Supports & Braces

Both sleeves and braces serve the core purpose of providing targeted support to a particular area of the body.

While the terms are often used interchangeably, we often consider a product to be a "sleeve" when it's made entirely or almost entirely of fabric, which enables the product to stretch and be relatively flexible. Braces, on the other hand, typically are made of materials such as plastic and other rigid materials which will not stretch and flex.

Sleeves and braces are great at enhancing support, preventing injury, and enhancing stability for a particular area of the body that might be bothering you.

While insoles, socks, and footwear provide support for the foot, sleeves and braces can provide support not only for the foot but also the ankle, calf, knee, and back.

The short answer is yes. Foot and ankle sleeves can be worn along with your socks and shoes without problem. The two things that we would advise, however, are:

1. We do not recommend wearing a foot sleeve alongside a supportive/compression sock. If you are wearing a foot sleeve, wear a standard sock without compression.
2. Be mindful of how much room is in your shoes. While most foot sleeves are thin, if you wear thin socks and tight-fitting shoes normally, the addition of a foot sleeve might make it so there's not sufficient room in the shoes for your feet.

For foot sleeves and foot braces, our general advice is to purchase the size sleeve that most closely corresponds to the shoe size you wear most often. If you typically wear a Men's 10 shoe and your sleeve size options are for a "Men's 7-9" or "Men's 10-12," you should go for the "Men's 10-12" size.

Foot sleeves fit snugly in order to best support the foot, and in general we never recommend sizing up or down for a tighter or looser fit. However, if you're between two sizes, we do recommend sizing up.

For sleeves and braces worn on other parts of the body, such as the knee or calf, look closely at the product sizing instructions and size chart, then order the size that most closely matches your own body's measurements.

Some of our sleeves and braces are covered by a Wear Test Guarantee, which allows you to wear and use the items for a certain amount of time while still allowing you to return them for any reason so long as your return is started within that time window. This is a great way to try out a new sleeve or brace while still being able to make a return if it just doesn't work out for you.

Sleeves and braces without a Wear Test Guarantee, however, cannot be returned for any reason. If a sleeve or brace you're interested in doesn't have a Wear Test Guarantee and you have questions about the product before you purchase, please contact our Customer Support team!