The 6 Best Shoes With Ankle Support of 2023 (2024)

There are countless shoes on the market that offer ankle support. If you’re working out and need additional ankle support then you’ll want to consider options that have deeper or more rigid boot constructions.

Whether you want a low-profile shoe with ankle support or a high-top shoe for training there are so many options that can work for different training styles if you spend a little time researching your best options.

When reviewing cross-training shoes, I constantly make categories where shoes work well in the context of performance and fit asks. All of the shoes featured in this list do a good job of providing additional boot support for training.

Best Men’s Shoes With Ankle Support

When considering and testing the best men’s shoes with ankle support I’m considering how a shoe fits for men’s foot anatomity. I’m also considering its overall performance along with the amount of ankle support it provides in different training settings.

Top Pick: Adidas Dropset Trainer 2

• Pros: Great shoe for lifting, reinforced and rigid boot for ankle support, anatomical wider toe box
• Cons: Not great for running
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 6mm
• Weight: 9.85 oz(for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: True to Size
• Read My Review:Adidas Dropset Trainer 2 Review
• Runner-Up: Reebok Nano X3

The Adidas Dropset Trainer 2 can be a good option for guys with the need for additional ankle support. This shoe’s boot has a nice level of rigidity and it has a nice “locked-down” feeling when training.

In some ways, this shoe somewhat feels like a traditional weightlifting shoe which are shoes typically known for their rigidity and additional support through their uppers and ankles/boots.

The dual-density midsole in the Dropset Trainer 2 is great for blending lifting with athletic-style workouts. That said, if you’re someone who likes to push heavy squats and deadlifts then add plyometrics and similar exercises to your sessions you’ll like this shoe.

If you train like an “athlete” every week and you like additional boot support then it’s tough to fault the Dropset Trainer 2’s performance. This shoe has a bias for lifting and will work well for your heaviest sessions.

Best Women’s Shoes With Ankle Support

The best women’s cross-training shoes with ankle support need to have two key aspects to be performers. First, they need to fit and accommodate the anatomy of a woman’s foot. Second, they need to provide a nice level of ankle support for a variety of training styles.

Top Pick: TYR CXT-1 Trainer

• Pros: Good option if you love high heel-to-toe drops, rigid boot construction, great well-rounded performance
• Cons: Can feel like “a lot” of shoe for some, rope climbing durability can be variable
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 9mm
• Weight: 12.65 oz (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: True to Size
• Read My Review:TYR CXT-1 Trainer Review
• Runner-Up: Inov-8 F-Lite G 300

The TYR CXT-1 Trainer can be a great pick for women who need ankle support for things like lifting, cross-training, and versatile workouts. This shoe’s boot has a nice rigid cup to it which is for additional lock-down support.

On top of its ankle support, the CXT-1 Trainer also tends to fit women’s foot anatomies well. This shoe tends to be form-fitting for women’s feet and the normal models run a little more on the medium-width side and they also have a “wide” option.

Another performance feature of the CXT-1 Trainer is that it has a higher 9mm heel-to-toe drop compared to its peers. This can be great for women who need a shoe with a little more heel to support lower-body exercises like squats and thrusters.

The Surge NRG foam midsole in this shoe walks a fine line between being stable for heavy training but responsive for HIIT and explosive exercises. This shoe is a good “all-arounder” for women needing ankle support in the gym.

Best Shoes With Ankle Support for Wide Feet

When assessing the best cross-training with ankle support for wide feet I’m looking into two features. The first is the width of the shoe and if it’s a good model for wide feet. The second aspect I’m considering is the ankle support that comes along with it.

Top Pick: Reebok Nano X2

• Pros: Good well-rounded performance, rigid boot with wider last construction, knit upper breathes well
• Cons: Rope climbing durability can be hit or miss, arch can be off-putting for flatter feet
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 7mm
• Weight: 11.9 oz (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: For wider feet, you should be safe going true-to-size in the Nano X2.
• Read My Review:Reebok Nano X2 Review

The Reebok Nano X2 is taking my top pick shoes with ankle support that are a little more wide feet friendly. The Nano X2 has a fairly wide last construction and it should accommodate foot widths up to an E-width with relative ease (that’s my foot width).

This model has a slightly higher boot construction with external TPU clips to provide an additional locked-down feeling when training. I feel like the Nano X2 walks the fine line between giving you more boot without it causing rub issues like the Nano X1 had.

Performance-wise, the Reebok Nano X2 is a good hybrid-style training shoe that can hold its own for heavy lifting, HIIT workouts, and some casual CrossFit. I like the Floatride Energy foam midsole in this model and think it does a good job with stability and versatility.

I think this model will work best for athletes and lifters who like to lift every week and also add in some short runs and HIIT workouts. Do note, that if you plan to use this model exclusively for CrossFit, then you may run into some midsole durability issues when j-wrap rope climbing.

Best Shoes With Ankle Support for Functional Fitness

When assessing the shoes with ankle support for CrossFit I’m trying to consider how the shoe does for this specific style of training. Below, I’m going to provide two options including one low-top and one high-top shoe.

For my functional fitness testing, I’m assessing how a shoe’s ankle support does for things like heavy lifting, double-unders, box jumps, and exercises that you’ll commonly find in WODs.

Top Pick (Low-Top): RAD ONE

• Pros: Good ankle support without feeling like it’s “too much”, highly responsive midsole, great for functional workouts
• Cons: Toe box can feel a little narrow, not the most rigid boot you can get(go Nano X3 if you want more)
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 6mm
• Weight: 12.7 oz(for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: R.A.D recommends going up a half size, I went true and they fit fine (more on that in my review article)
• Read My Review:R.A.D ONE Review
• Runner-Up: Reebok Nano X3

If you’re not a fan of high-top shoes for CrossFit, then the RAD ONE can be a really good option to look into. There is a lot to like about the RAD ONE and for being a low-top shoe, they provide a fair amount of ankle support.

Must Read: 9 Best CrossFit Shoes | Picks for Flat Feet, Rope Climbs, and More

The boot of this model has a good level of structure and an internal heel cup to provide the ankle with a little more security. In this model, the heel counter angles inward slightly so you have a nice level of “hug” around the ankle when training in this shoe.

In the context of CrossFit, this model is what I would describe as an “all-in-one” style shoe. They perform well for heavy lifting and don’t beat your feet up when tackling workouts that include short runs and a lot of jumping.

The Swellfoam midsole and 360 outsole wrap around this shoe also help prolong this model’s durability and rope climbing performance. For a low-top CrossFit shoe with ankle support, it’s really hard to fault the RAD ONE’s performance.

Top Pick (High-Top): NOBULL High-Top Trainer

• Pros: Good level of boot and ankle support for training, great for daily wear, dense midsole is stable
• Cons: Upper lacks breathability, can be a pain to get on and off
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 4mm
• Weight: 11.2 oz(for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: True to Size
• Read My Review: NOBULL High-Top Trainer Review
• Runner-Up High-Top Model: GORUCK Ballistic Trainers Mid-Top

If you’d rather have a high-top cross-training shoe with ankle support for functional fitness, then the NOBULL High-Top Trainer is a good option to explore. This model’s boot and upper construction help provide a nice level of ankle support.

The SuperFabric upper in this shoe is pretty rigid, so if you crank the laces tight, then you’ll get a lot of support around the ankle when training. Plus, this shoe features an internal heel cup which is nice for providing additional ankle support.

In the context of CrossFit, the NOBULL High-Top Trainer has two key performance areas going for it. First, is this model’s durability. I’m going two years strong with my model and they’re still holding up pretty well despite some outsole fading.

Second, this model provides a high degree of stability for heavy training, which is great for those who want this model for both lifting and CrossFit workouts. It’s a good all-in-one style high-top shoe for CrossFit and heavy training.

Best Shoes With Ankle Support for HIIT

When testing training shoes with ankle support for HIIT I’m mostly concerned with the support a shoe provides when jumping, doing agility-focused training, and tackling versatile styles of workout.

Top Pick: Reebok Nano X3

• Pros: Floatride Energy Foam is responsive yet stable, LAR provides additional ankle support, upper has good security
• Cons: Can feel clunky and heavy at times
• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 7mm
• Weight: 13.8 oz(for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• Sizing: Narrow/Neutral-width feet, size down a half size. Wide feet, go true to size.
• Read My Review:Reebok Nano X3 Review
• Runner-Up: Nike Free Metcon 5

The Reebok Nano X3 can be a solid shoe with ankle support when tackling circuit-style training. What makes the Nano X3 great in the context of giving you additional support is its Lift and Run Chassis System.

This system not only adds a nice element of stability and versatility to this shoe but it also adds a nice layer of structure boot support. The TPU used in this system wraps around the ankle which is great for additional lateral stability.

In the context of HIIT workouts, the Nano X3’s Floatride Energy Foam midsole does a good job at giving you a nice level of bounce when doing things like jump rope, box and tuck jumps, and lateral exercises.

This is a good model to explore if you need ankle support for all of your training in the gym and you want a singular workout shoe that can pretty much do it all when it comes to lifting, HIIT, CrossFit, and short runs.

Are Training Shoes Supportive?

When discussing the topic of training shoes being supportive, it can be better to define what exactly you’re looking for when seeking support in training shoes. For example, are you looking for arch support, ankle support, or general support for lifting?

All of these support questions can be important to consider because if you can better define what you want out of your cross-training, then you can find and use models that match your specific training and anatomical wants and needs.

In the case of this article, we’re talking about ankle support specifically. When it comes to ankle support, not every cross-training shoe will provide similar levels of ankle support.

Construction aspects like boot height, external heel clips, and internal heel cups can all play a role in the level of ankle support a cross-training shoe will provide. Typically for ankle support, you’ll want cross-training shoes that have more rigid heel and boot construction.

These construction elements will feed into a shoe’s ability to lock down the foot and provide ankle support, stability, and motion control when doing things like lifting, CrossFit workouts, HIIT, and explosive athletic-style training.

What Qualifies a Shoe to Have Ankle Support?

In the case of working out and ankle support, you’ll want shoes that have a high degree of stability with more rigid midsole materials and boot constructions that assist with motion control and ankle support.

The blending of these two characteristics will help ensure the cross-training shoes in question support those with ankles that may lack adequate strength to support the demands of cross-training.

It’s also important to consider that different athletes and lifters may respond differently to certain pairs of cross-training shoes. Anatomical differences and varied strength levels can influence what cross-training shoes with ankle support will be best for you.

What Is the Cause of Weak Ankles?

There can be multiple reasons why someone may have weak ankles. Outside of genetic components that can influence ankle strength, lower-body injuries can also lead to weak ankles.

More specifically, if you injure something like your knee and you’re not putting your body’s full weight on the injured leg for an extended period, then you can run into some loss of strength in the ankle.

This is due to the lack of daily stress that you’re placing on the joint. The lack of movement through the ankle’s normal range of motion in addition to the lack of loading can cause muscles to atrophy and become a bit weaker over time along with the tissues surrounding the ankle.

In the case of injuries, they happen and they’re not the end of the world. If you can get ahead of knowing that your ankles may have become weaker due to a lower-body injury, then you can use the correct gear and program to help you get back to your normal strength levels.

For example, if you know your ankle(s) may have lost strength, then using a shoe with more ankle support to help you transition and rebuild strength can be a really good strategy call.

Takeaway Thoughts

There are multiple reasons why athletes and lifters may opt for shoes with ankle support. With countless options on the market that will work for different contexts, there’s likely a solid shoe with ankle support for you.

Whether it’s your personal preference or a strategy call to help you ease back into training while improving ankle strength slowly, it can be a good idea to look into models that will better fit your training needs and wants.

If you have additional questions about the shoes with ankle support featured in this article, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly and @that_fit_friend).