Ultra Zoom Hinged Sports Ankle Brace – Sprained Ankle Recovery & Prevention

Update 4: Many months down the road, with many hours of use on them, both of my Ultra Zoom braces are in tip top shape and still working as intended. I have lost weight though, currently at 274, 6'2", play basketball for 2 hours about 4 times a week. Update 3: I tried the Zamst 2 brace because of the very high rating reviews, but I felt it wasn't good compared to the Ultra Zoom. Ultra Zoom has better support, easier on/off applying and has great pivot support. Zamst was lose, didn't provide as good as support and was a big hassle to put on properly. I ended up returning the Zamst and buying a second Ultra Zoom for my left ankle. Update 2: So far in about 5 months of continuous basketball at ~290 pounds, it has definitely helped with everything I needed. In fact, I may order another one for my good ankle (left) which just yesterday I rolled while playing. Great! (sarcasm) Update: So far in about 2 months there have been many times this brace has saved me from an injury. If wearing correctly, you will literally feel when it stops a rolled ankle, and you will thank the people who made this. The brace is holding up extremely well too. There is slight squeaking from sweat/water, but it's unnoticeable if you are playing sports. Do not over tighten, as it will put your foot asleep. Remember, you are also tying your shoes, so keep the foot brace a little lose. That's my advice. ------------------------- I am wearing this brace because I rolled my ankle playing basketball and my specialist suggested getting a typical wooden/metal stirrup brace for the healing process. I of course didn't want to go down that route because that's outdated medical technology. So I browsed Amazon and came across this performance/hybrid brace that you can wear in daily or sport conditions. I bought it immediately. When I received the package, it was kind of packed like it was just thrown in the box and taped up. The paper work was old, crinkled, and faded, although the brace was in perfect condition. The brace can be very uncomfortable at first, be sure you wear a high sock for added comfort. Remember, I am putting this brace on as my foot is still swollen from my injury, so my pain can be self caused. But, the brace ends up molding quite well and becoming unnoticeable at times while walking and being active. The plastic is great quality, the material they use for everything else is very well made, the straps are perfectly sturdy for even a big guy like myself. The bottom strap has actually two straps, one on each side, which is genius. Because it allows you to get a even distribution of tension focused on the middle of your foot. However, and this is where I took a star off, the top strap just goes left to right. Why?! This would be the perfect brace if the straps on top (near ankle/shin) were just like the foot straps. Since the top strap only goes from left to right, it makes the brace *slightly* tighter on the left side of your foot, which is noticeable. This not only brings worries of unbalanced support for your right side of your right ankle (in my case), but I am kind of worried about my knee. I am going to test this out much more as I get healed up and ready to play/be active again after my injury. So I will update with more impressions later on in the month. **WARNING** Wear high socks with these, as they say on the warning label/box when you get them. If you don't, the bottom part of the protection will rub against your Achilles tendon. No big deal, but it's a must or it will be extremely uncomfortable. Thanks

This is my third brace from these folks. I wear it everyday. Holds up for about 3 years, velcro just gives out...lol! My ankle is week from spine injury, this brace holds it straight and steady! Bravo to a company whose product does what they say!

This ankle brace is a great option for peace of mind, while maintaining mobility with the hinged design! Playing basketball has been the biggest issue for my ankles, mostly mild to moderate sprains over the years like a lot of people. I had a severe left ankle sprain and fibular avulsion in 2021, that I didn't get medical treatment on, and since then, my left ankle has been somewhat unstable and has less range of motion. Reluctantly, I tried lace-up ASO ankle braces, and found they slightly reduced my agility, but continued to use periodically. after suffering a sprain while wearing the braces, I resolved that I would only ever wear them when currently rehabbing an injury, as they affected my play and didn't adequately protect from injury. I eventually went to foot/ankle specialist in physical therapy, and he recommended that I needed a stiffer product to protect my ankles, and recommended the Ultra CTS brace. I purchased two and found them inconveniently bulky, not good looking, and somewhat reduced my agility as well, BUT, they were effective at stopping injuries when I had stepped on another player's foot. I determined that I do need that level of support to continue playing basketball, but that this may be overkill for my other love, flag football. That's when I doubled down and got a pair of Ultra Zoom braces, and these are similar in construction, but with softer material, preserving a more mobility. I had once incidence where coming down from a jump ball attempt, got my feet angled up with a defender and mildly sprained my bad left ankle in the Zoom braces, but I stayed in the game, and missed no time afterward, so while certainly less still, it still can be effective. I have never sprained in the Ultra CTS while playing either basketball or flag football. I've played one flag football game in the Ultra CTS braces just to try it, and really did not notice a difference from the Zoom, just for the record. Overall, I'd recommend both braces, and I'm glad I bought both. I understand the price may dissuade a lot of people from having a pair of each, so if debating between the two, here's what I'd say. Both help protect the ankles, and the hinge design does make it easier to run compared to a lace up. I like the CTS for basketball because of the high risk of stepping on feet, and given my situation, I need some actual stiffness, not just proprioceptive feedback in ankle braces to avoids injuries, given my already compromised joints. I don't like that the top part of that brace easily starts to unclip from the bottom. This has happened several times in games, and it starts clicking and gets uncomfortable, and probably is less supportive in that case. It requires taking off your shoe and braces to reinsert. But I've had zero injuries in over a year playing in them. I like the Zoom for flag football because it allows less inhibited movement, while still adding a little bit of structural integrity. However, the straps did start to come unglued within about 6 months of owning them. I still use the braces, but at the price point, I think they could be built more sturdily. I also think that given 230+lb frame and athletic play style, I am vulnerable to basketball landing injuries more than most, so for people who don't have x-rays showing an abnormal joint, this is the better one to use for basketball- I just needed something stronger than most of us will to stay in the game. I have played basketball in the Zoom braces a few times, and it is more comfortable and easier to play in them than the CTS, and offers plenty of protection while "on the floor". Coming down from above the rim? Again, at my weight, I wouldn't totally trust it. If you're reading this, you're probably considering a better option because you don't like or haven't had success with lace up ankle braces. I'd say for larger/more powerful bodies with a significant history of ankle injuries, Ultra CTS is the best option for you. For smaller athletes, or those who have only had more mild sprains, Ultra Zoom is rigid enough for you, looks better, and is easier to play in. Before trying Ultra Ankle, I purchased the Zamst A2-DX braces worn by Stephen Curry, and I do think that's probably a good option for a smaller body who's game is predicated on shiftiness, it's not nearly rigid enough for someone like me. Ultra Zoom is probably the best option for most people. If it's not stiff enough for you, go CTS. Zamst A2-DX is more expensive, and less supportive, but is more comfortable than Ultra Zoom, & perhaps a better fit for soccer (I don't play soccer). Hope this helps.

This did not fit at all. I have large feet and this did not work at all. The ankle fit was ok but very bulky. It fit ok around the middle of my foot but was uncomfortable. The area for the heal was way too big and my foot just slid around in them. With all that it was impossible to wear with shoes. I had high hopes for these being a rigid support for my ankle but they fell way short of having the stability from what you would think is shown in the pictures.

My 17 yr old broke his ankle and needed a brace to play in after he was cleared. After reading some reviews this one seemed like it would be perfect. Nope. It's very bulky. We couldn't fit it in any of his shoes and for sure not his cleats. Even his Van's were hard. The brace was also very uncomfortable while he wire it. His PT said this would be good for an older person. We ended up buying a lace up brace instead which was recommended by his trainer.

One of the better ankle braces on the market. Easy on and easy off and after break in very comfortable and easy to move normally in. I did break in a bit different than recommended, I put the brace on and then applied heat with a hair dryer for about 15 minutes on both sides, the footbed, and then wore it around the house for a few hours. I am a college student (Physical education major) and needed this brace to participate in required courses. Without participation we do not pass. I sprained my ankle on a Thursday and ordered this over the weekend. I had it Tuesday for class and even though I was still in a little pain and the ankle was still swollen I played just fine. I use this brace in both basketball and volleyball and the more break it in the less I even notice it. It reduced pain and added some much needed support. I like the fact that is comes in only 2 sizes. It does not seem to be prematurely wearing on the 2 different shoes I wear it with. You cannot use ankle socks but the socks that cover you ankle (I think they are quarter socks work fine for me. You won't see the quarter sock and the brace will contact you skin but it has left no marks at all. Make sure it is adjusted properly. If you can feel if digging onto one side of your foot it is twisted. just loosen the top strap and twist it and it will be god to go. Would buy again.

A huge debt of gratitude to whoever designed and built this ankle brace! I injured my left ankle a few months ago while visiting Bulnes, Spain. I was too caught up with the beautiful scenery to pay attention to where I was stepping and one misstep led to a tear in the cartilage connecting the tibia to the talus. A very painful injury but I kept going! I was on vacation and nothing was going to stop me. This ankle brace has allowed to me recuperate, almost instantly, without the need of surgery and time consuming physical therapy. I do not have the time nor the patience for either. Within minutes of putting it on, I felt relief and it allowed me to regain the stability that I was losing due to my injury. Unfortunately, it is too big to wear with men's dress shoes (even size 12 wide); so I have to do without it when I am at the office. I could wear it, but it looks like it might deform dress shoes. I put it on the minute that I get home, and my ankle has significantly improved. One thing is for sure, this ankle brace will always travel with me from this point forward.

This is a hit-or-miss design. The bottom plate is very thin and rigid. If it fits your foot perfectly, it will be a good brace. If it doesn't, it will cut into the heel or ball of your foot aggressively. This is not an item to order online.

Product work extremely well! Can be a bit awkward to use at first if you have larger calves. I use it for softball and works with out any further worry about my ankle.

YA USE VARIA TOBILLERAS RIGIDAS, Y PARA MI ESTA ES LA MEJOR, YA QUE SE AJUSTA MUY BIEN AL PIE Y LO ESTABILIZA DE UNA MENERA MUY BUENA, YA QUE AGARRA EL PIE EN SUS LATERALES Y ESO HACE QUE NO DEJE QUE SE MUEVA HACIA LOS LADO QUE ES CUANDO SE TUERCEN. LA RECOMIENDO 100%, Y LO MEJOR QUE ES FACIL DE PONER Y QUITAR, NO COMO OTRAS.

Takes a little bit to break in but it’s comfortable and extremely supportive. I’ve work Active Ankle Braces for years and decided to try this and it’s great. Only con: the shiny plastic material squeaks as it comes in contact with the inside of some of my sneakers. Strategically placed pieces of duct tape fixed that.

les produits a l'air de très bonne qualité. Mais dans mon cas avec des chaussure haute de basketball ca ne conviens pas c'est trop gros et ca n'entre pas dans mes chaussures

This brace will only fit a a boy or a small man I was lacking 3" of Velcro it was a X large.-- My nurse guaranteeing me it will fit.-- "Boy was she wrong.-- I'm sending it back at a cost to me of $7.50 shipping