Green Superfeet Insoles
Shoe Insoles
If you don't already use Superfeet insoles for in your hiking boots, you should. They provide your feet with far better shock absorption than factory insoles. I started using them in my leather hiking boots over 3 years ago after a painful episode of plantar fasciitis (heel pain) that sidelined me for about 3 months.
I first learned about Superfeet from a trained boot fitter at REI who helped me select a new pair of boots after my plantar fasciitis episode had cleared up. She recommended that I try green Superfeet in order to prevent my foot's arch from falling as I walk.
Foot Anatomy
Without proper support, your foot tries to flatten when you take a step, the ligaments that run lengthwise along the bottom of your feet stretch out, and then snap back when you lift your foot. If you do this over and over, thousands of times a day, the ligaments can become inflamed and cause pain where they attach to the heel.
Superfeet prevent your arch from flattening by adding a stiff plastic bolster to the insole. They also correct over-pronation or supination using a deep heel cup area to cradle the back of your foot.
For grins, take the foot beds out of your current boots or trail shoes and take a look at them. Chances are that their flimsy in comparison.
Trimming SuperFeet Insoles
To fit a pair of SuperFeet insoles in a pair of boots, take your existing insole and place it on top of a Superfeet foot bed. Then draw a line around the factory insole and cut the excess of the Superfeet foot bed so that it will fit in your boot or shoe. In the picture above, I've used the Superfeet foot beds in my leather hiking boots as a template for the Superfeet insoles that I put into my new plastic mountaineering boots this morning.
When you start wearing a new pair of Superfeet, they will feel a bit hard, but they will become a bit more comfortable after 50 miles of walking. I replace them every season, which for me is about 500 miles, but your mileage may vary.
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Tags
- hiking boot insoles
- best hiking boot insoles
- hiking boot insole reviews
- insoles for hiking boots
- superfeet plantar fasciitis
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These are great, especially with trail runners.
You can also get these at Kaiser pharmacies if you’d like (AFAIK, you don’t have to be a member, but members get a discount. Something like that).
One key thing is to replace them.. I forgot to switch mine out, and gave myself a nasty case of plantar fasciitis after a 11-mile jaunt. (that is, switch them out every N miles.. when they wear down and out, they’re worse than nothing)
I love these. Best thing ever.
I use the Berry Superfeet – as they are designed for narrow heels on women. They also offer toe padding as well
And work on the plantar as well! I have a pair in my trail runners and in my hiking boots.
Good point – Superfeet are great, and I use them for hiking, cycling, and running shoes. I picked up a pair of the Red Cold Weather Superfeet with Outlast for my winter hiking boots. They’re a little more expensive, but they should be a bit warmer than the Green.
Never saw those before. Cool.
Powerstep Insoles
are better than superfeet, and have a cushion. These were recommended by my foot doctor who luckily, is also a hiker. Online they are the same price as superfeet.
Thanks Diane – I’ll try these sometime.
Great for the masses(perhaps), but I have custom orthotics which treat me well. It may pay to look into your insurance (if you have any) to see if prescription orthotics are covered. Once I started wearing them most of my knee, ankle and back pain went away.
I’m surprised you haven’t found a way to make them out of cork or something.
Seriously, Superfeet work great for me. I’m not making any major changes right now.
I replaced the insoles in my Asolo Distance due to foot pain.
Five days at RMNP and my feet never hurt.
Thank you for the review.
Glad they worked. They can really reduce foot fatigue.
I just got these on Friday (after a Mt. Washington hike last weekend left my feet aching for a couple of days) and then hiked North Kinsman in them yesterday. I was astounded at how good my feet felt. I had no aching until the very end of hike, and this morning when I woke up there was no wincing in pain as I set my feet down. Just to be safe, I put them in a pair of my Keen walking shoes and wore them for most of the day and my feet felt so happy and supported.