7iDP Control Ankle Brace – First Look
Ankles are incredibly complicated joints, and once you’ve knackered one take a lot of looking after. Dan Yates straps the 7iDP Control Brace onto his bad leg for a first look.
7iDP’s designer Nick has a dodgy ankle, and while he had his feet up he started looking into a brace that would support him as he recovered and got back on the bike. Being the sort of guy that he is, he just ended up making his own. The design shares similarities with the front of a snowboard boot, and is designed around remaining active and still being able to ride.
-Light weight, 3D air mesh body provides comfort and 360 degrees of stability
-Custom injection moulded flex section inserts in to tongue
-0.75mm Synthetic suede sole is as thin and supportive as possible
-Slim polyester webbing structural lace system distributes tension evenly around the ankle
-Vented elastic Achilles panel prevents cramping and pressure on heel
-Central tongue daisy chain keep tongue in centre at all times
-Easy access to a swollen ankle
-Stress points bar tack stitched for extra strength
-Sizes – S/M-L/XL (UK5-8 /8-12)
-RRP £29.99 (for one)
Doubtless you’ve seen the slow-mo shots of Brandon Semenuk and others pulling the laces tights on ankle braces before sending enormous drops in comfort and style. As well as helping support healthy ankles during massive moves, these braces also help support recovering or weak ankles during more mortal adventures. Luckily we know just the bloke to strap one of these on, North Wales adventurer Dan Yates.
Tell us about the state of your ankle? What have you done to it, and what’s been done to fix it?
In March 2015 I over jumped on a snowboard and landed beyond the downslope. My right Achilles tendon snapped and my ankle dislocated. Upon relocating ankle (by standing up!) I sustained a displaced medial malleolus fracture. I boarded down and was taken in for surgery that day and had native tendon repair on Achilles tendon and medial malleolus fixation with a screw.
Around 3 months in a cast followed by orthopaedic boot followed by nearly a year of rehab. This hasn’t been terribly successful. Malleolus fixation has been good, the screw has stayed in, but the Achilles has healed long leaving limited push off, calf atrophy and a susceptibility to over dorso-flex. (Dorso-flex is where the toes come up towards the shin bone)
What are you looking for from an ankle support?
I’m after physical protection of the medial malleolus and protection from over dorso-flexing particularly when landing jumps whilst standing on pedals.
What will it get used for? What kind of biking? What about other sports?
When I’m mountain biking, it’s on a slack steel hardtail. Local trail centre riding along with natural mountain riding in Snowdonia. I will be interested in the ability to use the brace whitewater kayaking to support the ankle in case of head on impacts. I would also be interested in using the brace for mountain scrambling whilst wearing approach shoes to test its suitability for that.
First impressions of the brace?
So far, it looks great. It fits well, I can get it nice and tight and it definitely helps keep my ankle more stable.
Dan tends not to do things by halves, so the brace is due some heavy use in the mountains of Snowdonia. If you feel your ankle needs support, one of these could do the trick.
Pictures Tom Laws and James Shrimpton
