Holy crap dude! I'm sorry to hear that. Glad it wasn't worse and I hope you heal up quick.
Since I have related experience . . . having crashed twice, once on the Empulse:
What I consider my absolute minimum for moto boots is something that has a hard armored armature (can be internal or external) that prevents the ankle from rotating the wrong way -- while possessing a hinge to allow it to rotate the correct way (i.e. walking). I currently have
these Dainese boots:
Note the hinge. I refuse to ride in any boot that does not have something like this. Quite a lot of boots might be made of leather and/or have tough plastic-looking bits on them, but if you can pick them up in a store and bend them sideways in half with your hands . . . that's what your ankle will likely do when you hit the ground.
When I crashed, the Empulse came down pretty hard on my right ankle. I had a bruise for a few days and that was the extent of it. It's true that it could have been luck or other factors, but I believe pretty strongly that if I hadn't been wearing those boots, I'd be much worse off.
It's also true that there are boots that are even more protective (e.g.
crazy motocross boots), but they're not really comfortable to walk in or practical for daily usage. The Daineses are easy to walk around in and very comfortable.
Also, obligatory pitch for
get an Aerostich! Mine certainly saved my bacon, especially in the case of the freeway crash.
