Last Update: 16.Nov.2020
Profile fits most foot types
Gel pads in front and heel offer great cushioning
Keeps feet cool and dry
Extremely comfortable for a great price!
A little too much “give” when carrying a heavy pack
Excellent support and weight distribution
Rigid design offers good stability
Anti-bacterial odor control coating
Not found
Excellent cushioning in comparison to competing insoles
Versatile enough to be worn in any number of shoe styles
Easy to read cut marks for quick trimming
Great shock absorption
Moderate arch supports aren’t overly bothersome
Slim profile
Inexpensive enough to buy a second pair for your other shoes
Does not have the best arch support
May not last as long as other expensive brands
Not enough cushioning in forefoot area for some users
Thin insoles
Well constructed & great support
Good quality
Just a bit more cushioning in metatarsal area
Easily trimmed to fit your shoe
Great replacement insert for athletic shoes
Very comfortable
Excellent support and comfort
Slide a little on the shoes
Little cushion support
Comfortable for any shoe
Quality material
The dye they use for their insole discolors your socks
Flexible shell provides personalized support for low arches
Fits well to the foot
Helps relieve knee, leg & back pain
Trampoline effect absorbs shock with every step
Not very long service life
Good heel cup
Good for flat feet
Comfortable insoles to wear all day
Very soft material
Not shock absorbing
Comfortable
No smell after wearing
Good for sweaty feet
Sometimes they slip or bunch up
Has a deep heel cup design for stability
Comfortable
Very good insoles for flat feet
The arch is too high
May be too rigid and not enough cushioning
Superior comfort
Maximum relief for sore feet
Perfect for almost all shoes types
Not recommended for full day use
The right type of insole can have multiple benefits for hiking. For instance, if you have a higher arch, buying pad for arch support would be beneficial for you.
You can benefit from these pads if you’re indulged in any sports. Some insoles are designed to improve traction and prevent slipping and falling.
To help you make the right decision, here are a few different types of pads. Keep in mind the terms can be used interchangeably by sellers.
The volume of the insole determines how much space it takes up in your shoes. There’s also certain arch support that is usually associated with them.
Pads can help you fix a lot of common footwear fitting problems. Here are a few ways in which they can help.
Comfort Vs. Sport/Support Insoles: Comfort hiking insoles are designed to improve the internal conditions of your footwear. They are typically directed towards reducing pain, preventing rashes, and absorbing odor.
Supportive pads, on the other hand, are designed to target a certain area. They are more or less for when you get a wrong or uneven fit. An example of a wrong fit is when the entire foot is too big for you. An uneven fit would be when either the front or back of the shoe fits, but the other part doesn’t.
Materials: Materials are important as they decide how well the shoe will stand against the elements. It also impacts how comfortable the insole feels, and how flexible it is. EVA foam pads, for instance, are great for providing cushioning and shock absorption. But they’re quite inflexible.
Gel pads, on the other hand, are great choices for their flexibility. They offer a lot of weight and pressure distribution too. But they may feel less premium and may not provide a lot of cushioning.
Proper Fit: The insole should fit you properly. The first step to finding the right insole is to identify the problem you have with your shoe. If you need fitting at the front of the shoe, look for metatarsal support.
Firm Support: Some people prefer firmer support, especially if the fit is too bad. Others, however, like a bit of flexibility and prefer a cushier supportive insole.
Heel Cups: Heel cups are the parts of pads that hold your heel. You should look for heel cups that provide cushioning and shock absorption. People with supination or overpronation may want a heel cup made for those things.
Replaceable Cover: Many pads come with a replaceable cover. This is because insoles absorb a lot of sweat and odor, and the fabric may become musty or dirty because of it. However, if you use some strong absorbent socks, you won’t be needing replaceable covers much.
Durability: This is a very broad term, and you should look for a number of things in order to make sure you get a durable product. The first thing to look for is the type of material used. The gel is a lot more durable than EVA foam, and polymers and plastics are even more durable. Also, check how well the insole can handle odor and sweat. Being “carbon-activated” is usually enough to indicate that the insole will perform well against odor.
Blister-Free: You can get some specialized metatarsal pads to help prevent blisters. These can come in a variety of styles, but the most common is the one that wraps around the sides of your toes. This helps prevent blisters occur from rubbing against the rough interior of your shoe. Women who wear high-heels will benefit a lot from these, as well as any hiking boots that have higher heels.
Foot Irregularities: Finally, if you have any foot irregularities, get an insole that fixes that. There are pads that focus on correcting supination and overpronation. If you have a “knuckle” that sticks out too much, get an insole that covers that area.
Pick out a good pair of well-fitting shoes. Take a tape measure that is flexible and use it to measure the length of your insole. To do this, simply place marks of the tape on the toe part of the inside of your shoe. Then “walk” the tape measure all the way to the back of the shoe, at the heel. Mark this point.
This is the length of your insole. Insole width can be measured from the widest part of your foot/shoe to the other side. Insole width usually isn’t a concern since most people have the same width of the foot. But you may need it in extreme cases.
If you don’t have a good fitting shoe, you can perform the same measuring technique on your barefoot. But it may be hard to do this on your own. So have a friend do it.
When you have an uncomfortable fit on your hiking shoes, pads are the way to go. And while they perform a ton of functions, you can usually find the right type for yourself with ease.
In general, you want a lot of arch and heel support in your pads. Arch support stimulates the arch muscles and makes walking much less painful. While heel support will relieve plantar fasciitis and help people with flat feet.
But only you can decide which insole is the correct one for you. So hit those hiking trails with your new pads and notice the difference.
In the Toptravelpoint Blog you will always find useful and up-to-date information about hiking and camping. & Bryce
Our experts will always help make your life easier.
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