January 24, 2001


What's a good pair of rugged boots for a guy with weak ankles?

I used to wrestle and work out intensively back in college and as a result, I have a 5-foot, 10-inch, 200-pound figure. Now I am in my late 20s and my new passion is outdoor sports. However, having an unusually heavy upper body and a 40- to 50-pound backpack in my back isn't really easy on my poor skinny ankles. Currently my trekking boots are German made Hanwag Alaskan Gore with 2.6 to 2.8mm full grain nubuck. Last month I went trekking in Annapurna region and these boots didn't quite do the magic for my bad ankles. What's a good pair of rugged crampon compatible backpacking boots for a guy with weak ankles? Do you know any cool tricks for supporting bad ankles? Thank you very much,

— Chi-Yung Chung Seoul, Korea

So -— you're one of those guys built like an upside-down pyramid, eh?

I'd recommend three courses of action. One is to get a HEAVY backpacking boot -— one that's really more of a mountaineering boot. Candidates would include the La Sportiva Makalu ($245), Salomon Super Mountain 8 ($245), Montrail Mazama ($250) and the Boreal Asan ($280).

But boots can do only so much. The next step is to get some reinforcement for your ankles. What I suggest is that you see an orthopedic surgeon with a sports medicine specialty. Explain your problem to him or her. The doc should be able to prescribe (or sell you on the spot) a pair of heavy ankle braces. Do NOT go to a drugstore and buy some elastic jobs; these won't cut it. What you want will look like a sock that is cut off about halfway between the ankle and the toes. It will have laces up the middle, and two straps that wrap around the ankle in opposite directions, then fasten in place with hook-and-loop closures. It will be made of tough nylon pack cloth and will be completely non-stretch. Of course, make sure you get a model that fits under the boot (I have such a gadget for a bad right ankle, and it fits under nearly anything).

Finally, get some trekking poles. These do wonders, taking weight and strain off your feet, improving your balance, and giving you a chance to "catch" yourself if you feel an ankle starting to roll.