Discussion: o-shoes with ankle support- any good?

is anbody using this jalas or VJ shoes with ankle support? can they succesfully replace taping. At least for training?

boris bauman

I love my Jalas! I would have had 3-4 season ending injuries if I wasn't wearing them.

I tried them couple of times but found them quite bulky and too warm especially during summer won't recomend for a fast runner. Personaly, I recommend Active ankle supports: light, serve their purpose 100%, durable, easy to use. I've used them for over a year, had no ankle related injuries since them. A&E Orienteering Supplys should have them in stock.

I used the active ankle before the Jala's. They gave me blisters as they would leverage my heel up as I ran. You should try them out before committing the dollars. For the price and weight of the shoe plus active ankles, you could have a pair of jalas. Gaiters to me are much more bothersome in the heat than my shoes.

I've had good luck with Active Ankle supports as well. I prefer the "T1" model -- it has two straps instead of one. See:

http://www.activeankle.com/

As far as fit goes, I have found that it is important to thread the shoe lace through the little hole on the side. This keeps the support from rotating and slipping (It might prevent the lifting jeffw refers to; don't know for sure.) I trash the little foam heel pad as in combination with the support it is too much heel lift. And if the shoes you wear have a removable insert put the support under the insert. YMMV.

I sprained my ankle badly in Aug. 2000. Used Active Ankle for about a year and half. It's good unless you're out for a long period of time. I developed a nasty blister under my heel callus on one foot during a Billygoat from movement of the Active Ankle side support.

Last year I purchased the Jalas with ankle support. Unfortunately I was unable to get a proper size for my foot (wide Jalas were not yet available here) and wearing the shoes did not support the bottom of my foot well and I developed plantar fasciitis (see discussion). Anyone want to buy a pair of slightly used, size 7 high-top Jalas?{} But they DID support my ankles and prevented further injury there.

If you can get the high-top shoes fitted properly they should provide ankle support without any rubbing problems you might get from using Active Ankle. If I could get a pair to fit my wide feet, I'd get them again.

I used to run in high tops (trail shoes, not O-shoes) and found they worked well, but ultimately found that I didn't need them.

I've never used Active Ankles, but I know that Dave Frei uses them in all events, including 24-hour. To get around the rubbing/heel lift problems mentioned above, he removes the heel pad and runs the active ankle under the insole. He remounts the heel pad on the ankle portion to reduce the pressure there. Seems to work well for him.

A&E Orienteering sells the Olway X-way which is equivalent to the Jala Cross-Control only wider.

Lyn and I have both been running primarily on trails or in the woods for the last four years. We run in either light weight running shoes (lighter the better) or O-shoes - low cut. Running on the trails has developed a different style and strength from our previous road running - looser, lighter. Yes we have turned our ankles quite a few times but land light and keep going. No injuries to date. (Tempting fate I'm sure.)

Definitely would be concerned about rubbing of an active ankle type thing.

I have used both Jalas, shoe with ankle support and something similar as the "Active Ankle". I'm currently using Jalas and have never had any injure when I have used those, but the "Active ankle" is a very good alternative.

Jalas:
+ Comfort
+ No blisters
- Weight of shoe
- Fixed to one pair of shoes

Ankle Support:
+ Can be moved between different type of shoes
- Blisters

My recommendation: Jalas if you are running a lot in the terrain. ( Not on trails and paths). "Active Ankle" if you mostly run on trails/paths and need extra ankle support.

VJ has discontinued thier Hi-Tops :(

I used to use active ankles, but now I do not need or use them. If you have healthy ankles I would not recommend ankle support, but if you have bad ankles they can get you back in the woods alot sooner.

A&E has stopped selling shoes. Go Orienteering has picked up their remaining shoes and has added Jalas to their catalog.

So who sell's O-Shoes now in the US? Go & the Bermans? I'm in need of another pair, hopefully broken in before the Team Trials in a little under 4 months.

Anybody know what events Go & the Berman's will be set up at between now and, say, mid-March? I like trying them on before buying...

You'd have to ask Gail to be sure, but he usually makes it to the Flying Pig. I expect he'll be at our meet in St. Louis as well, but that's not until mid-April.