Weight: 10.3 ounces | Materials: Leather upper, foam midsole, rubber outsole | Cushioning: Medium | Closure: Lace-up | Drop: Not listed | Our Overall Rating: 4.5/5 There's a lot to love about the adidas Solar Glide 5, a good all-around athletic shoe that will protect your ankles during rigorous workouts. Everything about the shoe is made to enhance your performance, from the BOOST midsole to the lightweight knit upper. What's more, a large percentage of each shoe is made from sustainable and recycled materials, making this an excellent choice for the eco-conscious shopper. What We Like We love the springy responsiveness, sleek style, and lightweight feel of Saucony’s Men's Endorphin Pro 3 Shoe. But it doesn’t have enough ankle support for those with weak or injured ankles. Weight: 9.1 ounces | Materials: Partially recycled engineered air mesh upper, foam midsole, rubber outsole | Cushioning: Maximum | Closure: Lace-up | Drop: 10 millimeters | Our Overall Rating: 5/5

If you're playing a sport like basketball, you may want to look into high-top shoes, which offer added ankle support. High tops also limit your range of motion, though, which means they're not as well-suited for activities such as running. FAQs About Shoes for Ankle Support Are high top shoes good for ankle support? Since these are motion control shoes, they are not as plush and comfy as other options on our list. The rubber outsole helps with traction and impact protection, while the padded tongue and collar offer even more support and comfort. And we love that the tall heel tab makes getting the shoe on and off much easier. Plus, the APMA-approved shoe’s toe box offers plenty of room for your toes and forefoot to spread out, which keeps us steady and balanced. We noticed that the heel cup may be too low for some, causing a light strain on the Achilles tendon. If you're not prone to tight calves, this shouldn't be an issue.

Running Articles

If you have flat feet or fallen arches, wearing a running shoe with motion control that limits excessive pronation (when the ankle rolls downward and inward an excessive amount as you step) can help you avoid discomfort and injury. One of our favorite shoes for flat feet, Brooks’ Glycerin GTS 20 is designed with the brand’s signature motion control technology that helps control pronation and prevent ankle rolling. Weight: 10.2 ounces | Materials: Partially recycled mesh upper, foam midsole, rubber outsole | Cushioning: Moderate | Closure: Lace-up | Drop: 12 millimeters | Our Overall Rating: 4.8/5 One of our favorite trail running shoes, Nike’s Pegasus Trail 4 GORE-TEX helps limit excess movement and prevent ankle rolling on wet, uneven terrains. During test runs in various conditions, we were impressed with the durable, waterproof upper that provides protection from the elements without causing our feet to overheat. Weight: 10.5 ounces | Materials: Mesh, synthetic leather upper, foam and gel insole, synthetic outsole | Cushioning: Moderate | Closure: Lace-up | Drop: 10 millimeters | Our Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Saucony’s Women's Integrity Walker 3 features a durable leather upper, solid comfort, and reliable support—all at a budget-friendly price. Right away, we noticed that the cushioning feels firmer compared to other options we tested, providing exceptional impact protection and ankle stability on various terrains.

We wear-tested walking, running, and hiking shoes and prioritized options that provide additional lateral support without feeling bulky and still allowing our feet to move in a natural way. We thoroughly examined each shoe’s fit, comfort, responsiveness, stability, cushioning, and value—scoring each one based on these key factors. A board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy and an athletic trainer from our Review Board also assessed this article for accuracy. How to Strengthen Weak AnklesWe tested over 130 pairs of sneakers, but only ended up including 10 pairs in our final list of recommendations. Although these shoes might be suitable for certain activities, they ultimately fell a bit short in terms of ankle support. Comfort: If your shoe isn’t comfortable, you won’t wear it, so next up is assessing comfort. During each wear test, we pay attention to how the material feels: Are there any irritating seams? Do our feet feel overheated? Is there uncomfortable chafing or rubbing? We prioritize shoes that keep our feet cool, comfortable, and blister-free for hours at a time. Some general guidelines for strengthening weak ankles: Keep your weight under control. Always wear the appropriate footwear, including braces and other supports as needed. Do proper warm-ups and cool-downs when you work out. And try ankle-specific exercises, such as standing calf raises. Why are my shoes causing my ankles to hurt? Arc’teryx’s Aerios Mid GTX Shoes are durable, supportive, and protective for hiking on- and off-road. The mid-cut height helps support the ankles, while the integrated support shank provides torsional stability (meaning stability in the midfoot of the shoe) to keep you balanced and stable on uneven surfaces.In fact, we think it's one of the best hiking shoes out there.

To find the best shoes for those with weak, painful, or injured ankles, we sifted through all of the shoes we’ve wear-tested—over 130 pairs—to find ones that offer additional ankle support. When we test shoes, we evaluate each option based on the following criteria: Go the distance with the ASICS GT-2000, running shoes made for the long haul. High-quality materials, including supple foam, help cradle and support your entire foot, and the adaptive mesh provides a snug, comfortable fit. There's also an extra off-toe bounce, helping you power through those really grueling treks.The best way to protect your ankles from pain and injury is to wear supportive shoes and work on strengthening the muscles surrounding your ankle by performing certain exercises—like standing or seated calf raises and lower leg resistance band exercises, says our certified running coach. Another great practice is to try balancing on one foot for 30 to 60 seconds, alternating feet for five minutes—you can do this exercise anywhere, anytime to build up ankle strength. Before any activity, you should always consider doing ankle warmup exercises. The higher the shoe, the more ankle support it provides. However, high tops also limit your range of motion, which may actually increase the risk of ankle injury if you're a runner. We recommend high tops for basketball and other sports. How do you strengthen weak ankles?