Shoe inserts are non-prescription foot supports that are designed to be used inside a shoe. Shoe inserts are usually helpful for a wide variety of foot ailments such as foot and leg pain as well as flat arches. They are specially designed to not only provide comfort but also cushion your feet as well as support the arches. However, these inserts do not correct bio-mechanical foot issues or even treat long-standing foot problems. Some of the most common shoe inserts types include arch supports, insoles, heel liners and foot cushions. Foot cushions are often used to create a barrier between the shoe and your feet especially when the shoes rub against your toes or heel. Also referred to as heel cups or heel pads, heel liners are used to provide an extra cushioning especially in the heel region. Arch supports are designed with a bumped-up appearance that helps to support the natural arch of the foot. Insoles are often slipped into the shoe to provide extra support and cushioning and are often made of plastic, foam or gel.
Finding The Best Shoe Inserts
Today, the market offers a wide variety of shoe inserts to choose from. Since people have varying foot structures and conditions, it is very important that you take your time to choose the best shoe inserts that suit your feet. There are several tips that can be helpful in identifying the best inserts that meet your needs. First, you must consider your health. For instance, those suffering from diabetes or with circulation problems are advised against using over-the-counter shoe inserts as you may end up making your condition worse or even increase the risks of infections and foot ulcers. In this case, you are advised to consult a podiatrist who can guide you in selecting the best solution for your condition.
Secondly, you should consider the purpose of your shoe inserts. Different levels of activities require different types of inserts. Those that are designed to provide a little arch support and comfort in work shoes may not be appropriate for running shoes. When looking for the best inserts for your shoes, you should also consider bringing your shoes so as to select the most suitable and effective inserts. Ensure that you go for the inserts that fit your shoes or sneakers contours. When possible, try fitting them in your shoes and try it out by walking around the store for a while. If your store does not allow you to try them out before purchase, ask them about their return policies.
The various types of shoe inserts are designed to be used for varying purposes. Comfort insoles are ideal for those who usually experience tired feet and foot pain as a result of prolonged walking or standing on hard surfaces. Their shock-absorbing properties help to provide relief as well as comfort. They can either be shaped or flat and mostly made of foam or gel. Achy or tired feet can also be due to insufficient support in your shoe. If the comfort insoles do not provide quick relief, you might want to try out a firmer support rather than extra cushioning. Support insoles are designed with harder materials to provide stability and structural support. Rather than direct cushioning, they provide support by increasing stability. Support insoles are ideal for various conditions including structural misalignment, heel pain, discomfort in knees, ankles, neck and head, plantar fasciitis as well as supination. They are often available in different profiles and models to match all foot shapes and footwear.
Insoles can also be used to change your shoe volume or the internal space of your shoes. High-volume insoles are suitable for high-volume footwear such as running shoes, ski boots and hiking boots, while low-volume insoles best suit low-volume shoes including cycling shoes, skate ski boots and in-line skate boots. Besides the insoles, the thickness of the socks can also determine how well your shoes fit. Insoles are also effective solutions to numerous footwear fit issues including heel slippage, foot elongation and collapsed or low arches.
Prescription Orthotics
In addition to the regular over-the-counter shoe inserts, there are other prescription insoles and specially designed devices commonly known as orthotics. These devices are designed to provide ultimate comfort and support to your feet and are normally crafted and customized for your individual feet. Their designs ensured that they precisely match your feet contours as well as how you move, walk or run. Orthotics are usually manufactured once your podiatrist has carried out a complete evaluation of your legs, ankles and feet. This ensures that your orthotic accommodates your foot’s unique pathology and structure. There are two main categories of prescription orthotics. Functional orthotics are often made from graphite, plastic and other semi-rigid materials and are specially designed to help treat foot pains as well as control abnormal motion. They are also effective in the treatment of injuries including tendonitis and shin splints. Accommodative orthotics are made from softer materials and are meant to provide extra support and cushioning. They are often used in the treatment of various uncomfortable feet conditions including painful calluses and diabetic foot ulcers.
Shoe Inserts Care Tips
Once you have purchased the best shoe inserts for your feet, there are several insole care tips that you must know to ensure that they provide maximum benefits for long without damaging or wearing out. When used on a regular or daily basis, most over the counter insoles last for about a year. Seasonally and occasionally used shoes can extend the time to use the insoles to several years. Some of the top shoe inserts care tips include airing them out, washing them as well as regularly inspecting them. People with wet or sweaty feet should air their insoles regularly to allow the moisture and sweat trapped between the shoe and the insole to dry out. Inspecting them helps in identifying any signs of wear or deterioration and when they need to be replaced.
When you are simply looking for the best shoe inserts to provide additional support and cushioning, you may go for the regular shoe inserts available in most stores. However, when you are suffering from complex health conditions, you should seek the help of a podiatrist who assesses and examines your condition using advanced technology, before advising and recommending the best inserts for your condition. In addition, they might suggest other forms of treatments to enhance the function and comfort of your feet.
Best Shoe Insert Reviews
0. Tread Labs Strides
Since reviewing the insoles below, I have found my new favorite pair of insoles. They are from Tread Labs! For reasons you will soon learn about, I have dedicated an entire page to reviewing them. Clicking the above link will take you to my review of the Tread Labs Stride insoles!
1. Hydrofeet Dynamic Liquid Massaging Orthotic Insoles
- Hydrofeet insoles are shock absorbing glycerin...
- Hydrofeet may feel weird at first. Break them in...
- Trim these customizable orthotic inserts around...
- Insoles provide foot pain relief for men and women...
- Hydro feet insoles adjust to your feet to provide...
For people who have experienced bad arch pain, these are some of the best liquid shoe inserts that you can get. These HydroFeet insoles are filled with FDA approved glycerin. This will make your foot comfortable when you are walking. It almost makes you feel as if you are getting a massage. The harshness that is caused by, say, walking on a concrete floor, will hardly be felt while wearing these. Any pain you might experience when walking on these insoles is sure to be drastically reduced. These orthotics accomplish this by equalizing the pressure inside the shoe, making the feet feel like they are floating. It creates that cushioning feeling. They act as shock absorbers. They come with a three years warranty, meaning that when you purchase one, you will not have to worry about buying another one in the near future. These are some of the best shoe inserts for excessive supination, extensor tendonitis, fibromyalgia and other conditions. This is simply due to the fact that they have been designed with alleviating (leg)s pain from foot conditions in mind. They have a water soluble formula, that does not damage your shoe or your clothing even if they break. They are safe for pets and children as well. These Hydrofeets are safe for hand or machine washing, but they must be air dried only. These Hydrofeet insoles are good for a large number of foot conditions such as heel pain, back pain, poor circulation, corns, and peripheral neuropathy, among others. It helps to increase the circulation of blood to the foot, giving you a soothing sensation. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve got a hammer toe, fallen arches, foot drop, gout, or whatever else ails you… With Hydrofeets, you are going to increase your comfort. These are definitely quality shoe inserts, suitable for running and standing up all day.
2. Massaging Insoles By Envelop for Hiking
- GEL INSOLES FOR ALL-DAY COMFORT: Providing...
- HONEYCOMB DESIGN FOR SHOCK ABSORPTION: Unique...
- VERSATILE FIT FULL-LENGTH INSOLE: Easily worn with...
- LIGHTWEIGHT CONSTRUCTION: Constructed with a...
- VIVE GUARANTEE: 60 day unconditional guarantee....
For people whose job involves walking a lot or standing all day, these shoe inserts are totally worth having a look at. They have a honeycomb design that allows the gel to act as a spring under your feet. This in turn becomes a shock absorber, thereby reducing the stress to the feet caused by hard surfaces. It has a medical grade gel integrated in them. These are very suitable for relieving pain of existing foot conditions. They are comfortable to wear, as they will give you the experience of a massage when you walk. During physical activities, these shoe inserts are vital for improving your performance. They will protect your feet from any pain that may occur as a result of your physical exercise. They give you excellent support for people who are flat footed. But they can be used by people with all types of feet. They are easy to trim so that they can fit your shoes. It’s important to trim them to fit, because only then will they give you the best experience. Using sharp scissors or a box cutter will give the best results when trimming. These insoles are great, because they give you the same comfort at a lower price in comparison to other expensive brands on the market. They are slim and easy to insert into your shoe without too many problems.
3. Icebug Slim Low Volume Insole With Arch Flex Technology For Plantar Fasciitis
- SLIM is the thin version of our insoles, perfect...
- FOR TRANSVERSE FOOT ARCH: In the middle of a step,...
- FOR LONGITUDINAL FOOT ARCH: As body weight moves...
- FOR THE HEEL: In heel placement, the sole's soft...
- SIZE: Choose your standard shoe size. If you fall...
If you have flat feet, finding a pair of shoes that is comfortable, well-fitted and supportive, can sometimes prove to be a challenge. The good news is that you can customize your shoes according to your preferred fit, using over-the-counter inserts. And this is where the Icebug slim low volume insoles come in. These shoe inserts for flat feet are designed to provide the right amount of arch support, stability, comfort, cushioning, and flexibility.
The Icebug slim low volume shoe inserts are available in 3 distinct shapes – low, medium and high arch. Also, they are available in 10 different sizes. Therefore, you simply need to select the right type for your feet. Furthermore, you can trim them to fit your shoe. Their top surface features a low-friction cover, which helps to prevent the foot from slipping.
These shoe inserts for walking on concrete, feature Arch Flex System technology, designed to support your foot while providing energy return with each step. You can use these shoe inserts for cycling, running, and playing football, among other applications. They will provide cushioning, support, stability, and proper alignment on 3 key areas of your foot – the metatarsal, medial and lateral.
4. Powerstep Full Length Orthotic Shoe Insoles Original
- [POWERSTEP ORIGINAL]: Full length insoles, neutral...
- [FOOT PAIN PREVENTION AND RELIEF]: PowerStep...
- [NEUTRAL ARCH SUPPORT | LOW PROFILE | MODERATE...
- [DESIGNED FOR EVERYDAY USE]:PowerStep Original...
- [PROUDLY MADE IN THE USA]: Your 100% Satisfaction...
Powerstep’s originals are made with a design that makes them one of the best orthotic insoles on the market. They have an encapsulated design that is a firm but flexible support shell. Its stability is increased by the presence of an inbuilt arch support and a heel cradle. There is a moderate dual layer cushioning, which gives you some of the best comfort to your feet. Made with ultra-thin design, they fit easily in casual and athletic shoes. These ultra thin shoe inserts have negligible weight and won’t make your shoe feel heavy at all. They are best for preventing or curing foot pain caused by metatarsal pain, arch pain, plantar fasciitis, and so on. They give you an effective and economical alternative to ordinary orthotics. These metatarsal shoe inserts give you great comfort after breaking them in, which usually doesn’t take more than a week. They are designed to last a long time, giving you the most value for your money. That is why they are a really great buy for relieving painful foot complications, that may currently be causing you discomfort. Podiatrists recommend this orthotic insole highly. They are hard at first, but soften a little with prolonged use. They will shape to your feet a bit without compromising too much of their supportive form. They might feel a little uncomfortable at first, because your tendons, muscles, and ligaments are not used to them. But you will break them in fairly quickly with frequent use. These insoles are great for people who have to stand up at work all day.
5. Dr. Scholl’s Heavy Duty Support – Men Over 200Lbs Pain Relief
- Designed for men over 200 pounds who suffer from...
- Arch guard plus shock guard technology distributes...
- Relieves lower back pain and foot and leg fatigue...
- Fits casual shoes, sneakers and work boots/shoes....
If you normally experience foot fatigue, lower back pain, foot pain, as well as pain in your ankles, knees, hips, and legs, then the Dr. Scholl’s heavy-duty support insoles are a perfect solution for your troubles. Designed for men who weigh 200 pounds and above, these orthotic inserts will provide your feet with arch support, shock absorption, stability, as well as cushioning, to enable you to live a healthier and enjoyable lifestyle. These insoles work by distributing your weight uniformly across the whole foot, thus helping to alleviate excessive strain on a particular part of your foot.
What separates these inserts from the others on the market is that their cushioning runs from the heel to toe – the entire length of the foot. Therefore, whether you are walking, standing or jogging, these shoe inserts for plantar fasciitis will provide you with cushioning that you need, to help ease the pressure exerted on the arch of your feet. On the other hand, the cushioning around the toe area will help to ease the pressure placed on the ball of your foot, thus preventing blisters, discomfort and pain.
The Dr. Scholl’s heavy-duty support insoles also come with an integrated heel cup, designed to alleviate heel pressure. This heel cup will provide cushioning and shock absorption to the heel area whenever your foot strikes the ground. It also provides extra stability, which will help people suffering from overpronation. Therefore, if you are on the market for shoe inserts for overpronation, these will be perfect for your situation.
These insoles are designed to fit work shoes, casual shoes, training sneakers, work boots and other types of footwear. They measure approximately 12.5 inches and you can trim them to fit your shoes. If you are between 200 to 300 pounds and you have been suffering from heel pain, arch pain, knee pain, lower back pain, and other similar discomforts, then you should get yourself a pair of these arch support shoe inserts. They provide stellar weight distribution, arch support, impact attenuation, stability, pain relief as well as full-length foot cushioning, among other unique benefits.
would you recommend tread labs or hydrofeet for metatarsal pain? I always see reviews for neuromas but few for metatarsal. I would appreciate any info.
Thank you
Hi Kathy,
I’ve never had metatarsal pain myself. Well, at least not chronically. But Tread Labs is definitely my go-to brand.
If I were desperate for a solution to a pain problem, though… I’d simply try them out both. Everybody’s situation is unique!
Sincerely,
Brian