer with a ball pump or hand pump, and are an expensive (for good reasons), but much more effective alternative to non-air fracture boots.