trail runner

Good trail running shoes will help (a bit) because they're built a bit lower to the ground than your DS Trainers. Try the Salomon XA Comp.

But if your ankles are prone to sprains you may have to work on rehabbing and stengthening first ... switching shoes isn't going to make a huge difference.

google "ankle rehab"

several good sites out there

be proactive

New Balance 990 series works for me, they are like ATV's on rough terrain.

Salomon and Inov-8, which I wear trail running, are definately lower profile which I believe helps. I have rolled ankles (one more than the other also) in them too, but far less frequently than I have in my road shoes out on the trails.

Regarding turning your ankles, one simplistic word of advice is to keep your eyes open. If you anticipate where you'll be landing and what it will feel like, it reduces mishaps -- although I expect you're well aware of this.

Whether minimalist shoes are the right choice for you is an open question, but I have recently (since April) been running in NB 790s, using an insole from a road shoe, since the 790s come with a nothing of an insole, and i need a little bit of something down there. This is the first model that has kept me blister-free, even on long trail runs (e.g., 30 miles). You can check the men's weight, but the women's are 6.6 oz and feel great if the trail isn't composed solely of small sharp rocks (e.g., driveway filler); they have a rock plate, but not much of one. I ran a rugged, arid mountain race in these and had no ill effects.

I have also had good luck with Inov-8 300s and 285s -- both are low to the ground and glove-like -- although the sole on the 285s is hard if the trail isn't cushy (e.g., mud or snow) and is very slick and stiff under the arch if you are contending with roots at all.

All three of the above models are low profile and lightweight, but I'm currently partial to the New Balances. Conveniently, they can be found at Finish Line at a good price, and there is a $10-off coupon to download from the FL website to use in the store. Note, for the NBs I have to go up one-half size from what I usually buy (i.e., 7 in NB790 vs. 6.5 in other shoes).

I do a lot of trail/off-road running and train in the Puma Cortlandt XC flats. I think XC flats are the way to go because they're light, flexible, and offer excellent traction. You can 'sense' the ground much better and adjust each step. I find that 'true' trail shoes are too much shoe.

which shoes that are more trail appropriate (not necessarily true trail shoes) would ride most like the ds trainer (with a little support being the main thing)? ideally they would also be able to handle some road stuff, as most runs involve a couple of miles to get to trail heads. would the puma trailfox be a good choice? which in particular of the inov8 linke would be good?

I've used the DS Trainer as a road shoe, and now prefer the NB790 for both road and trail (with the alternate insole, as mentioned), largely due to severe blistering with the Asics.

If you go with Inov-8, stay away from the Roclite 285s (red) or other models with big lugs if you're doing even a few road miles, as the ride is plain too hard; teh 285s are good on mud, snow, and grass (I've used them for muddy/grassy xc, and I had an easier time in the slippery sections than people in spikes). The F-lite 300s (blue), however, transition well between road and trail, due to their nonagressive outsole.

I've not tried the Puma Trailfox, but ran with a guy in a 30-mile race in May who liked them a lot; I don't know if he ever uses them on pavement.

I like inov8 for soft conditions and have found the teva X1 to be a good on the dry lumpy conditions we've had this summer. The tevas are fine too if you have to run on the road to get to the trails.

don't worry too much about strengthening your ankles, strengthen your core. ankles are at the end of the chain trying to make up for issues at the furthest point away from the problem.

core, strength and agility