Ankle brace for high top boots?

Hey everyone,

I have arthritis in my ankle from a climbing accident that happened 4 years ago and I can’t seem to find a good comfortable ankle brace for boots.

Typically I am carrying 35 pounds of gear for a day out single pitch trad climbing with easy approaches. I usually just wear trail runners and an ankle brace

However I do go out for longer approaches and wear boots. My ankle hurts with the brace tucked inside boots.

Anyone have suggestions for a brace in boots? In July I’ll be backcountry climbing for a week and hiking in with around 60 pounds of gear. 

I have same issue recovering from broken ankle. I just use the brace in oversized trail runners. Maybe try wrapping with flexible bandage instead of brace or get a larger boot to accommodate. 

Big fan of this one, there's two plastic stays on each side of the ankle, a criss-cross strap over the forefoot and a wrap around the lower leg. https://www.futuro-usa.com/3M/en_US/p/d/cbgblw011006/

Have used with both trail runners and boots.

It's certainly not a "Just had a major injury and need to stabilize the joint" brace, but it's great for "Just a little extra support in the muscles/tendons in the joint" I actually found my legs tire less when they're not engaging all the muscles needed to bring stability to my weak ankles (which is why I started training/hiking without them except for really big days).

Mike V. wrote:

Big fan of this one, there's two plastic stays on each side of the ankle, a criss-cross strap over the forefoot and a wrap around the lower leg. https://www.futuro-usa.com/3M/en_US/p/d/cbgblw011006/

Have used with both trail runners and boots.

It's certainly not a "Just had a major injury and need to stabilize the joint" brace, but it's great for "Just a little extra support in the muscles/tendons in the joint" I actually found my legs tire less when they're not engaging all the muscles needed to bring stability to my weak ankles (which is why I started training/hiking without them except for really big days).

Ohh I like this one for the boot!

Hi Adam!

I'm sorry to hear that you've been dealing with nagging ankle pain and arthritis. It's awesome that you've found something like an ankle brace to help keep you in the activities that you love. I'm a physical therapist and something that I really love about high-top boots is that they give ankles external support, like an added layer of protection against rolling your ankle on uneven ground. If you haven't tried just allowing the high-top boot to act as a brace for your ankle without an additional brace that might be worth a shot. Just make sure the boot is tied tight enough to feel supportive without cutting off circulation. Another option would be wearing a compression stocking that goes to your knee if you'd still like to try wearing the brace with the high-top boot. This will limit any fluid buildup that happens when we're on our feet for a while due to gravity and can make things a little more comfortable. Ankles that have been previously injured often swell a little more too. In addition to all of this, if you're not doing so already I would consider adding specific ankle strengthening into your routine to help your muscles provide support without fatiguing too quickly on a long approach. I'm going to include an article from The Climbing Doctor blog which is overseen by Dr. Jared Vagy, a physical therapist who specializes in rehab and research of climbers. 

Balance and Stability for Climbers Article

Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. I wish you the best on your trip in July!