Best Ankle Compression Sleeves –TOP 5
Ankle sleeves, aka compression ankle braces, also known as ankle support socks are compression apparel specifically designed for people who have problems with their feet or heels. We have done the research for you, similarly to our last week’s roundup on best knee sleeves, here are our 5 Best ankle compression sleeves in 2017!
Best Compression Leg Sleeves
Individual Reviews of Compression Sleeves
Copper Joint Ankle sleeve
CopperJoint’s ankle sleeves are a must-have for athletes prone to ankle injuries or swelling. CopperJoint products are infused with copper, which is known for its inflammation-reducing qualities.
That makes this ankle sleeve an ideal choice for someone suffering from chronic ankle pain and in need of reliable support.
Pros
- Copper-infused for anti-inflammation
- Prevents bad odors from forming
Cons
- There are no cool designs or colors available
Zensah Ankle Support Sleeve
Zensah’s ankle support sleeve is thinner than other models. The benefit to this is that these ankle supports are less restrictive than comparable models and won’t cause discomfort when being worn with socks or shoes.
The downside to this seems to be that the material doesn’t retain its supportive properties as long as it could. These ankle supports are best suited to aiding in recoveries or providing moderate support for runners.
By the way, they also have one of the best compression sleeves for calves.
Pros
- Comfortable
- Helps with recovery from injury
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Not good for intensive activity
- Doesn’t offer compression
Bauerfeind Ankle Support Sleeve
Bauerfeind products are among the most expensive in support garments, but not without good reason–they are of the highest quality.
Unlike most support products, Bauerfeind’s ankle supports are made from knit fabric for superior comfort and compression. The knit fabric is highly elastic to allow for carefully regulated levels of compression to the ankle and surrounding ligaments.
Pros
- Highest quality
- Heavy duty support
Cons
- Expensive
Copper Wear Compression Ankle Sleeve
This is a good all-around ankle support. It’s suitable for wear throughout the day and even at night. The Copper Wear ankle sleeve provides support, as well as compression, to the ankle, making it useful for increasing athletic performance or aiding in recovery and preventing injuries.
It is infused with copper, which has been thought to aid in tissue repair.
Pros
- Copper-infusion
- Multipurpose ankle support
Cons
- Not highly rigid
Copper FX Compression Ankle Sleeve
Copper Compression claims their products have the highest copper content of any product on the market.
This product appears to be middle of the road in terms of price and production quality, with some users complaining about the product’s integrity.
Pros
- Good price
- High copper content
Cons
- Moderate to poor quality material
Benefits to feet
As like other compression garments, ankle sleeves are meant to provide support to your muscles and joints. But, the main point here is helping alleviate the pain from different medical conditions, such as plantar fasciitis (heel and bottom of the foot), flat foot problems, ankle-related injuries, and a number of others. Furthermore, they actually might help you not get these injuries in the first place, so you get sort of an “injury prevention”. It’s also proven that they reduce recovery time. Considering the fact that you damage your muscles every time you’re running and jumping – it’s really a great selling point.
They can, additionally, be worn for prevention’s sake, especially if you are at risk of being injured again.
What are they made of?
Just like almost every piece of compression garment, they’re usually made of Lycra, Nylon or Neoprene for their elasticity and firmness, as they’re meant to give you a close fit.
What to look for when buying ankle sleeves?
As this is a type of compression sleeves primarily intended for recuperation, it’s best to leave this decision to medical experts.
However, you should still be able to make a somewhat informed decision on your own, so here are a few features you could look out for.
When you’re buying ankle sleeves, you should pay attention to these features:
- Graduated compression level – There are dedicated medical grade ankle sleeves, which in most extreme cases can go up to 50 millimeters of mercury (pressure unit). It’s always best to consult a physician before buying.
- Do they breathe? – Most ankle sleeves are made of non-skin chafing material that allows your skin to breathe, remains dry and not develop an irritation, however, there are some on the market that simply don’t offer this.
- Are they Copper-infused?– Copper is known to promote – tissue repair, so it’s one of the key players when it comes to healing.
- Do they have Straps? – There are types of ankle sleeves that feature straps for added measure of ankle protection and joint support. However, they’ll be more expensive.
- Open or Closed? – Some may feature open heel and toe for additional comfort. Really a matter of personal preference.
- How thick are are they? – This actually plays into sizing – you can wear some sleeves, depending on thickness, quite comfortably inside your shoes.
- Anti-odor and anti-bacterial properties – This is more of a matter of convenience, but it’s certainly an added bonus, you certainly don’t want to walk around in geeky ankle sleeves.
- Size – Most ankle sleeves are unisex, so consult a sizing chart and product specs before deciding. We’ll give you some recommendations for this.
- Single or pair?– Even though most sleeves can be worn on either foot, there are models then can’t, pay attention to that and how many it says you’re ordering.