The 10 Best Fracture Boots

The Aircast AirSelect Standard comes from one of the best-known names in walking boots, and it's a sensible default for a broken ankle or lower leg. A semi-rigid shell wraps the leg, and two air cells near the foot pump up to hug the ankle as swelling rises and falls. A cushioned heel and curved sole help you walk more naturally, and it fits either foot. The Elite version adds fuller air cells. It costs more than store-brand boots.

For a broken bone in the foot or a heel injury, the United Ortho Short Air Cam covers the injury without wrapping the whole calf. It stops below mid-shin, so it's cooler and lighter around the house. A hand pump fills an air bladder for a snugger hold, and the plastic uprights carry steel inside for strength. Tracing your foot on paper gives the best size match. The low height holds the ankle less firmly.

With no pump or air cells, the United Ortho Cam Walker is a plain tall boot that relies on straps alone. Four of them run up the calf, and plastic uprights with steel inside keep the ankle and lower leg still. A curved sole and cushioned insole help each step roll forward, and a guide in the box shows how to strap it on. When swelling drops, only a thicker sock or padding fills the gaps.

Toe and forefoot injuries get room in the BraceAbility Short Walking Boot, which has an open toe and a wide foot bed for swelling and bandages. A rigid plastic shell guards both sides of the foot and ankle, and a thick foam liner pads the inside. The low, curved sole helps you step more naturally. BraceAbility lists it for broken toes, stress fractures and recovery after bunion surgery. There's no air pump, so the straps do all the fitting.

Ossur, the Icelandic company best known for prosthetic legs, makes the Ossur Rebound Air Walker in this tall version and a low one. Linked air cells on both sides fill from a pump near the top, so the squeeze stays even across the ankle. Vented panels let some heat out, and a padded heel softens each step on the rocker sole. Ossur shares little detail about the liner, so check the size chart closely before ordering.

The kefit Air Walking Boot puts a built-in air bag and pump into a low-cost boot. Aluminum braces on both sides follow the shape of the leg, and the rocker sole helps each step roll through. The air bag can be topped up or let out as swelling changes from week to week, and thick, soft insoles add cushion. Kefit is a little-known label without a clinical track record, and its sizes run small, so check the chart.

Ovation Medical, a family-run U.S. company, built the Ovation Medical Gen 2 to sit low and stay light. A slim sole means less height difference between your legs, and the maker says many wearers can skip a shoe leveler. The pump lets air out with one button and is designed not to inflate on its own. Flared side struts make room for wider calves. It's a fairly new design without much of a track record yet.

Air bladders on the inner and outer sides of the United Ortho 360 Air Walker press in from both directions, which the maker says helps control swelling. Its semi-rigid, streamlined shell is lighter than a solid one, and a rocker sole keeps your stride closer to normal. United Ortho also lists it for recovery after Achilles tendon repair, and a guard covers the toes. Sizes run smaller than the brand's other boots, so measure first.

Many broken toes and bunion surgeries call for a stiff-soled shoe rather than a full boot, and the BraceAbility Closed Toe Shoe fills that role. Because it's a shoe, it leaves the ankle free. The square, closed toe box makes room for swelling and dressings and keeps bandages cleaner outdoors. A rigid rocker sole stops the front of the foot from bending as you walk. It won't protect an ankle or a break higher in the foot.

Built for torn Achilles tendons, the VACOped Achilles has a hinge a clinician sets to limit ankle bend, then opens in stages as you heal. Inside, a bead-filled cushion molds to the foot and firms up when air is drawn out. OPED also lists it for ankle and heel fractures. The liner washes, and you may swim in it with a doctor's OK. It costs several times as much as a basic boot.