Best Active Ankle Brace Reviewed - Garage Gym Builder (2024)

The shape and the strap keep the ankle still so the ankle does not move laterally. The strap uses firm compression, similar to a compression sleeve, throughout the whole unit to ease swelling and promote blood flow. A hinge, with an offset design, allows you to move your foot and ankle back and forth freely.

The heel features an open design, which will not constrict or pinch that part of your foot. Closed-toe designs can cause discomfort and excess sweating. The Eclipse II lets your feet breathe. There are also vent openings, for even more airflow. Padding, made from EVA, will mold to your foot's natural shape and retain it for future wear.

The Eclipse II includes an antimicrobial odor-fighting liner. It will fit inside any shoe easily and contains no latex. It is designed for injuries, including sprains, but also helps prevent injuries in ankles that tend to roll. It will allow you to continue playing your sport with a doctor's approval.

The brace only has one upright, also called a stay or stabilizer. It is the piece that holds the brace rigid on the side of your ankle. The single upright means you keep lateral flexibility so you can participate in sports where you have to do a lot of running, pivoting, and changing direction rapidly.

Like the Eclipse II, the I spreads healing compression all over the brace with its strap that touches on multiple points.

The offset hinge is ergonomic and body-friendly. You are able to move your ankle and foot back and forth. This also adds in comfort and makes long term wear more bearable. The thin line profile will fit inside most shoes. This brace also features an open heel for maximum comfort. Instead of a U shape, the Eclipse II has a stirrup shape to comfortably cup the bottoms of your feet. It is a welcomed change from the flat design of many heel cup braces.

The brace is ambidextrous, fitting either the left or right foot. It fits women's shoe sizes from 5 to 16, or men's sizes from 6.5 to 16. The brace is engineered to give you max protection in a lightweight package that won't intrude on your daily activities.

The shell is made of polypropylene, a polymer produced via heat and chemical change in a lab. It is harder and resists heat better than polyethylene. Polypropylene also resists chemical spill, liquid spills, and sweat. The brace will not stink or tear. Like The Eclipse I and II, the Volt has EVA padding for comfort and long-lasting service.

Active Ankle redesigned the bilateral hinge to give a more fluid and natural motion when you wear the brace. This is an improvement over older Active Ankle products. The brace has bearings, allowing the bottom straps to move along with the heel cup so there is no constriction or pinching.

Like most of Active Ankle's other offerings, this one has an open design to give you a high level of protection while allowing you to move and stay flexible. The brace has only one strap, which adjusts rapidly and can easily accommodate both low top and high top shoes. The brace is suited to athletes who enjoy football, softball, basketball, and volleyball, or any sport where you must rapidly change direction.

EVA padding provides excellent protection at a lightweight, so the brace is not bulky and weighs little. It will not interfere with your activities on the playing field or off. The bilateral hinge is anatomically friendly and lets your foot move through its whole range of motion. This lets the brace promote healing of sprains while also preventing further injuries as a preventive tool.

Reviews are positive. Customers mention being able to get mobile after a period of chronic problems. The brace cuts down on recurring pain and will help prevent ankle rolls which can lead to hyperextension. Reviewers also praised the brace's usefulness for pain associated with long periods of sitting or standing.

The AS1 gives excellent protection from injury, with enough snug compression to ease swelling and prevent extended periods of soreness. The vertical straps have a crossover pattern that follows the layout of heel-lock taping. Heel-lock taping is a time-honored way of providing stability and pain relief to injured athletes using tape.

The laces are a speed style, giving targeted compression near the ankle. They will hold your ankle in place without biting into your skin or coming loose during the day. Though the straps provide compression, they do not stretch and will not lose shape or become ineffective after repeated wear.

The wrap is made from a combination of mesh, neoprene, and a tough nylon outer for tight comfort and durable service. The tailored heel and front of foot opening make for a tighter fit, and also make the brace easy and fast to put on. There is an extra strap on top of the brace that goes all the way around the upper ankle for extra stability and a consistent fit.

Other features include a non-slip silicone outsole and the ability to fit into any shoe. This brace does include latex components.

The brace is a great compromise between flexibility and stability. It can provide comfort as you recover from an injury, and also provides unobtrusive, lightweight protection for healthy ankles or for athletes prone to hyperextension incidents. The heel and front of foot area have the same Pro-Fit cut we saw on the AS1, so foot entry and removal are easy and hassle-free.

The only fasteners here are the speed laces, which resemble those on sneakers. The laces go through polished metal eyelets, and won't jam, bind, or come loose as they are protected by the brace's lone strap. The strap is a thick circumferential one, going all the way around the top of your ankle and closing snugly with a hook and loop closure.

The sole is coated with silicone. textured for protection and stability inside any shoe. This means the brace will not slide around during wear, and the breathable, open design will prevent most sweating. This simple brace is a great middle-ground between a one-piece wrap and a more rigid brace with side stays.

The dual straps go in two directions to give a strong X-shaped supportive lateral piece. The fabric bottom of the heel is designed to lock your heel in place with soft support. The high compression gives you therapeutic heat to aid in circulation while easing swelling.

The heel lock will also protect your joints and prevent ligament pulls or strains. This wrap provides both moderate injury healing and proactive protection from ankle injuries. The straps are easy to put in place and tighten, and there are no laces or additional straps for extra immobility.

The materials in the sleeve contain no latex. The sleeve is not suitable for multijoint sprain treatment unless approved by a medical professional. The wrap is well suited to gymnasts and cross-fitters who must use their ankles heavily while performing routines or exercises that combine strength, speed, and flexibility.

That also means you can wear the brace comfortable with soccer cleats as well as tight-fitting dress shoes. The dual straps form the lower part of the sleeve, with a stretchy upper that comes to the top of your ankle. There are no additional straps or laces.

The lightweight fabric can easily go in your washing machine, though you will need to air dry the sleeve. Rather than shoe size, fit goes by your ankle width. You will need to measure before you order. The Active Ankle site suggests ordering a size smaller than your measurement. It is a bit confusing, but shouldn't be too much extra work.

Reviewers were mostly positive, but some users noted the difficulty in unhooking the straps when taking the braces off. In addition, there are seams which can push into your arch and cause some discomfort after a while. We believe these problems will lessen by getting the sleeve sizing right; we strongly suggest purchasing the 325 at a brick and mortar store, if possible, so you can try the brace on first.