ASO Review

Protection: 7

Comfort: 9

Mobility: 9

Durability: 9

Rating: 8.5/10

Review:

The ASO ankle brace is the best lace up brace on the market. This brace offers a decent degree of protection and support to the ankle while maintaining high levels of mobility and comfort to allow you to move as naturally as possible.

The ASO ankle brace uses many techniques to apply protection for all planes of movement. The most aggressive feature is the strong plastic stabilising inserts that run down the medial (inside) and lateral (outside) sides of the brace. These offer great protection against ankle rolls while still being very comfortable to move around the court freely. When I first bought these I was a little worried that they would dig in to the sides of my ankle but this wasn't the case at all. The other protection aspects include laces so that you can adjust the brace tightness to your individual requirements. On top of the laces run two figure-8 straps that protect the ankle against rolls in multiple directions. All these aspects are secured in place by an elastic strap anchoring the top of the ankle. The stabilising inserts are only semi-rigid so there is still the risk of lateral rolls if enough force is applied. If you are somebody who needs a very rigid brace for maximum support, the Active Ankle T2 will be a better choice for you, but just remember that you may be compromising on mobility.

With a soft mesh tongue and inner material, the ASO is very comfortable and quite breathable. There are no parts of the brace that dig in to the foot or ankle during any movement. The lace up brace allows for almost full range movement in dorsiflexion and plantar flexion which is great for volleyball, while providing protection against ankle eversion (rolling in) and inversion (rolling out). I found that the mobility of this brace was very important in providing a comfortable base to move from to allow me to still perform at the highest level.

The ASO comes in a range of sizes from XS to XL. These sizes are based on shoe size which makes it very simple to find the right fit for you.

This brace lasted me multiple years and didn't fall apart whatsoever. The elastic remained tight and the material was always comfortable. The eyelets didn't tear or stretch as they were bordered by a light metal ring. This ankle brace is machine washable which is great when the soft mesh material starts to get a bit of a smell to it. I found that there was no change in the nature of the materials after washing.

This is a top of the range ankle brace that offers good protection while ensuring that it doesn't impact the athlete's mobility and performance. The balance between these key points is what makes this such a good brace.

Pros

• Extremely comfortable

• Allows for natural mobility in certain directions

• Very durable material

• Good price for a product that will last many years

Cons

• Softer design resulting in slightly less protection

My verdict: I was very impressed by the balance found between offering good protection and allowing great mobility and comfort. This creates a great all round brace that didn't impact performance.

Value: $60 AUD - A very good price for the best lace up ankle brace on the market.

Questions?