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Skateboarding => Shoes & Gear => Topic started by: gunnarb268912 on November 25, 2025, 08:21:38 AM
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After battling shoe madness last year, I landed on Cons Fastbreaks. They checked the boxes for me: protective enough cupsole that my feet/knees/back doesn't ache after skating, good board feel, good flick, cheap, & available.
I sprained my right ankle in mid-September trying to boardslide a handrail at night without proper warmup...I chalked it up to my own stupidity and skating slightly beyond my ability level. Last week I sprained my other ankle trying to learn kickflip back lip on a ledge. This trick might be slightly above my ability level too, but I have decent kickflips and back lips, so it shouldn't be that far-fetched.
First 2 ankle sprains of my life within 2 months has me questioning the shoes. Has anyone had ankle roll issues with Fastbreaks? Do you change your shoes if you have a bad ankle roll?
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Stopped skating Tyshawn 1s bc I got 3/4 ankle rolls in them. Two of them were multiple months off the board. Now I skate dunks and no ankle rolls that are crazy anymore.
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i do throw out the specific pair of shoes i was wearing for the ankle roll. i dont swear off that type/model of shoe though…
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No experience with Fastbreaks but I skate only high tops. Mostly for peace of mind. The higher collar/shaft does protect some but it's not like it's a structured insert or brace under the fabric that could repel an ankle roll. It's most often just thin foam, if any. Then the material warms and becomes flimsy. Depending on the shoe but at that point I'd wager most would just fold upon impact.
That's what happened after a few ankle rolls in 2023 with the NB#440h (V1). I actually kept skating the shoe when I came back. Then I went to the V2s. It happened trying tricks I rarely ever do. One on flat ground, another on an incline. Very low level sprains if they even rose to that but it was enough to nag me to try PT this summer.
The biggest you can do is rehab correctly and when it's ready, consistently strength train the area (and your entire body, imo) so you become more durable and increase range of motion. Working on deceleration and sudden stops, balance, single leg, foam rolling, stretch. Whole nine yards.
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Stopped skating Tyshawn 1s bc I got 3/4 ankle rolls in them. Two of them were multiple months off the board. Now I skate dunks and no ankle rolls that are crazy anymore.
I’ve pretty much just skated TJ’s after years of ankle problems and they’ve done great for me but they are right on the edge….
I’d recommend trying on shoes and see what works. I’ve skated blazers(too thin) pro models: too floppy. Cabs: low key super dangerous. If I had to do it all over again, I think now I’d try non high shoes but feel the soles as some are more stable and supportive. Ie. to me something like a Tiago is actually more stable than a pair of half cabs, it’s not all in the ankle.
Highs give me a bit of comfort, and a warning system that my ankle is going over. I’d start on all the rehab too and do it for life….
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i do throw out the specific pair of shoes i was wearing for the ankle roll. i dont swear off that type/model of shoe though…
I do this too. Ever since my last ankle roll when I also fractured some bones in my foot a year ago, I've been exclusively skating high tops as well. It offers a little bit of support but is mostly a mental thing for me. As two people have already mentioned, the important part is doing the rehab exercises to actually strengthen your ankle.
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converse are some of the narrowest shoes in existence. wouldn't surprise me if it was the shoes. you've got such a narrow unstable platform that's crunching your toes in, limiting you from using them to their full extent.
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Expand Quote
Stopped skating Tyshawn 1s bc I got 3/4 ankle rolls in them. Two of them were multiple months off the board. Now I skate dunks and no ankle rolls that are crazy anymore.
I’ve pretty much just skated TJ’s after years of ankle problems and they’ve done great for me but they are right on the edge….
I’d recommend trying on shoes and see what works. I’ve skated blazers(too thin) pro models: too floppy. Cabs: low key super dangerous. If I had to do it all over again, I think now I’d try non high shoes but feel the soles as some are more stable and supportive. Ie. to me something like a Tiago is actually more stable than a pair of half cabs, it’s not all in the ankle.
Highs give me a bit of comfort, and a warning system that my ankle is going over. I’d start on all the rehab too and do it for life….
this is the truth. wore .5 cabs/blazer mids for years and #1010 does the best job holding the foot in place or helping prevent extreme pronation/supination on weird landings that lead to a super rolled ankle.
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wait how do people go so many years without ever rolling their ankles?
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Shoes with good heel lock and a low amount of drop from heel to toe help prevent ankle rolls.
High tops too, but only if you lace them tight enough to lock your heel/ankle to the back of the shoe.
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Modern Skate Half Cabs have given me enough ankle rolls to be convinced by feet aren’t compatible with them and I definitely won’t touch them anymore. All the better since Cab is a massive kook anyway
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The best preventative shoe options would be footprint insoles or some decent cupsoles over vulcs? Any doctors able to chime in on whether low, mid or high tops are easier on the ankles?
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Take it how you want but I saw some recent talk about a skater who swears by never lacing his shoes because it prevents ankle roll. I’m still not sure how it works but I think the logic is that his foot comes out the shoe whenever it starts to roll and he hasn’t rolled his ankle since (or maybe ever?).
It makes me remember back in the day, when I was a kid and only skated Nike basketball shoes, I never laced those or if so, very loosely and I don’t remember how it affected ankle roll but that’s how I used to rock it.
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I once rolled my ankle in work boots. My body is the problem, not the footwear.
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Any doctors able to chime in on whether low, mid or high tops are easier on the ankles?
I'm not a doctor but over the past few months I've seen to a few for some health issues and got diagnosed with Ehlers–Danlos Syndrome which gives me hyper-mobility in my joints. During the whole process two different doctors told me to wear high tops since they'll help prevent ankle dislocations so I do think there is some truth to that advice. I don't know if that advice holds true to people without hyper-mobility or other issues but at least in some cases it appears high tops will help protect the ankle from certain injuries.
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I rolled my ankle on labor day this year and it took me out for a good month completely, and even still my foot hasn't felt right. It was probably a grade 2 sprain, not quite 3 but still pretty damn bad. maybe it's cause I'm older now but it's kinda crazy how it's persisted to some mornings I'm still waking up and feeling how stiff it can be and during skating it has weird cramps. I definitely took the shoes I rolled my ankle in to the local and donated em out of superstition. since I had time on my hands being laid up, I researched if high tops actually prevent ankle spraining and the scientific consensus seems to be... not really. I think it moreso has to do with if you have a lot of slop and loose movement in the heel area of the shoes you're wearing. you want something that hugs nicely and keeps em secure, which can definitely be achieved with a low top shoe. and also doing stretches and exercises that encourage ankle flexibility so if you do roll it, it's ready for it.
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You basically want a shoe that has a wide sole, low to the ground and a high top. The Vans Sk8 hi checks all those boxes. That’s the only shoe I skate in. High tops wont prevent an ankle roll but they will help prevent your ankle turning over easier. In other words a bad ankle sprain will only be a minor one if you had hi tops on. After spraining my ankle 4 times in 2 years I made a commitment to myself I will only skate in the Vans Sk8 His because there is nothing worse for your skate progression than an injury.
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You basically want a shoe that has a wide sole, low to the ground and a high top. The Vans Sk8 hi checks all those boxes. That’s the only shoe I skate in. High tops wont prevent an ankle roll but they will help prevent your ankle turning over easier. In other words a bad ankle sprain will only be a minor one if you had hi tops on. After spraining my ankle 4 times in 2 years I made a commitment to myself I will only skate in the Vans Sk8 His because there is nothing worse for your skate progression than an injury.
I also had rolled ankles after a pair of fast breaks- a doctor gave me this same basic advice for a shoe. Also skating super loose trucks I have found helps a lot.
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I have horrible ankles, swapped to Dunk Highs, and now lows... I know I have bad ankles, so once I feel a shoe lose it's lateral stability, regardless of condition, I either donate or sell them. If I do happen to roll my ankle in a pair, they get the boot as well. Interestingly enough, the last two small ankle rolls have been in the same pair of dunks (2025 Black/Gum ISO) not sure what it is about that particular shoe. I usually stick with an all leather, or leather/suede combo dunk and also change the insoles for more stability.
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Rely on your body to do the work first and foremost and get those ankles strong
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converse are some of the narrowest shoes in existence. wouldn't surprise me if it was the shoes. you've got such a narrow unstable platform that's crunching your toes in, limiting you from using them to their full extent.
Actually fastbreaks are the best Converse for wide feet like mine.
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I've written off Adidas Busenitz, Sucui and Axion Genesis due to multiple ankle rolls. Dunk and Japan pro work well for me.
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"Fastbreak" is such a bad name for anything skating related let alone shoes lol
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For sure its 95% the incident and strength that you have on your ankles and 5% on the shoe.
I had really bad sprain yesterday. I cant even walk proper and it happened on the first mid-top/high-top Ive had in like ten years. (És Tom Penny).
The shoes were pretty done, Im not rocking this exact pair anymore, but I do feel tempted on getting another pair. Some really really good skating went down in that shoe.
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After battling shoe madness last year, I landed on Cons Fastbreaks. They checked the boxes for me: protective enough cupsole that my feet/knees/back doesn't ache after skating, good board feel, good flick, cheap, & available.
I sprained my right ankle in mid-September trying to boardslide a handrail at night without proper warmup...I chalked it up to my own stupidity and skating slightly beyond my ability level. Last week I sprained my other ankle trying to learn kickflip back lip on a ledge. This trick might be slightly above my ability level too, but I have decent kickflips and back lips, so it shouldn't be that far-fetched.
First 2 ankle sprains of my life within 2 months has me questioning the shoes. Has anyone had ankle roll issues with Fastbreaks? Do you change your shoes if you have a bad ankle roll?
I was rocking fast breaks to heal a sprain from DB pro adidas stupid ass box spring cupsouls. Those bds almost took me out for fucking ever. It was kinda working. But then I switched to 808s. Now I’m knocking on wood cuz I’m about to tell you I’m healed.
I’m suggesting 808s or 1010s.
I’m currently skating cons again and saving my last pair’s, (plural yo) for the next time I need them. Or until that colour way is valuable or something.
They need to bring those rb&w back. Plz
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"Fastbreak" is such a bad name for anything skating related let alone shoes lol
It's a remake of an old bball shoe. No big deal