Fairtex Ankle Supports Review

Fairtex Ankle Supports Review

Brand

Fairtex are a popular manufacturer of fight equipment, dominantly focused on Muay Thai. The company is based in Thailand and is widely popular, both there and internationally. Originally founded in the 1970s, Fairtex have a long history of producing top quality, handmade equipment, endorsed by many gyms across the world.

Visuals

The Fairtex Ankle Supports come in 4 colour choices. Black with red outlining, black with red outlining, neon green with white outlining, and neon pink with white outlining. As you can tell, the first two are both rather understated while the other two are both rather vibrant. I’ve used the black version with blue highlights, so unfortunately can’t comment on how the colour of the green and pink versions is. The ankle supports have a pretty minimal look to them, and the darker versions almost look in line with many other Fairtex products such as the BGV1 Boxing Gloves, with most of the focus being on the logo itself. The ankle supports aren’t necessarily anything special visually, however the two colourful options make them a little more appealing to those who like to add a splash of colour to their training/fighting outfit.

Materials

The ankle supports are a heavy-duty poly/cotton blend, which gives them a little bit of elasticity, as well as being thick enough to provide a tiny amount of extra protection, whilst still remaining comfortable. The supports themselves don’t have any built in curve to them, but are flexible and elasticated enough that they form to the shape of the foot when worn. The pair are identical, so aren’t specific to each foot, which is fairly typical, and the pair are designed to be ‘one size fits all’, which means the fit is good, but isn’t ever as perfect as it could be. The supports are fitted really well, and fit skinnier ankles comfortably, while having enough stretch to accommodate larger ankles/feet as well.

Comfort/use

I personally have occasional issues with my feet and ankles, and while they are never a problem, I find it reassuring to wear ankle supports, almost as a preventative measure. As with most ankle supports, these do a good job at holding the foot tight, supporting the ankle, and keeping the joint slightly warmer. The heat around the joint is especially important as it increases blood flow and oxygen transfer to the muscles and tissues, and at the same time allows the skin to ‘breathe’ through the material, both of which are helpful for preventing and healing foot injuries. Ankle supports in general are also great for beginners who aren’t accustomed to kicking hard pads and stops the stinging of the pads, allowing them to kick harder and condition their insteps more gradually.

In terms of fit, these are okay. As mentioned previously, they’re a universal fit relying mainly on the elasticity, although I find they sit into a natural position on my feet. The seams around the edges of the material are slightly bulky however, you need to make sure they are in the right place otherwise it can start to dig in after a long session. These seams also have a slight overlap where the material doubles up. On mine these both sit on the right (so just underneath the inside of my left foot and just underneath the outside of my right foot), so I find it slightly more comfortable to very slightly twist the support around the foot to ensure I’m not stepping on this slight lump.

The ankle supports don’t really have any effect on the grip of your feet. They also tend to pick up any dirt on the floor/mats easily, so it’s a good idea to remember to keep them clean.

Cost

The Fairtex Ankle Supports are around £10 depending where you look. This is a fairly average price for ankle supports. Some brands may have cheaper alternatives, however other Thai brands tend to be somewhere between £9 and £16. These are a good pair of ankle supports which I found to fit well, although a little more thought put into the craftsmanship (especially regarding the seams) would have improved these.

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