McDavid Ankle Brace Review 2024

The polyester is thin enough that it won't interfere with your running or sports sneakers, or any shoe you decide to wear off-court. The top velcro strap lets you control the tightness of compression, dialing back the squeeze as your tendon pain eases. Even the tongue of the sleeve is made with comfort and freedom in mind. It won't press on your front ankle or migrate away from the center, even during fast-paced activity.

There are several models of the 195. It is a mainstay of the McDavid catalog and each model gets consistently good reviews. This one uses a figure 8 strap, in addition to the thick top velcro and traditional laces that hold the tongue in place. The strap is designed to emulate athletic tape, holding commonly damaged muscles in place without rigid restriction.

The 195 comes in different sizes, from extra small to extra large. There is a handy sizing chart on the McDavid website. The Level 3 version, which we linked to, is even good for those with degenerative joint conditions who need extra help staying mobile.

You won't be able to play basketball in this brace, but that's not really what it is for. It is meant for serious ankle injury recovery. The shell is not thin polyester, but thicker, more rigid nylon and vinyl.

The tougher shell doesn't mean the brace will cause excessive tightness or cut off airflow, though. It holds everything in place, provides compression, and even has vent holes in the tongue. A prominent McDavid logo, along with the stitching pattern, gives the brace a retro look. Any brace will fit both your ankles, so no need to buy a pair if only one of your ankles is in need of care.

Because of the thicker fabric and the metal stays, this brace may have trouble fitting comfortably into some of your shoes. It is a bit of a trade-off, where you get less compatibility but more rigid support to treat your injury and lessen recovery time.

The straps secure with Velcro. This makes it simple to slip into the brace, dial in the right fit, and go. The hold and compression feel secure and flexible. This support gives you Level 2 protection, which makes it ideal for minor to moderate sprains and strains as well as light ligament instability or pain. The brace helps prevent ankle rolls, too, so it is a good proactive tool if you don't have an injury.

The one-eighth inch thick neoprene material delivers therapeutic warmth to speed up blood flow and oxygen delivery. The gentle squeezing and partial immobilization will speed up recovery time. Any brace fits both feet, thanks to the bi-directional design. The sleeve is 100% latex-free if you are concerned about allergies or irritation. The support is superb, with a great comfort level to help you forget you are even wearing a brace as you go about your day.

Reviewers, as well as McDavid, did say the brace requires a day or two of breaking in. It will feel abnormally tight at first, but will not pinch or cut off circulation. Neoprene has good molding properties and will feel like a second skin once the initial tightness runs its course.

This is the polar counterpart to our number one pick, the 195 Ultralights. Nylon and vinyl construction remains the same. Laces are gone, replaced by the single ankle cuff strap with a figure 6 strap bolstering it. The figure 6 pattern allows you to simulate wrapping your ankle, without the tricky twists and turns of a traditional wrap or bandage.

The shell composite construction makes the brace exceptionally flexible, but it also delivers the guidance and protection you need for injury recovery. The padded lining increases all-over comfort. Sewn-In arch support keeps your feet in their natural and most efficient position. Ergonomic contours are human body-friendly and help make the brace unobtrusive during wear.

The fabric, closures, design, padding, and support combine you Level 3 protection, the maximum level available. This brace would be at home in a locker room as well as a physical therapist's office. Once the brace is on, you will not need to remove your shoe to make on the fly fit adjustments.

You get moderate, not maximum, pain relief including treatment for chronic or acute cases of tendonitis. Bursitis and arthritis flare-ups, as well as daily wear treatment, are handily covered as well. The elastic is made to stretch in four directions, so no part of your ankle or upper foot gets constricted or left behind. In fact, this is one of a full line of models under the Four-Way moniker, all with that same foot-hugging design.

We mentioned latex allergies earlier. Less common, but just as serious, are neoprene allergies. The spandex and nylon fabric combo gives the shell some of the neoprene's security, and more than enough stretch, without aggravating allergies. This shell construction will also breathe better than neoprene, leading to less foot sweat on hot days.

McDavid placed buttresses on the front, back, and sides of the brace. This is the other tech behind the Four-Way stretch. Being gel, the buttresses will support and hold the brace together, keeping your ankles in place without the rigidity of a steel stay.

The sleeve is designed specifically for plantar fasciitis, a condition you are probably familiar with if you do any serious running. The tubular stitching and structure of this sleeve will drill down on the tender area without any straps or laces to fuss with. Overall, your whole arch and heel will feel the compression and benefit from better blood flow.

The stitching is done with a thin, narrow needle, suited to microfiber stitching. This results in almost undetectable seams with ergonomic fit and excellent strength. The sleeve is light and easy on your feet, but also durable. It will not lose shape even after repeated wearings and washings.

The sleeve fits either foot. There will not be any chafing, even if the sleeve migrates a bit during the day, because of the precision stitching and barely-there seams. The sleeve got a decent ranking in Amazon's Sports Medicine Products category. Repeated machine washing won't tear down the socks, but they cannot go in the drier and will have to be hung up for air drying.

Like the Freelastic (our number six), this one uses four-way stretch and noninvasive stitching to cut down on both rigidity and possible chafing. The hardy neoprene is only 1/8" thick, so your skin can breathe and your freedom of movement is preserved. There is nylon on both the inside and outside, making the sleeve durable. There is no additional padding, but this isn't a healing or stabilizing brace, so the neoprene is more than enough.

The double-sided nylon has the side benefit of making this sleeve easy to put on and take off. Since the neoprene isn't especially porous, you get thermal therapy from the slight heat retention. It is a good thing, but also means this won't be a great sleeve for hot summer activities.

The sleeve is also suited to light maintenance of inflammatory conditions, like arthritis or tendinitis. Unfortunately, those of us with these conditions are often targeted for bogus "cures" or special diets that aren't medically proven. McDavid is a solid company, with braces used by many physical therapists, so we are confident in saying that this sleeve will actually help.

The customer reviews answered questions, and the sizing chart is your friend for this product. If your ankle is prone to swelling, you may have to go a size up from your typical shoe size. You will be able to wear a thin toeless sock, under the brace, if you find the fit is a bit too loose.

This brace, from Ultra Ankle, manages to be minimalist and almost Robocop level serious at the same time. It has a flat footbed, quite different from the stitched ones we saw on most of the McDavid products. It is a rigid multisport sleeve, suitable for volleyball, soccer, basketball, and even American football hobbyists.
Although the level of support is moderate, the open design allows for a full range of motion and will fit comfortably inside most sneakers or cleats.

The brace is for injury prevention but looks to be stable enough for mild injury recovery. It has vertical lateral stays, an open back, and two closure straps--one on the ankle and another at midfoot. Both are straightforward velcro closures, with no special figure 6 or figure 8 bolstering.

Just from looking at the picture, the bottom strap is visibly narrower than the bed of fixed velcro is attaches to. It is hardly a deal-breaker, but we know from experience that uncovered velcro can attract debris and dirt. This includes the tiny nits that live inside even the most high-end athletic shoe. It's an aesthetic gripe, but, excess particle buildup can prevent a complete mesh between the strap and the fixed piece if it goes unchecked.

This is not a compression sleeve, instead, it's a sleeve/brace with compression provided by a one-piece strap. The strap is unusual. It hangs from the back of the brace, looking like a pair of suspenders viewed from behind the person wearing them. It is suitable for swelling and sprain recovery. It also guards against initial injuries, without being so thick or heavy that you can't wear it inside shoes or over an actual compression sleeve.

The brace has lateral stabilizers. When you look at the laces, you can see the brace has a modified derby shoe design. The bottom lace holes are part of winglike plastic tabs, one on each side. This design is standard on unisex dress shoes, and sneaker companies like Adidas use it, too, for security and persistent tight laces.

The braces come in two sizes, medium and large, but will fit a large range of ankles due to the design and flexibility. Straps are tightened via touch-fastening, not Velcro, and are very secure after you wrap the straps under and around your feet. As a bonus feature, the CompressX sleeve comes with an e-book that shows you how to use the straps and offers helpful tips for joint pain relief.

The child-friendly status reflects in the design and compression level of the sleeve, too. It has two half straps that lay on a large bed of velcro when fastened. It's the simplest of designs, with the thick ankle cuff and lower part acting as compression surfaces. Unlike most adult braces, this one ends just above the heel, like a quarter or ankle sock rather than a crew sock.

The super stretchy brace is made of lycra and nylon, two plasticine fibers with strong elastic properties. It will hold tight to the child's feet, without constricting or weighing down. This is the kind of sleeve that will get your child through their dance recital or soccer game unless their injury is severe enough for them to sit the event out.

The brace aids with tendon and ligament injuries, hyperextensions, sore joints, sprains and strains, and even early-onset arthritis. The twin straps proactively guard against a rolled ankle. The sleeves are made of neoprene with nylon stitching and trim. Although friendly to family budgets, the Greenery-GRE ankle brace is a class 1 medical device, which simply means the FDA recognizes it as a tool meant to heal or prevent injury in the target area.