Basejumper.com - archive

I spent some time reading through all the threads here I could find on footwear, and didn't see the following idea directly mentioned, so I thought it'd be ok to start a new thread.

Any thoughts on using ankle braces and shoes instead of Hanwags/Crispis/Doc Martin's/other hiking boots?

I'm looking for ankle protection and the consensus here seems to be that I should buy some expensive hiking/paragliding boots like Hanwags.

The thing is, I don't like boots. In my limited experience, they're heavier than shoes, less flexible, have thicker soles (and thus less "feel" for the ground), and limited range of motion (thinking of pointing my toes for tracking/wingsuits).

Of course, they provide good ankle protection, and I'm very interested in that (in that I'm recovering from a broken tib/fib right above the ankle).

Instead of boots, I'm pondering the idea of combining some high-end ankle braces with shoes that I prefer. Here are the braces I'm looking at:
http://www.jointhealing.net/donjoyvelocity.html

It seems like these braces would provide as good (or better) ankle support/protection than any boots out there, plus they have the advantage of being completely removable when I just want to wear shoes on a hike/wingsuit-or-tracking flight.

Though I've only got one bum ankle, I'd buy a pair and wear them on any jump that I'd normally wear boots for.

Any faults in my plan?

Thanks,

Brian

Be careful.
If the support is 'too much' and you are in a situation were something's going to break..your ankle might be good but the weakest spot may now be your leg at the top end of the brace.

Isn't that the idea of ankle support? Wouldn't it be better to have a break higher up in the leg (if something has to break), than in the complex joint of your ankle? That seems like a positive to me.

id take a tib/fib over a broken ankle any day.... but id rather not have either clean breaks in long bones usually heal close to 100% if not stronger you break a joint like an ankle and its screwed for the rest of your life

agreed.

ankle breaks are bad, heel breaks also.

PLF is good. very good.

http://www.asoankle.com/

These pretty much kick ass, are light weight and fit inside any shoe or boot(even inside a pair of properly fitted climbing shoes). I don't fly a parachute without them on my feet.

Which model of ASO do you use?

are you jumping in Tevas or barefoot?

more importantly, what kind of objects are you jumping and from what height?

Just the regular ASO one on the top of the list of different models. Ive broken/sprained my ankles literally countless times in my life, but never once while wearing a pair of these.

Fair enough
I can only go by my own experience.
Ive never broken a leg bone but have broken both ankles...twice each ( not through jumping)

It sucks but on all occasions Ive been back on my feet (and active), much sooner than those I've seen who have broken their legs.

I run ASO braces under my boots when I jump and I'm pretty happy with the setup.

When I'm geared up, my ankles won't easily roll past about 15 deg (which is great because my ankles are really loose) and I can take them off so my boots are light weight and comfortable for the hike out.

 
I have a friend who swears by ankle braces with a pair of light shoes. Never jumps without em'

makes sense to me

ankle braces, every jump

I totally agree with this logic. I spent forever finding a pair of correctly fitting and somewhat expensive paragliding boots and hate 'em.

I now jump in waterproof hiking boots which are light, flexible and really comfortable for all types of long and short hiking and scrambling. I have however been concerned for some time that my ankles are not at all braced for crappy landing areas and agree that removable leg braces are the answer.

Glad to see this subject formally addressed.

John

I fully believe that the shock absorbing/disbursing soles of my Hanwags have saved my ass in a big way more than once.
~J

I do a fair amount of jumping in rocky terrain, and would be slightly concerned about broken feet, if I jumped with only ankle braces. The ankle support is good, but I don't think it's the only reason to wear boots. Protection for the rest of the foot can sometimes be just as important.

Michael

Ankle braces are awesome for preventing you from rolling your ankle on landing (which I expect is a pretty significant contributor to ankle injuries even in BASE), but I'd be surprised to find that they did much for shock. So if you're wearing an ankle brace and "just shoes", you'll want to be really careful what pair of shoes you're choosing.

The physics goes like this... The further your foot spends slowing down, the easier it's going to be for the bones to take the shock without breaking. What you're looking for is footwear that will just be hitting its limits when you come plowing in -- maybe in uneven terrain -- in that turbulence you didn't see. Unfortunately, that's probably going to be the same footwear that feels clunky on the trail up, and that doesn't give you a feel for the ground (which is just another way of saying the sole doesn't deform much) when you're walking (which doesn't involve nearly the same forces).

Put another way... The footwear that gives you a feel for the ground when you're hiking will almost certainly give you a real feel for the ground when it all goes south.

check out the donjoy velocity. Paired with a multi-sport light hiking boot it is a fast, very supportive combination.

http://www.betterbraces.com/ViewProducts/DonJoyVelocityAnkleBrace/491.aspx

I agree with fireflyr the shock absorbing properties of the paragliding boots have save me on a few landings. I've used shoes with ankle protection before and cracked me heel once. A cracked heel takes a long time to heal............

Not that I BASE but http://www.activeankle.com/

 
I recently broke both heels & my right ankle on a particularly shitty landing off a 150ft s/l jump. I was wearing light hiking boots and ankle braces. could deffinetly recomend heavyer foot wear. I believe the ankle braces did a good job, as the injuries were mostly caused from the vertical impact. Better footwear might have reduced the severity of the heel injuries. Just my two cents......
By the way has anyone else dealt with similar injuries and returned to jumping? I'm concerned my feet are going to be to weak now to deal with rough landings.

' Live and learn '

Here is a good website with a good breakdown of braces and support for anyone that is interested...

http://supports4less.com/...arts/ankle/index.htm

yes

I'm beginning to think I need an ankle brace, as well. I try to hike 25 miles a week, on top of base jumping and I believe it is taking its toll on the right top half of my ankle. It really feels like a grinding annoyance, yet it's painful. My hiking partner who joins me on about half of my miles, wears a brace but doesn't remember where he got it. I need some advice on a brace. I have heard of Ultra Ankle which sells ankle support but I would like a review before I look into it further. If anyone has used them, please let me know! Thanks!