While it keeps the foot stable, it is hard where you tie the laces around the ankle, so hard that it hurts the skin. I hiked in Parnitha, 10 kilometers on normal terrain, and it hurt me from the first 5. I tried it again on the same route with high socks covering the skin... same thing again. I don't know if it needs to be worn to soften... but it has bothered me every time I tried it... I wouldn't buy it again.