I’ve got the orange Superfeet insoles for a couple pairs of hiking shoes whose fit is less than ideal. They seem to improve comfort a smidgen, though not as much as a better-fitting pair of shoes would, I suspect.
I’m curious how other people’s feet react. Most stock shoe insoles do mold to the shape of your feet, within limits. One pair of shoes beats up the balls of my feet; insoles just make them a bit less annoying (I hiked 20 miles with a 20-pound pack on these things last year and my tootsies were not pleased).
Custom orthotic inserts presumably cure a lot of these foot-comfort issues. Mind you they cost more than most pairs of shoes, but if you like to take long walks, it’s probably worth the investment.
If you’re all about the insoles, please share with the class. I still can’t make up my mind whether I’m getting my money’s worth (though it occurs to me if you have to ask, you probably aren’t).
My boots (Montrail) are pretty comfy, though after a long day’s hike its nice to take them off. When I started wearing wool hiking socks, their comfort greatly improved. The thicker the better.
No need for insoles yet.
Oh man, this is a topic that took me a long time to sort out. Once I finally figured out my feet, my shoe/sock/insole combination became perfectly clear.
I used to buy SuperFeet since that’s what everyone had – after all, it’s the brand that REI carried so it must be the best, right? Then why did I keep getting blisters on my ARCH of all places?
After some analysis of my feet, started by some cool scanning devices I played with at the Outdoor Retailer show a few years ago, I started making smart decisions. My feet are wide at the front and regular width in the back. They are also incredibly flat (I have a caveman footprint – my entire foot touches the ground). This means that my toes pinch in regular width shoes but my heels slip in wide width shoes. It also explains why regular insoles give me arch blisters and make my feet ache. I needed to find a solution for my weird foot, not a solution for a generic foot.
This knowledge led me to proper insoles (Lyncos, a unique model made for flat feet – and similar enough to what a podiatrist said I could pay $300 for that he just told me to get the Lyncos) instead of the ones that were pushing my foot into a very uncomfortable and unnatural position (the SuperFeet). It also led me to Garmont hiking and trailrunning shoes, which have a wider footbox than most hikers while still keeping a regular width heel cup. Combined with those lovely Injinji socks that keep my toes from rubbing on each other and blistering, my feet are usually still quite happy at the end of a long day. I can’t remember the last time I had a blister.
So, I guess my comment is to spend some time figuring out your own feet, because what works for one person is not going to work for another. And the key to a happy hike, for me at least, is happy feet.
Rebecca: I don’t have the flat-feet issue, but I do have the fat forefoot/skinny ankle issue.
I’m going to see if I can find any local shoe stores that have those foot scanners.
I had a knee scare last year, where after every hike I did my right knee would be in severe pain for 2-3 days afterward. After some trial and error, I figured out I had worn through the cushioning on my insoles and bought some SuperFeet — but all they did was reduce the cushioning on my toe area even more.
I’d recommend SuperFeet if you’ve got arch problems, but they really don’t do much in the way of shock absorption. I ended up getting a pair of regular ol’ Dr. Scholl’s for about a quarter of the price of SuperFeet, which worked a lot better.
Superfeet’s website claims to cure all manner of problems. I have green ones in my hiking boots and blue ones in my snowboard boots, but really any improvements have been negligible. I’ve had more success by changing my brand of hiking socks.
I have high arches and superfeet just are too painful. They make my feet hurt in new places. I use spenco arch supports. The one with the big plastic bridge. It has arch support and padding. Every bodies feet are different. Experiment until you find what works for you.
I suspect that most common foot ailment for outdoorspeople is poor arch support in shoes not built for carrying loads — a condition the design of Superfeet does target.
Has anybody used those insoles you warm up in the microwave to get the right fit?
I too have had the best actual results by discovering the right socks more than anything else. When I bought my new boots (Lowa) last year, I got talked into giving back some of the on-sale savings by replacing the standard orthonics with the green superfoot inserts. I had never even tried the standard ones, but I kind of regret that now. I used my old boots (Merrell) and inserts (less expensive ones) recently to avoid getting the new ones all muddy, and I did not really notice any difference in foot comfort. My feet are always a little sore after a good hike, but I figure that’s normal.
Tom: I’m pretty sure that the scan thingee I did was the IStep:
http://www.aetrex.com/html/technology-i-step.shtml
I remember that the machine was being marketed to store owners, since they could input their insole and footwear stock and have the machine recommend appropriate items for a consumer. It was a cool toy and gave me a printout of my analysis (wish I could find it…). It was interesting to get a barefoot scan and then a scan with my shoes (and insoles) to see how my pressure points changed.
I have some pain in my plantar fascia, and the green Superfeet really helped with that. It isn’t gone, but my muscles hurt more than my feet on Skyline to the Sea last summer.
Insoles can’t fix boots, though. Your boots MUST fit and support the right amount. I have a pair of low Montrails that my feet really like, but I’ve worn the soles just about smooth and they don’t make that model any more.
Shoes with cushion in the soles, like running shoes, get stomped flat after a while and start hurting. PCT hikers will get a new pair of shoes every 500-100 miles.
I have pretty normal feet other than being flaaat. I also have wobbly ankles, broke one and had to crawl out of the woods in 2001. I have since used higher top boots and green super feet. Took a little time to get used to them but have been using them for years now and have them in all my boots. I am a life long walker (now 63) and don’t even own a pair of shoes. I have tried a few other brands and even had a podiatrist modify a pair of the super feet but happier with the stock ones. I think good boots that fit properly are the most important part of comfort on the trail and the inserts are just a plus.