The ASO Speed Lacer Ankle Brace: Product Review
The ASO Speed Lacer ankle brace is one of the dozens of ankle stabilizers on the market today. I am a long-time user of the Med Spec ASO Ankle Stabilizer with manual shoe string style ties. The speed lace closure appealed to me because sometimes, I simply want something I can slip on more quickly and get on the court.
Here are the 3 things you will take away from this article.
- What I liked best about this ankle brace.
- One reason you may not want to buy this brace.
- If you decide to buy it, where you can get the best price.
The ASO Speed Lacer Ankle Brace at a Glance
First of all, you may be wondering: “what exactly is an ASO ankle brace used for?” Let’s cover that first.
Essentially, an ASO (ankle stabilizing orthosis) ankle brace is designed to hold the wearer’s ankle in a neutral position.
When you have injured your ankle, the most important thing is making sure that it heals properly. The neutral positioning provided by the ASO ankle brace will promote proper healing and help prevent further injury while the wearer is engaging in physical activity.
Now, on to the speed lacer itself. Let’s look at what makes the ASO Speed Lacer ankle brace different from other ASO ankle braces on the market. I will also give you some pros and cons of the stabilizer so you can make an informed decision on whether this is the brace for you.
The Good
The ASO Speed Lacer ankle brace was my candidate to replace my Mueller ankle braces that slip on with simple velcro straps. I normally wear them for everyday play since they are easy to get on and off. If I have recently tweaked an ankle I normally wear a brace for grade 2 ankle sprains like the Mcdavid MD 461. Here are a few highlights that I found important:
Sturdy Support, Easy Application
The ASO Speed Lacer ankle brace is the best of both worlds: it provides reliable support while being easy to put on, wear, and remove. Again, my main purpose for trying these was to be able to quickly get them on.
The ASO Speed Lacer provides both a belt and suspenders, figuratively speaking. Essentially, the laces are pulled over and attach to the other side with velcro lace closures. You can equate this to how quickly your 5-year-old can put on his velcro strapped shoes vs. his tie-up shoes. this is a very similar concept. Then you use the “figure 8” straps to replicate ankle taping just like on ASO’s other tie-up models.
The other annoying problem this removes is the velcro of the “figure 8” straps constantly getting caught up in the knot and bow of the shoe strings. That alone gives this brace an advantage as long it proves to have similar support to tie-up models over the course of time.
If you are buying these, you may want to wait to buy the shoes you plan to wear with them until you have the ankle braces so that your shoes fit better. Otherwise, it may be too tight.
Low Profile
The ASO Speed Lacer ankle brace is comfortable, easy to fasten, and doesn’t stand out. You can easily slip a shoe over your ASO Speed Lacer, which makes it ideal for cyclists, footballers, and basketball players looking for extra support.
On top of that, the ASO Speed Lacer’s black design means it won’t attract too much attention or clash with whatever else you are wearing if you need to wear it while recovering in non-athletic settings.
Inclusive and Comprehensive Sizing
Some ankle braces are one size fits all. There’s no inherent problem with that, but we prefer the ASO Speed Lacer’s approach to ankle brace sizing.
The brace accommodates most foot sizes. You can use the ASO sizing chart below and you’re shoe size in inches to get the correct size without needing to try it on in advance.
Well Reviewed
I always look at reviews before I make a purchase. ASO is a good brand and I would normally try their products without a lot of research. But, I wanted to at least get a feel for what the public thought of this brace.
According to Amazon’s customer reviews, the ASO Speed Lacer ankle brace has been reviewed 400 times, and over 65% of reviewers gave it five stars vs. 5% one-star reviews. I normally throw out the highs and lows and look at reviews in the middle. But 65% was so high that I didn’t dig through too many since this is an established long-standing brand.
The Bad
Of course, no product is perfect, and anything with velcro (foreshadowing here) will not be the exception. Here are a few things I would change about the ASO Speed Lacer ankle brace if they took my feedback for the next round of improvements.
The Price
The ASO Speed Lacer ankle brace is a piece of standard first aid equipment.
On Amazon, it retails for around $50. That is a price point reserved, in my opinion, for grade 2 type ankle support. By contrast, you can normally get my grade 1 type Mueller braces for between $15 to $25. After wearing it for a while I will make the judgment on whether it can replace my grade 2 ankle braces.
This price isn’t exorbitant by any means. But, compared to its similarly-rated competitors on Amazon (whose prices typically range between $19 and $40), the ASO Speed Lacer is on the higher end. That said, if you look around my basketball court, ASO is the most popular brand.
Easy to Apply But The Velcro Will Wear Out
In our list of the ASO Speed Lacer’s good qualities, we talk about how easy this product is to put on and take off. However, this ankle brace has velcro. This is great, but as with any product with velcro, it will eventually lose its “grippiness” and will have to be replaced. If this becomes your everyday ankle brace just put that into the price of playing your sport.
Troublesome Shipping and Returns
While ASO products are usually high quality, now and then, even a good manufacturer ships out a lemon. Some reviewers complain that the company did not all them to return their ankle braces. Others complain that the shipping was slow, which can be a significant problem because if you are ordering an ankle brace, you probably need it right away.
The ASO Speed Lacer ankle brace is a piece of first aid equipment. If it isn’t delivered to the buyer in time, they could sustain an injury or see a present ankle injury worsen.
How To Size Your Ankle for An Ankle Brace
This is not a sports-related video but this video does a good job explaining how to size your ankle for an ankle brace. Go ahead and make the measurement and compare it to the sizing chart provided by our chart or directly at the vendor site.
Final Thoughts
All in all, I am liking the ASO Speed Lacer ankle brace! It is easy to wear, and it provides good support so far. The ASO Speed Lacer breathable nylon boot is worth your time if:
- You’re looking for sturdy, reliable ankle support
- You prefer a discrete ankle brace
- You’re big on comfort and convenience
However, you may want to steer clear of the ASO Speed Lacer if you are concerned about the following:
- You’re hesitant to pay a premium price
- Need a heavier-duty brace for grade 2 or 3 ankle sprains
- You need your ankle brace ASAP (most brick-and-mortar stores don’t carry them)
If you are looking for extra support on your daily jog or need some support after a minor ankle injury, then the ASO Speed Lacer is definitely worth your time.
Troy Wright
I am a lifetime basketball enthusiast and loved playing basketball competitively through high school. I still try and play at least 3 times a week and explore all kinds of equipment and training to keep myself on the court and continually getting better. I am a college basketball fanatic and move onto the NBA when March Madness ends.
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