The Best Shoes to Wear with Ankle Braces
When you’re wearing an ankle brace like the Ultra Zoom, choosing the right shoe isn’t just about comfort — it’s about performance, protection, and making sure your brace works exactly as intended.
The Ultra Zoom ankle brace features a hinged design that allows for protected movement, helping athletes stay confident on the court without limiting their mobility. But to get the most out of your brace, you need to pair it with the right kind of shoe.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- What type of shoes work best with ankle braces
- The truth about high-top shoes and ankle support
- Key features to look for when shopping
- A simple method to ensure a perfect brace fit — the Shoelace Reset Method
- An alternative brace option if you’re set on wearing high-tops
Section 2: Does It Matter What Type or Brand of Shoe You Wear with an Ankle Brace?
When it comes to wearing an ankle brace like the Ultra Zoom, one of the most common questions we hear is: “What kind of shoe should I wear with it?”
The good news is that the brand of athletic shoe doesn’t matter nearly as much as the design and structure of the shoe.
Avoid Shoes with a Sleeve or Collar Design
Shoes that have an integrated sleeve or sock-like collar — often seen in some basketball and volleyball shoes — can make it difficult to fit a brace inside. These designs reduce adjustability and may create tight spots or discomfort when used with a brace.
Instead, look for shoes with a traditional tongue-and-lace construction. This allows for more adjustability, easier entry, and a better overall fit with your ankle brace.
Why Court Shoes Work Best
Court shoes (like those used in volleyball, basketball, or tennis) are generally the most brace-compatible option. They’re designed for side-to-side movements, offer stable soles, and often have enough internal space to fit an ankle brace like the Ultra Zoom — without needing to size up.
So while you don’t need a specific brand, you’ll want to choose a shoe that:
- Has a lace-up, low-cut design
- Offers structure and stability
- Allows room for the Ultra Zoom’s hinge to move freely
Looking for a lace-up ankle brace rather than a hinged ankle brace? You can check out our Ultra 360 Lace-Up ankle brace, which is compatible with a wider range of shoe types.
Section 3: High-Top Shoes — What to Know
Many athletes assume that wearing high-top shoes provides added ankle support. It’s a common belief — but not backed by the evidence.
High-top shoes alone do not offer meaningful ankle protection. While they may feel more secure around the ankle, that snugness doesn’t translate to true support or injury prevention.
Why High-Tops Don’t Pair Well with Hinged Braces
High-top designs can interfere with how a hinged brace like the Ultra Zoom functions. The Ultra Zoom is designed to move with your ankle, allowing protected movement — but a tight collar around the ankle can:
- Restrict the hinge’s range of motion
- Cause pressure points or discomfort
- Make it difficult to properly position the brace inside the shoe
That’s why we typically recommend low-cut, lace-up athletic shoes for the best fit and performance.
If You Must Wear High-Tops…
We understand that some athletes are more comfortable in high-tops or are required to wear them as part of a team or personal preference. In those cases, we recommend the Ultra 360 Lace-Up ankle brace.
The Ultra 360 is a flexible, lace-up style brace that offers compression and mild to moderate support, and fits more easily inside high-top shoes where a hinged brace might not.
Section 4: What to Look for in a Shoe That Works with the Ultra Zoom
Not all athletic shoes are created equal — especially when you’re trying to fit a performance ankle brace like the Ultra Zoom. To make sure your brace functions properly and feels comfortable during play (and/or recovery), it’s important to choose a shoe with the right design elements.
Important: The Ultra Zoom is not designed to be worn or evaluated without shoes. The brace must be worn inside a proper athletic shoe — and the right type of shoe — to deliver the fit, comfort, and performance it was engineered for. Trying it on without a shoe can make it feel loose or bulky, but once properly fitted inside a lace-up athletic shoe, it conforms closely to the ankle and foot.
Lace-Up, Low-Cut Design
A traditional lace-up shoe allows you to loosen or tighten the fit where needed, which is essential when accommodating a brace. A low-cut collar gives the hinge of the ankle brace room to move and prevents unwanted pressure around the ankle joint.
Roomy Yet Structured Fit
Choose shoes that offer:
- A roomy toe box
- Structured sidewalls for lateral support
- A sturdy heel counter to keep the foot locked in
These features help the Ultra Zoom sit properly inside the shoe without requiring you to size up. In fact, when fitted correctly (using the shoelace reset method we’ll explain next), athletes can wear the same shoe size they wore before adding the brace.
Stable Base for Court Sports
Since the Ultra Zoom is designed for high-impact, lateral-movement sports like volleyball, basketball, and tennis, pairing it with a court-style shoe makes the most sense. These shoes are built for quick stops, pivots, and jumps — exactly the type of movements where ankle protection matters most.
Learn more about the Ultra Zoom and its product features.
Section 5: How to Fit the Ultra Zoom Using the Shoelace Reset Method
When you first put on the Ultra Zoom ankle brace, you might notice that it changes the shape and volume of your foot and ankle slightly — which is completely normal.
To ensure your shoe adjusts properly to this new shape, we recommend using what we call the Shoelace Reset Method. It’s a one-time process that makes a big difference in fit, comfort, and performance.
Here’s how it works:
Step-by-Step: Shoelace Reset Method
- Completely loosen the laces on your shoe — all the way down to the toe box. Don’t just loosen the top few eyelets; you want full flexibility across the entire shoe.
- With the Ultra Zoom already on your ankle, place your foot into the shoe.
- Begin re-tightening the laces from the toe up, allowing the shoe to mold to the new shape of your foot with the brace on.
- Adjust the tension to what feels snug but comfortable — not overly tight.
That’s it. You’ll only need to do this once for each new pair of shoes.
Why It Matters
This process gives your shoe a customized fit around the brace, ensuring:
- Maximum comfort
- Stable support
- Optimal performance of the Ultra Zoom’s Protected Movement
Skipping this step can result in difficulty fitting your foot and ankle brace into the shoe. It can also lead to uneven pressure, poor fit, or a feeling that the brace is “too bulky” — when in reality, it just needs the shoe to be properly reset.
Taking a few extra seconds to do this makes a significant difference in how the brace feels and performs from day one.
Section 6: Conclusion & Final Tips
Wearing the right shoe with your ankle brace can be the difference between discomfort and game-ready confidence. With a performance brace like the Ultra Zoom, matching it with the right type of shoe ensures it functions the way it was designed — providing protected movement, comfort, and support through every play.
Key Takeaways:
- Brand doesn’t matter — design does. Look for low-cut, lace-up athletic shoes without a sleeve or collar design.
- Avoid high-tops with the Ultra Zoom, as they can restrict hinge movement and cause pressure points.
- If you prefer high-tops, consider the Ultra 360 Lace-Up, which fits more easily inside snug collars.
- Always use the Shoelace Reset Method when first fitting the Ultra Zoom into your shoe for best results.
- Never judge the brace’s fit or bulk without wearing it inside a shoe — it’s built to be worn with footwear and may feel loose when tried on without one.
By following these guidelines, you’ll get the most out of your Ultra Zoom — helping you stay on the court, play at your best, and protect your ankles without sacrificing comfort or mobility.
Explore the Ultra Zoom
Explore the Ultra 360 Lace-Up
Need more help with fitting?
Watch our quick video to see the Ultra Zoom in action:
Ultra Zoom Fitting Video