Walking Boot Insoles

[Lee R]

Hi All,


I don't want to waste money on cheap rubbish insoles. I'd rather spend a reasonable amount for decent ones.


I started getting pains on the balls of my feet back in the summer. It was 'caused' by new work boots I think... I have bought comfy trainers (a few months ago) & another pair of work boots & things have drastically improved. I was out for 6 hours on Sunday (it was so beautiful in the woods in the fog I couldn't leave!) & I was just starting to feel some discomfort towards the end. Neither of my boots need replacing yet & they do fit well & are comfortable otherwise.


Anyone recommend a product they've used for similar issues please?

[shortwalker]

Hi All,


I don't want to waste money on cheap rubbish insoles. I'd rather spend a reasonable amount for decent ones.


I started getting pains on the balls of my feet back in the summer. It was 'caused' by new work boots I think... I have bought comfy trainers (a few months ago) & another pair of work boots & things have drastically improved. I was out for 6 hours on Sunday (it was so beautiful in the woods in the fog I couldn't leave!) & I was just starting to feel some discomfort towards the end. Neither of my boots need replacing yet & they do fit well & are comfortable otherwise.


Anyone recommend a product they've used for similar issues please?

As with a lot of things different things work for different people. I use Grisport anti shock insoles in my boots (also Grisport) I am not a podiatrist but by cushioning the heel they seem to help the balls of my feet too. (or it could just be me as I have a raised cuneiform)

[jimbob]

I swear by superfeet as I have arch problems and plantar fasciitis in one foot.
However there are insoles that can be moulded to your feet both in shop in a machine as well as types that can be put into an oven then put into your boots and walking about in them. I spotted them a while ago on Amazon whilst buying my last set of superfeet greens.
 

[gunwharfman]

I use Sorbothane inserts because I prefer cushioning under my feet rather than support under my feet. My support inserts are in my off-road running shoes. I bought them from Ebay, very cheap, £10 at the time.

I'm not suggesting I'm right but I can't see how expensive inserts can be that much different from cheap ones? In one of my pairs of boots for example, I have Aldi ones, £2.99 and they are great.

If however your feet have special needs then my entry may not be useful information.

[harland]

Sorbothane double strike for me.

[gunwharfman]

I bought a specialised pair of inserts a couple of years ago, they are about 1mm along the length of the inner edge and about 5mm along the length of the outer edge of each insert. They are made by Rehband and are called 'QD Pronation Supination Wedges.'

I noticed over two or three pairs of boots that the outer edges of each sole were wearing fast so I bought these inserts to tilt my foot back into a 90-degree neutral position. The more my boots wore the more uncomfortable my hiking became. I've never actually inserted these Rehband's into my boots,  I just use them as a left foot and right foot template by utilising old trainer inserts cut-outs which I then place under my Sorbothanes. For me they work very well, my walking comfort has improved and my boot sole wear is now spread evenly both across and longwise. The other bonus is that my boot heels no longer wear at such a fast rate as they used to.

[Lee R]

Sorry I've not been about for a few days. Thanks for the suggestions I shall take a look into them.

[Lazar]

Superfeet green for me all the time.

[jimbob]

One thing not mentioned about insoles is the fact that carrying a spare set can be useful for swapping with a set that have managed to get soaked for whatever reasons.

I'm sure I read this on this forum quite a while ago (years?)..
I have found that advice to be sound through stupidity and error.
Recently I discovered that I couldn't physically match the leap across a stream near the Danelaw Way that I cleared by at least two feet in my mind. Carrying an old pair of supergreens saved the day, and the feet.

[gunwharfman]

Yes a good one Jimbob, I always carry a spare pair of insoles for the very same reasons.

[shortwalker]

One thing not mentioned about insoles is the fact that carrying a spare set can be useful for swapping with a set that have managed to get soaked for whatever reasons.

I'm sure I read this on this forum quite a while ago (years?)..
I have found that advice to be sound through stupidity and error.
Recently I discovered that I couldn't physically match the leap across a stream near the Danelaw Way that I cleared by at least two feet in my mind. Carrying an old pair of supergreens saved the day, and the feet.

But won't the inside of the shoe/boot also be wet?

[jimbob]

But won't the inside of the shoe/boot also be wet?

Depends what type of footwear and what type of insole.

I am wearing non waterproof trail runners at the minute. If they get flooded then the water goes squishing up over the insole. At every step. If you take the insole out give the shoes a good shake and a wipe with the wrung out socks that you also need to change and put in the dry insoles then the water doesn't rise into the insole foam bit and the tops of the trail runners dry out very quickly.

I did forget to mention the sock change.

Not sure what I would do if I was wearing full on hiking boots, as if i do wear them I usually also wear waterproof gaiters and haven't suffered flooded boots to date.

[shortwalker]

I went out in my walking shoes yesterday and one of the fields I went through was a bit boggier than I thought. had my feet got wet and muddy in those circumstances I couldn't see what changing anything would do, until I could get the shoes washed out.  So unless the shoes had got gritty I doubt I would have done anything. But theen again I don't walk more than 10 miles at any one time.

[jimbob]

Horses for courses, Shortwalker.

It works for me and clearly for GWM.
It could be that it only works for the particular type of footwear and the particular type of insole that we choose to wear.

[kinkyboots]

Hi All,


I don't want to waste money on cheap rubbish insoles. I'd rather spend a reasonable amount for decent ones.


I started getting pains on the balls of my feet back in the summer. It was 'caused' by new work boots I think... I have bought comfy trainers (a few months ago) & another pair of work boots & things have drastically improved. I was out for 6 hours on Sunday (it was so beautiful in the woods in the fog I couldn't leave!) & I was just starting to feel some discomfort towards the end. Neither of my boots need replacing yet & they do fit well & are comfortable otherwise.


Anyone recommend a product they've used for similar issues please?

The one thing missing from your post is the make and model of the boots involved?

The title of the thread refers to them as being "walking boots" but the content of your post refers to them as being "work boots". Usually they're two completely different things with work boots being constructed using much lower quality materials and if that's the case they will almost certainly not have a midsole or sole which has been specifically designed and developed for walking.

The old adage that you can put lipstick on a pig but at the end of the day it's still a pig may apply here? 

You may well find you would be wasting your money buying expensive insoles if you own a pig as expensive insoles will probably make absolutely no difference at all.