solotripper wrote on Mar 16^th, 2017 at 2:14pm:

I think ankle support is over-rated in that it's your muscle/tendon strength that supports your foot/ankle action. Now ankle IMPACT protection is another thing. You see plenty of NBA players wearing low-cut shoes now and they twist and turn their ankles with more sheer force than we will on a portage. Now IF you have a previous ankle injury from sports/accident and have actual physical damage then a higher boot laced tight or one of those slip on ankle/foot braces might be needed.   I don't think there IS one perfect boot because everyone is a different size, the  load they carry, body weight, the way the walk, all play a part.

I agree with ST's assessment re: ankles.  That's why PJ's approach, "sneakers" (and ,yes, that's how I still refer to them, too), works for some folks.

That's also why it DOESN'T work for me.  I broke/sprained each of my ankles so many times playing basketball in my younger days that I lost count.  I remember 4 casts but it might have been 6.  I only bothered with them when something was truly "broken"... and usually I broke the cast off after 3-4 weeks (which probably explains my frequent ankle issues, but I was anxious to get back out & "play ball").

Anyway, I haven't broken them in about 30 years and don't wish to get into that habit again.  "High top" sneaks, alone, won't do it for me.  I usually played ball with so many wraps around my ankles that it looked like I was afflicted with elephantiasis!

ST is right.  The best footwear is not a one-size/brand-fits-all-situations solution.  I envy PJ's healthy ankles and ST's aboriginals who took better care of their feet than I did back when it mattered.

Jimbo   8-)