Let's talk Shoe Inserts

[jimyjam]

Having spent a lot of time helping lots of people with various foot beds and foot issues, the first thing that comes to my mind is this:
Why are you looking for shoe inserts?
What is going on with your feet that causes you to be looking for different foot beds?
In what way has each foot bed you've used previously failed (including stock foot beds)?

I am looking for inserts because of a foot problem. I have been to a podiatrist and an ortho specialist. I have an extra bone in my arch that causes a more pronounced "flat foot" when walking. On my right foot, my pinky toe is dislocated at the joint that causes occasional pain. This is caused by the "flat footedness". I had a pair of special orthotics made by the specialist that cost me over $300 and NO insurance wouldn't cover a dime because I don't have diabetes! The orthotics caused planter fasciitis so I had to quit using them. The doctor said to try to use a good insert. I heard good things about Superfeet and decided to give them a try. The Superfeet make my feet feel bruised and beat up. The doctor said I should find a good insert before attempting a thru hike as I will be putting my feet thru hell. The regular inserts that come with the shoe is what I've always used and was using when my pinky toe became dislocated at the joint.
I wish I didn't have to worry about it at all! But seems I do!


Life is full of ups and downs! Hike on!

[jimyjam]

I know that when it comes to feet it is a very individualized thing. I have been experimenting at home and trying different shoes (I ordered a few different pairs from Zappos to find the right pair) and have tried a few different kinds of Superfeet inserts in search of an insert that will work for me. I was asking what everyone else is using as to have new options to try out for myself.
I want to thank everyone for their suggestions and information. It is much appreciated.


Life is full of ups and downs! Hike on!

[nsherry61]

. . . I have an extra bone in my arch that causes a more pronounced "flat foot" when walking. On my right foot, my pinky toe is dislocated at the joint that causes occasional pain . . .

And I thought I had it bad . . .

Most structured aftermarket foot beds, maybe all for that matter (I don't know of any that don't) are really designed to support a foot with an arch that is collapsing under load. My suspicion is that your are dealing with an foot that has very little functional arch. So it is not surprising that the most wonderful and supportive foot beds made (along the lines of superfeet) are exactly wrong for your feet. What is support under my collapsing arch is nothing but a big lump under you foot where there is no room.

Your foot may still benefit from some very minor arch support like that found stock in most high quality shoes. FYI: most shoes come with some, but minimal arch support, because most people, not used to appropriate amounts of support, find a fully supportive arch lumpy and uncomfortable, even if it is what would be best for their feet in those shoes. You on the other hand really don't want any extra large lumps.

My suspicion is that your feet get tired because they do not have nice lively arches to put a spring in your step, and they never will. You will likely never be a world class sprinter. And, you're feet may keep you from ever being that 50 mile per day backpacker. But then, what sane person really wants either of those anyway.

You may be best off just trying to cushion your feet with firm supportive padding which, in an extreme case might even be pulling what little support there is out of a stock shoe and replacing it with unstructured and firm padding. I'm not sure how a flat, padded foot bed would effect your plantar fasciitis, but, if it doesn't irritate it, it might be a good solution.

My elder son has very wide flat feet and SuperFeet caused him to get horrible blisters on his instep. Spenco made an arch support that was padded, relatively flat, very broad and enabled him to run cross-country which he couldn't have with stock foot beds or SuperFeet.

Because of their firm padding technology, I would suggest looking into some of Spenco's products as likely possibilities worth experimenting with if you haven't already done so.

Also, if you haven't tried either Brooks Beast shoes or several other running shoes designed specifically for padding and flat feet ("stability shoes"), you may be surprised at how much has been accomplished by those shoe engineers.

Finally, two thoughts on that darn toe . . .

1) If it's truely dislocated, grab the darn thing firmly and pull like hell, strait forward, screaming in pain if need be, to pop it back into place. I lived with a dislocated pinky toe on my right foot for a few years, and out of frustration of dealing with constant pain, I decided one day to do just that. It was hard to get a good grip on it to pull on. It hurt like hell for about 20 seconds and then calmed down and quit giving me trouble until I stubbed it again months later, knocking it out of joint again, at which point I immediately pulled on it, reset it, and the pain again went away. I have to reset my toe every year or so at this point and it is a complete non-issue other than the pain at the moment.
2) If your pinky toe needs more space in your shoe than it has, and your shoe is big enough for you foot in every other way, there are a couple of good and very easy ways to stretch and/or modify your shoe to give your pinky toe (or any other spot on your foot for that matter) a bit more room. High-end downhill ski shops regularly modify hard-shell boots with specialty stretching tools and heat guns that may work well for your shoes depending on their design and materials. In the end, actually cutting an X, with a razor blade, in the shoe, on the outside, over the pressure point, to relax the fabric can be the most effective solution.

Good luck! I hope acceptable solutions are found for you soon. Let us know what you find and how it works. I'm certainly interested.

[greenmtnboy]

I used Superfeet though I find them on the expensive side based on what they are; a wafer of fabric and cushion material. But I find the softer and spongier the insert the worse they are. If it isn't broken why try to fix it, use original inserts unless they cause discomfort.

[BirdBrain]

Not much more I can add. On a gratuitous and selfish note, I am thankful for these conversations. The more I see them, the more I realize that one size does not fit all. It helps me to not make so many ignorant blanket "do this" and all will be perfect statements. Superfeet are awesome... for me. They are horrible for others.

[Another Kevin]

Jimyjam, I've had mostly the same experience. The green Superfeet everyone worships have way too high of an arch for my feet. The blues are "just right"; although I agree that they are a bit hard. I've gotten used to them but after about 10 miles my feet start to feel pounded. I think next I will try their orange (?) variety with added padding. I notice If I wear padded socks with the blues my feet feel pretty good.

The main reason I started using inserts was plantar fasciitis with regular weekly hiking.

If the green have too high an arch for you, the orange likely will, too. (Green and orange both fit me, which is why I suspect they're wrong for you.) Copper is low-profile like blue but with extra cushion.

[theoilman]

Superfeet green for me until plantar faccitis caused by arthritis in joint big toe to ball of my foot.
Poditrist put me in Powerstep ProTech Pro (available only from doctors). But these don't fit in my current hiking shoes - they take up too much space in the toe box.
Vionic (vionic.com) has inserts that are available in 3/4 length that I can use with my current shoes and close the Powerstep inserts.

[Wülfgang]

If the green have too high an arch for you, the orange likely will, too. (Green and orange both fit me, which is why I suspect they're wrong for you.) Copper is low-profile like blue but with extra cushion.

Ok thanks, i guess ill try copper next then!

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[shakey_snake]

I can sell you some bear penis soup that flushes the toxins from you feet which promotes healing and releases the bad memories that cause your foot pain.

I'm sorry--that's harsh. The truth is we know excessively little about the bio-mechanics of human gait and the little that we think we know is continually being challenged by new studies. What's safe to say is: wear what's comfortable for you.

But really, others are not going to be able to tell you much about YOUR feet and YOUR comfort. It's really a process of trial and error and you're going to be paying a pretty penny for different a few pieces of brand-named molded plastic.

[squeezebox]

I can get sheep and beef penis at the local Asian market. Is that good enough?
For real !

[Traveler]

I can get sheep and beef penis at the local Asian market. Is that good enough?
For real !

So much one can do with this, so little time.....

[Slimer]

I bought the green superfeet for my montrail hardrocks in hotsprings from a salesman that was certified to have them fitted property. I followed the brake -in procedures to the letter. However they ruined my feet causing them to be incredibly sore with lots of blisters. I finally threw them away in a trashcan at Kincora.
No more superfeet for me ever again. The stock hardrock insoles work just fine for me.
Your milage may vary.........

[Another Kevin]

I bought the green superfeet for my montrail hardrocks in hotsprings from a salesman that was certified to have them fitted property. I followed the brake -in procedures to the letter. However they ruined my feet causing them to be incredibly sore with lots of blisters. I finally threw them away in a trashcan at Kincora.
No more superfeet for me ever again. The stock hardrock insoles work just fine for me.

Yeah. You need what's right for your feet, not anyone else's. For me, the uppers of minimalist New Balance trail runners (my current pair is MT610v3) fit like a glove, but the stock insoles are worthless, and green Superfeet work for me. But I have a very high arch, I need a wide toe box in proportion to the shoe, I strike at the heel, and I tend to pronate. If your arch, your toes, your footfall, or your foot kinetics are different, you need something else than what I use. Obviously, yours are.

[jimmyjam]

jimmyjam, you wore your feet out in pennslyvania!!!!!! I was just behind you.... flipper.

I didn't start this thread- I am the original real deal jj. My feet finally wore out at Killington. I bruised a foot bone in Connecticut.

[Datto]

I've used Spenco inserts (the Hiker model -- don't know if it's still made this year) for about 8,000 miles of hiking (mailed to me as necessary). Those have worked well for my feet and have made trail runner type shoes about as comfortable as I can get them for my feet. I usually replace the Spenco inserts every 450 miles or so -- about the same time I replace New Balence trail runners when on a thru-hike. You have to take out the come-delivered inserts in New Balance shoes, then insert the Spencos (don't put the Spencos overtop of the delivered inserts in the trail runner).


Datto