Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (2024)

Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (1)

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No matter how much stretching or preparation you do before a casual jog or a race, even expert runners can find themselves battling pain and injuries, especially ones affecting the feet and lower legs. Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and ankle sprains are all extremely common for runners—but luckily, there’s gear that can help both prevent injuries and relieve pain in these areas. Ankle sleeves— which range from preventative compression socks to more supportive braces—help stabilize the foot and ankle, reduce swelling, and decrease the chance of further injury.

The Best Ankle Sleeves and Braces

What to Consider

As noted, ankle sleeves exist in many different forms. Consider where you’re looking for more support, or where previous injuries have flared up. Compression socks and sleeves are best for preventing swelling and for post-run recovery, while a sturdier ankle brace is best for running after an ankle sprain or twist. While these products may appear similar at first glance, subtle tweaks make all the difference. You’ll want to consider where in the foot/ankle there is the most compression and support, how rigid or flexible the brace is, and whether or not it should be used for injury prevention or post-injury recovery.

Note: If you are dealing with a lingering injury that isn’t getting better, these products aren’t a suitable substitute for rest and recovery. If you’re experiencing pain while running that affects your form or swells for multiple days after a run, consult a physician.

How We Selected

As a long distance runner, I’ve unfortunately suffered a few injuries in my career. Whenever I feel the strain or twinge of an oncoming injury, I immediately start using a compression sleeve to alleviate swelling. This list includes a variety of products that I have personally used and swear by, as well as the favorites from my trail running community. Considering materials used, sizing, and stretchiness, you'll find the best ankle sleeves available for runners today below.

For more great ways to ensure your comfort on runs, check out our picks for the best arm sleeves, anti-chafing sticks, and moisture-wicking shirts.

1

Best Overall

SS SLEEVE STARS Ankle Sleeve for Stabilization

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Pros
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (10)Compression and support throughout the foot
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (11)Flexible
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (12)Fun colors
Cons
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (13)Less breathable
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (14)A bit bulky

Key Specs

  • Materials: Polyester, elastic rubber, nylon
  • Stretch: Adjustable stiffness with compression strap
  • Sizing: One size fits most

The Sleeve Stars ankle sleeve is an all-around bullseye for pain relief and injury recovery anywhere in the foot or ankle. It has a compressive sock that slips onto your foot, and a strap surrounding the foot and ankle that allows you to customize the level of support you need.

Compression improves blood circulation, which reduces swelling and pain. It’s designed for high levels of activity, so while you log miles, this ankle sleeve comfortably wicks moisture away from your feet and flexes with your natural stride. This ankle sleeve is perfect for runners looking to prevent injuries anywhere in the foot, or for those coming back from an ankle sprain.

2

Best for Plantar Fasciitis

Pro-Tec Athletics PF Foot Sleeve

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Pros
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (16)Pain relief for plantar fasciitis patients
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (17)Lightweight and breathable
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (18)Inexpensive
Cons
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (19)Minimal stabilization

Key Specs

  • Materials: Polyester
  • Stretch: Stiffer through arch and heel
  • Sizing: Women’s 6/Men’s 5 through Women’s 13/Men’s 12

Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common injuries plaguing runners. For some, it is treated by a week or two of rest. For many others, it’s a chronic condition that flares up during intense periods of training. At the first onset of any pain in the heel or lower foot, it’s time to use this ankle sleeve.

The Pro-Tec PF foot sleeve compresses the heel, arch, and Achilles to reduce swelling and improve circulation in these areas, which offers relief from pain during runs or throughout the day when treating a case of plantar fasciitis. This is great for runners who are looking to prevent PF during intense training cycles, or for daily use for those currently healing.

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3

Best for Achilles Tendinitis

Pro-Tec Athletics Achilles Sleeve

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Pros
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (21)Relieves achilles pain and swelling
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (22)Best for injury prevention
Cons
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (23)Bulky around achilles

Key Specs

  • Materials: Nylon/spandex
  • Stretch: Rigid surrounding achilles, stretch through foot and ankle
  • Sizing: S-XL

Achilles tendinitis can be a long and recurring injury for runners. Whenever I feel that familiar strain or twinge of soreness above my heel, I immediately grab this ankle sleeve. Two gel pads surround the Achilles tendon, which provides support, stabilization, and compression where it’s needed.

This both relieves pain and reduces swelling in this area. It fits quite snugly and rigidly around the Achilles, but throughout the rest of the foot and ankle there is still plenty of flexibility and range of motion. This is the perfect ankle sleeve for runners coming back from an Achilles injury, or those who battle chronic soreness in this area.

Because of the bulk from the gel pads, I find it works best with low-rise or thinner socks.

4

Best for Reducing Swelling

Zensah Compression Ankle Sleeve

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Pros
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (25)Low profile and comfortable
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (26)Flexible for full range of motion
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (27)Fun colors
Cons
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (28)Not suitable for injury recovery

Key Specs

  • Materials: 75 percent nylon, 25 percent spandex
  • Stretch: Spandex for full range of motion
  • Sizing: Small-XL

The Zensah compression ankle sleeve is the perfect all-around option for runners who are looking to alleviate swollen or sore joints in the ankle and feet. A variety of factors, like heat or dehydration, can cause our ankles to uncomfortably swell. This is where compressive ankle sleeves really shine, by increasing circulation and blood flow in the targeted area, which reduces swelling and soreness.

I love this Zensah option because it fits easily over or under a sock without any chafing or rubbing, and you still have full range of motion. Furthermore, it can also be worn post-run to decrease swelling and soreness throughout the rest of the day.

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5

Most Comfortable Ankle Sleeve

Pro-Tec Athletics 3D Flat Ankle Sleeve

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Pros
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (30)“Barely there” minimalist feel
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (31)Stabilization
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (32)Inexpensive
Cons
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (33)Not suitable to treat injuries

Key Specs

  • Materials: Nylon
  • Stretch: Multidirectional, contouring the ankle
  • Sizing: Women’s 6/Men’s 5 through Women’s 13/Men’s 12

The best way to treat injuries is to keep them from happening in the first place. This ultra-minimal ankle sleeve supports and stabilizes while running, without you noticing it’s there. It fits just like a sock, but has extra compression to increase blood flow and reduce swelling.

Furthermore, you can add additional stitching anywhere on this sleeve to target more support in any given area. This product is perfect for trail runners who want more support on technical trails, or road runners who need a bit of extra help recovering while upping miles.

6

Best Budget Ankle Brace

Bodyprox Adjustable Compressive Ankle Brace

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Pros
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (36)Customizable fit
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (37)Stabilization and support
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (38)Compressive
Cons
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (39)Bulky
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (40)Less breathable

Key Specs

  • Materials: Latex-free neoprene
  • Stretch: Stiff around ankle
  • Sizing: One size fits most

This heavier-duty ankle brace provides the support you need while treating an injury, while still giving you some room to move. Bodyprox uses a stretchy elastic material that can still easily fit under a running shoe. This sleeve is intended to be used for injury prevention, or when first starting to run after healing an ankle sprain or twist. It provides excellent stabilization, compression, and support to help weakened ankles keep from rolling while running.

This is a great product for runners with chronically weak ankles, or those first coming back after being sidelined with an ankle injury.

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7

Best Heavy-Duty Ankle Brace

Z ATHLETICS Lace-Up Ankle Brace

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Pros
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (43)Extremely supportive
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (44)Durable
Cons
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (45)Bulky
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (46)Less breathable

Key Specs

  • Materials: Nylon and neoprene
  • Stretch: Immobilizes the foot under ankle
  • Sizing: Small - large

Back in my team sports days, lace-up ankle braces were a must for basketball. The combination of a secure lace-up fit and compressive straps make for an incredibly secure and supportive fit around the ankle. These are meant to prevent and treat ankle-specific injuries, and they do affect your range of motion.

This ankle sleeve is great for runners who are slowly getting back to it after an injury, but it will affect running performance if you're trying to go fast or run down technical trails.

8

Best Medical-Grade Compression

Bauerfeind MalleoTrain Ankle Support Brace

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Pros
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (48)Extremely comfortable and flexible
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (49)Highly supportive
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (50)Versatile for injury prevention and recovery
Cons
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (51)Expensive

Key Specs

  • Materials: Active knit fabric made in Germany
  • Stretch: Rigid fit around ankle bone, flexibility through foot
  • Sizing: 1-6; based on ankle circumference

If you’re looking for a solution to chronic ankle/foot discomfort and swelling, this is it. This brace provides medical grade compression and support, while still giving you enough range of motion to run. Additionally, two soft pads surround your ankle bone and massage the joints while you move.

For runners who have had previous ankle injuries and are looking to stay healthy, this is a great preventive tool and it also works well following more recent pains and strains. While most sleeves can be worn on either foot, these are specifically designed for either a right or left foot to provide the most support and compression possible.

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9

Best for Arch Support

U-pick Plantar Fasciitis Sock with Arch Support

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Pros
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (53)Extreme foot and arch support
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (54)Comfortable and flexible
Cons
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (55)A bit bulky

Key Specs

  • Materials: Silicone gel and elastic
  • Stretch: Rigid underfoot, flexible through ankle
  • Sizing: One size fits most

Struggling with arch and foot pain during and after runs? While a solid insole also provides extra arch support, this ankle sleeve wraps snugly around the midsection of your foot to compress and relieve pain in this area. It’s designed like many of the compressive sleeves listed above, with an extra strap that wraps around your foot to provide extra support. This increases blood circulation and reduces swelling, which allows you to run and recover without pain in the bottom of your feet.

Bear in mind that the strap does create a bit of extra bulk, so it works best with roomier shoes and thinner socks.

10

Most Minimalist Ankle Sleeve

SENTEQ Ankle Brace

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Pros
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (57)Minimal and breathable
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (58)Suitable for injury recovery
Cons
  • Prevent and Protect Injuries With These Supportive Ankle Sleeves (59)Sizing isn’t adjustable

Key Specs

  • Materials: Neoprene with mesh venting
  • Stretch: Compressive surrounding ankle
  • Sizing: S-3XL

The SENTEQ ankle brace is designed specifically for athletes coming back from ankle injuries. It simply slips over the foot and compresses around the ankle and Achilles tendon. The neoprene material makes it suitable for land and water sports, and helps wick moisture and sweat away from your feet as you move.

Because of its minimalist design, it’s incredibly easy to wear under any running shoes. Before you order, you’ll want to measure the circumference of your ankle, and size up if you’re dealing with chronic swelling.

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Katie Kommer

Katie Kommer is a freelance writer who specializes in the outdoor industry. Her expertise and experience lay specifically in any hiking, camping, trail running, and backpacking related topics. As a writer for multiple backpacking and hiking-related websites, Katie uses her hands-on experience on the trails to share how-to articles, gear guides, and personal essays. Her work has been featured on The Trek, AdventureAlan.com, Garage Grown Gear, and many other sites. After thousands of miles accumulated over years of hiking, she has a strong understanding of the best gear recommendations for beginners, how to push our comfort zones, and how to enjoy time outdoors. Katie happily lives in Salt Lake City, Utah where she romps around in the Wasatch Mountains every possible day.

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