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I have been reading a lot of old threads and I have not seen much talk of ankle braces. everyone just says get a good pair of boots. so does anyone use ankle braces and a heavy pair of cross trainers. I have played a lot of sports at a high level and these braces have saved my ankles from being ripped apart many times. They are fully adjustable and are very comfortable with shoes on.
http://www.amazon.com/...l-care/dp/B002S04MHW

When you have them on tight it is impossible to roll your ankle, but they spread the pressure out evenly unlike the braces with hard inserts. So any thoughts?

I use http://www.mcdavidusa.com/...lace-up_w_stays.aspx.
I think it's the same as I have, they have probably changed the design some because I can't remember them with those colors.

They are awsome. You can bend your foot in the normal way, as the way you walk, jump and run.
But if you go sideways they are stiff.

I think these ankle braces better than my boots both in protection but also because boots are heavy and warm.

They are liike high top boots. It will transfer the force to the tib/fib and create the breakage there. You would be better off investing the money in skydiving to learn how to land your canopy or buy a ticket some where that doesnt have sketchy LZs. Its like plastic surgery. where do you stop at? Back protection, knee braces, Neck, elbow....The stunt guys I know can sort you out but it would be an easy couple of grand euros. The Asteriik knee braces are around 700 usd I think. Full respect if you are doing a stunt but for just every day BASE, You chose the wrong way.
Let me know and I will contact my stunt guys if you need such protection.
Take care,
space

The ones I posted have wraps that go around, underneath and up the opposite side. there is a wrap going both ways. its like yours but can be set very tight or not tight at all and there is nothing stiff in the sides so you can use any shoe or boot and not feel a thing. they would also be good to pass on to a buddy who just messed up a ankle as you can use them to prevent swelling if you get it on soon enough.

Ill pass on the stunt gear but thanks.

my ex is a physiotherapist and she is the one that turned me on to these. the spread the force evenly cause there is no stiff parts on the side. she told me that because of that its harder to tib fib (but still easier then not wearing a brace). and from her words she said she would take a tib fib any day over an ankle torn to shreds.

to each there own I guess..... but ill be sticking to easier LZs for now

With the lacing you can also have them very tight, and looking at the picture of the McDavid, there is a stitching going on the side of the brace that looks like a "J", this part is the stiffening part.
If you need the brace on a landing, I think you need the stiffener.
I have never tried any of those without the stiffener but I'm not sure I would trust them.

And for your "buddy" I think this is better

You can keep it in the saddlebags, costs "nothing", easy to use, and easier to buy a new one.

One of my past students looked for good boots
but because she is a very little lady was unable
to find a decent pair that fit her properly.

So instead she went the route of using ankle
braces with a good pair of trainers. It works
well for her for. She has done 200+ BASE
jumps from a variety of objects. YMMV

[quote "Hellis
With the lacing you can also have them very tight, and looking at the picture of the McDavid, there is a stitching going on the side of the brace that looks like a "J", this part is the stiffening part.
If you need the brace on a landing, I think you need the stiffener.
I have never tried any of those without the stiffener but I'm not sure I would trust them. quote]

Ill tell you from experience that the ones I posted with the wrap under straps have far more support then the ones with stiff plastic or metal. With the wrap around webbing it contours the ankle. The stiff ones can't do this. Also I have seen many times (playing volleyball) where then ones with the plastic have blown out and the persons ankle was destroyed. That's how a good friend of mine ended his career. Every one I know in the sports world wears the ASO ankle braces now and I have never seen one of them blow out.

as for the tensor bandage... they are kind of useful if you only have a small amount of ice. What you do is take the small amount of ice you have and wrap it (very very tight) under the bandage. If you do it right your beer will be cold in no time

My ex is a physio also and told me the same. Have you been hanging it South Germany lately? ;-)
Take care and see you on the exit.
space

In my experience, if you strap the ankles the shock/twist may/will be transferred to the knee. Have f*kd both and the knee was definitely more painful, expensive and long to fix.

coming from a BMX background, ive seen people over protect their ankles and break their legs or blow out knees as a result. i think a reasonable pair of boots is good. but over protecting your ankle can result in the same if not more serious injury to other parts of your leg.

Breaking the Tibia and/or Fibula is generally
preferred to injuring the knee or ankle joints
because a clean break to a long bone heals
well while even minor damage to complex
joints seldom heal completely/properly.

For example, my broken femur healed great
but the damage to my PCL and Meniscus has
caused more pain, loss of use, and surgeries.

the best ankle brace I've ever worn is duct tape. not joking. but you wouldn't want to hike in them.

I was gifted one of those in Switzerland, If i have your ankle brace and you want it back just let me know and i will send it to you, but i keep it on me in case shit goes down. it saved my ass.

Maybe a little off topic, but ankle support is only one thing that a good pair of boots can provide. Boots with a stiff sole make LZs with uneven surfaces (ie a dry river bed full of rocks of variable size) a lot nicer to land on for the bottom of your feet. I have bruised the bottom of my feet while wearing flimsy shoes and landing on uneven surfaces, and I don't think that ankle braces would have helped. I could also imagine doing severe damage to the myriad bones of my feet that are not generally included in the kinda un-scientifically named region known as "ankle." Ankle braces are cool, and wearing heavy boots is a pain in the ass sometimes, but remember that the anatomy of your lower extremeties consists of more than just your ankles.

I use a pair of Mueller ankle braces, the ones which use laces and straps instead of a stiffener and a pair of 510 mtb low cut shoes. They are specifically made for absorbing heavy mountain bike impacts. Very light, huge range of movement and amazing grip! I wouldn't wear a pair of Hanwags if you paid me.

I'm not as cool as Gaz, I still rock the hanwags when im jumping in the blue mountains but everywhere else i rock 661 ankle braces if im feeling sketched

Salomon make a great ultra light weight boot in gortex and together with Fox knee/shin guards they saved my ass the other night. (down wind landing in rubble) Credit and thanks to both companies.

I have used these for 5 years now while skydiving, base jumping and playing squash: http://www.activeankle.com/...etic/rigid/t2-detail

Have saved me many times.

Never liked any soft laced alternative because of poor support they provide in my mind. I have messed up tendons on both of my ankles playing volleyball etc. I have also tried taping legs but that takes too much time - these go on very fast. I also use them while climbing/walking to exit points with uneven terrain.