Top Pick
- Supports through long periods of intense training.
- Comfortable and washable.
- Durable and hard-wearing.
Are your ankles misaligned, or do they give way easily during workouts? Do you often feel pain in your ankles after a tough gym session? Or maybe you have a pre-existing injury and want to get back on the workout saddle?
These are all pretty common issues which can prevent people from keeping fit. That’s where we come in, as we’ve got just the answer.
In this article for the best ankle compression sleeve, we’ll be going into the benefits of them and showing you how they can transform your workouts. Then, we’ll show you our top five ankle compression sleeves on the market, so you can get schooled.
The Best Ankle Compression Sleeve —Top Five
Let’s dig a little deeper into the best ankle compression sleeve options on the market.
1. Bauerfeind Sports Ankle Support Dynamic
Our first option for the best ankle compression sleeves is known for its comfortable design. The anatomical fit, thin material, breathability, and freedom of movement means you’ll barely feel it underneath your shoes.
Although it may just seem like a funky design, the knitted patterns actually support different areas of your feet during various exercises, through compression in several ways. This means that your ligaments and tendons are relieved, so your muscles are stabilized for the best workout results.
- Pros
- Comes in a couple of great colors to match your training gear.
- Available in a good array of sizes.
- Supports through long periods of intense training.
- Keeps your joints and muscles feeling secure.
- Fabric zones to support certain areas at certain times.
- Comfortable and washable.
- Durable and hard-wearing.
- Cons
- Bulky if worn with socks.
2. Bauerfeind Sports Ankle Support
Here’s another Bauerfield ankle brace. So, what’s different about this one?
This one has another type of support, as it wraps around the ankle joint to ensure support where it’s needed. This prevents the risk of sprains, as well as targeting your ankle tissue during movement, massaging the joint as you go. This helps to improve circulation, keeping your muscles warm and limber.
What’s more, this knitted ankle compression sleeve is comfortable due to the free movement and breathable fabric. It’s also lightweight and secure, so it will feel as though there’s almost nothing there.
- Pros
- Comfortable.
- Lightweight.
- Durable.
- Comes in an array of colors and sizes to fit almost anyone.
- Protects against sprains and injuries.
- Improves blood circulation.
- Supports your muscles and ligaments.
- Cons
- For a tight fit, you’ll need to order a size down.
3. Plantar Fasciitis Socks by Physix Gear Sport
The Plantar Fasciitis sock is less geared towards sporting activities, like our previous two. Instead, this one is a 24/7 compression sleeve, which helps to relieve ankle pain after, say, an injury. That said, this doesn’t mean it can’t be worn during sporting activities—it most certainly can.
This one comes in a couple of colors to suit most users, improving your arch support and targeting pain quickly. Physix Gear Sport even claims that it works better than an ankle splint to reduce pain after injury or sport. This is due to the compression it provides, which keeps your muscles, tendons, and ligaments working as they should.
All this, paired with a thin design, breathability, and lightweight nature, makes this a really comfortable ankle brace under any shoe.
- Pros
- Reduces pain.
- Supports the foot.
- Comfortable and breathable.
- Durable, due to the Mertz machine stitching.
- Easily washable.
- Great for wearing all day.
- Cons
- Fewer size options than some others.
- Tight fitting can make them difficult to put on.
4. Ankle Brace by SNEINO
This ankle compression steeve is a little bulkier than our previous choices, but is recommended by professionals to provide effective muscle support to prevent injuries. It provides all-around support for the entire ankle due to the side stabilizers and contours, which help to reduce pain and pressure.
With the internal mesh design and lightweight, breathable fabric, this option is surprisingly comfortable. Also, the velcro design means it will stay in place and shouldn’t slip down during exercise.
- Pros
- Sturdy.
- Relieves ankle pain.
- Reduces the risk of injury.
- Provides secure support.
- Stays in place due to velcro straps.
- Breathable and lightweight.
- Cons
- Comes in fewer sizes than some others.
- Less comfortable than others due to bulky nature.
- Not easy to put on and take off.
5. Thirty 48 Plantar Fasciitis Compression Socks
Our final option for the best ankle compression sleeve is another elastic one, which is thin enough to fit under any shoe. Made using stretchy fabric, which is comfortable, lightweight, and breathable, this option won’t disturb you from going about your daily life. Whether it be exercising, heading to the shops, or going to work, it will support you through any activity.
This ankle brace has a graduated pressure of 20 to 30 mmHg, which means it fits your foot to a T, keeping your nerves and muscles in place to avoid injury. This not only supports the foot but reduces inflammation after injury and strengthens the muscles in the ankle.
- Pros
- Comes in an array of sizes and colors.
- Comfortable and strong.
- Prevents injury.
- Well-fitting.
- Relieves pain.
- Can be used all day, every day.
- Keeps good foot alignment.
- Cons
- Not as many knitted zones to support different areas of your feet.
A Buying guide to Ankle Compression Sleeves
When to Use an Ankle Compression Sleeves
One reason why someone may wish to use an ankle compression sleeve is to help them recover after an ankle injury. More research needs to be done on this matter, but a number of studies show that an ankle brace worn regularly decreases the healing time.
You could also wear an ankle brace if you’re prone to ankle weakness or misalignment when you walk. It can really help to wear the best ankle compression sleeve to reduce the risk of injury when exercising.
Another great use for an ankle brace sleeve is to avoid pain. For some, a pre-existing ankle injury or condition can cause issues during exercise, and an ankle support can safeguard against these potential issues.
The Benefits of an Ankle Compression Sleeve
The best ankle compression sleeves are great, not just for exercise, but for general use in your everyday routine. Here are some of the benefits they provide:
- Prevents injuries and sprains.
- Improves blood circulation.
- Reduces effort perception during exercise.
- Helps to improve strength in your ankles.
- Relieves pain in pre-existing injuries.
- Reduces muscle soreness after exercise.
- Corrects misalignment.
- Promotes recovery after an injury or operation.
- Improves muscle performance.
- Reduces swelling.
The list seems endless, and you’re probably now thinking, “why haven’t I thought of buying an ankle brace before now?”
What to Look for in the Best Ankle Compression Sleeve
Now we’ve convinced you that it’s a pretty smart move to consider buying an ankle brace, here are some factors you should watch out for.
Comfortable
Comfort is one of the most important factors to pick your ankle compression sleeves. If you’re not comfortable during sport, you won’t be as focused to continue your exercise routine. This is where factors like breathable and lightweight materials come in. If these are taken into consideration, it will be much less obtrusive on your exercise.
This can also be achieved via a thin material, which won’t feel bulky underneath your sneakers. Also, if it fits anatomically to your foot, this is also a bonus.
Durable
Considering the use of ankle compression sleeves during sport or day-to-day, it’s important that they last. We want to see features like strong stitching, durable materials like nylon, and a product that fits your foot, so isn’t strained. If the ankle brace has all that, it’ll be good to go.
Washable
Naturally, when working out, your feet will get hot and clammy, and your ankle compression sleeve will probably take the brunt of this sweat. This is why it’s important that your ankle brace is easy to clean, without shrinking, so you can use it often.
Feels Secure
This is one of the most important factors, as it’s exactly why you’re purchasing an ankle compression sleeve: it needs to feel stable. If the ankle brace claims to support your ankle, compress your muscles securely, and prevent injury and pain, it should do the trick. Luckily, all of our options below are made to do just that!
Conclusion
All of the ankle braces above certainly deserve the accolade for the best ankle compression sleeve. But, to make your life a little easier, we’ve decided to choose one option which makes it to the top, and for us, it has to be the Bauerfeind Sports Ankle Support Dynamic.
This is because it’s comfortable and breathable, so will feel like almost nothing underneath any shoe. With the different areas of support, ligaments and tendons are relieved and joints and muscles are fully secure.
Want the best ankle compression sleeve, which helps to align your ankles and prevent injury? This one’s your best bet.
