Insoles for boots

B

Buck268

Joined
Nov 5, 2006
Messages
1,864
Never had to purchase insoles before. A few years back I'd just make due with whatever the footwear came with. After that, Iv'e been wearing the same model of Danners for about 5 years and they have been just about perfect for me. Well, they are now discontinued and the replacement model is overpriced... so I've picked up some new boots. Anyways, I have two pairs of new duty boots which I think could benefit from better insoles. My structural fire boots come with two insoles, one for warm weather and thin socks (thicker insole) and one for cold weather and thick socks (thin insole) and I'm hoping to find a similar situation in the aftermarket for my duty boots as both turned out to fit just a bit on the loose side. Any recommendations for a neutral pronator in search of a thicker/thickish boot insole? I enjoy moderate to strong arch support but don't suffer from flat arches by any means.
 
Not an expert on insoles by any means, but I tried the Dr Scholls gel insoles in my boots once and will never do that again. In a few weeks they crumbled into a huge mess that wasn't fun to clean out.
 
The insoles of my wife's Lowa boots were broken down after about 3,000 miles of hiking over several years. We found a new pair of Scholls sports insoles (not gel) dramatically improved the comfort and should extend the boots' life another few thousand miles.
 
uofaengr said:
Not an expert on insoles by any means, but I tried the Dr Scholls gel insoles in my boots once and will never do that again. In a few weeks they crumbled into a huge mess that wasn't fun to clean out.
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I have custom footbeds for my ski boots, as I spend a fair amount of time in them.

The problem with Scholls is they aren't an insole like others. They are "in" the "sole" of your boots, but they're just a squishy blob. Real insoles do structural work to compensate for deficiencies in your foot's structure. Which is why they're solid, not gel- they do structural things.

Zero
 
Hi

Superfeet or Soles are probably what you are after. Really, just like boots, it's about finding the one that fits your needs--and your foot-- the best. Both are quality products and have a lot of fans.

In the case of either, I would strongly recommend going to a store that has both, and has some trained sales people that will allow you to try them on and find the fit that's right for you. A good quality outdoor equipment store would likely be a good choice if you have one in your area. I have neutral feet as well, but this summer I was training for a Grand Canyon hike, and started to get Plantar Fasciitis. I replaced the insoles in my boots with upgraded insoles, and the issue went away.

After trying both Super Feet and Soles, I wound up with the Soles Dean Karnazes. You might look specifically at the Ed Viesture model, they are made for high volume footwear, and made my Salomon Quests a bit too tight. The Soles allow you to heat them in your oven and then put them in your boots for more of a custom fit. It might not be completely custom, but it does help with break in time. I have a friend who does serious endurance races--Ironman, Leadville, Etc, and he swears by Super Feet.

In the case of both Super Feet and Soles, I had to go up at least one whole size for the insoles and then trim them at the toe. This is not at all uncommon. The key measurement is the length between the ball of your foot, your arch and your heel--not the overall length of the foot. That's why it's so important to try them on. Every foot is different, and every boot is different. Take the boots you are going to put them in to also check the fit-especially if you want them to take up some volume.

Full Custom orthotics are an option, but they can run you several hundred dollars. If you're not having pronation problems, I don't think you need to go that route for now.

Hope you find one that works for you.
 
I have, or should I say had, Plantar Fasciitis and my Doctor prescribed these. I found my second pair online for a lower price than the Doctor charges. I'm on my second pair now and so far the Plantar has not returned in the 15 months that I've worn these.

I use them because of my Plantar Facsiitis but I think they would be a good insole for just about anyone.

 
I wear danner work boots for 12-14 hours a day and after the original insole wore out I replaced with Danner Fatigue Fighter Footbed, I order them direct on Danners website. If you order today they still offer free shipping. I order a few at a time so I always have a few on hand, their laces are also very good quality.
 
I've found the Dr. Scholls' CF series prefabs to be great. They're $45 - $50 but I've been pain free since adopting them whether in the mountains or in the city.
 
1sharpedge said:
I wear danner work boots for 12-14 hours a day and after the original insole wore out I replaced with Danner Fatigue Fighter Footbed, I order them direct on Danners website. If you order today they still offer free shipping. I order a few at a time so I always have a few on hand, their laces are also very good quality.
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I have always been very happy with my danner boots. Do these insoles offer any support or are they just cushion-y?
 
This is the description on the Danner website
"Our anatomically designed Fatigue Fighter™ footbed cushions the foot, supports the arch, and is quick to dry. Molded TPU lifts the arch. Spongy polyurethane softens the ride. And the Danner name means they'll last. Period. Danner® Fatigue Fighter™ footbed"
They are the best I've found and I've tried several different brands over the past 15 years of wearing work boots everyday as a pipe fitter on my feet 12-14 hours a day.
 
Well, I picked up a pair of the Danner insoles since they did have the free shipping. Can't wait to try them out!
 
The Superfeet are pretty good, but if you're on your feet all day, they can be a bit harsh.

I recommend Sorbothane insoles for all-day comfort and decent support. They also last seemingly forever; the pair I bought when I was working construction while in college back in the late 90's are still used to this day in my upland hunting boots! :thumbup: These are their "Maximum Duty" model.
 
My chiropractor had some made for me 10 years ago when my feet were wore out. They are still in use and have lasted longer than any boots I have owned. They were expensive at the time but well worth it. The cheap ones are like buying a cheap knife, you get what you pay for.
 
I have a high arch, and the podiatrist advised using Spenco brand cross trainers. They come in a number of styles, but the only ones I've ever used have been the cross trainers. They are a quality item. Some may be thicker then others to achieve what you are looking for.
 
ProArch support fron FootSmart. FRN with nylon padding; has kept Plantar at bay for 7 years. Highest recommendation.
 
I had a massive problem with this going through insole after insole with some improvements, but nothing satisfactory.

Best combination I stopped with was a two-layer approach:
http://www.theinsolestore.com/spenco-comfort-replacement-insoles.html
http://www.theinsolestore.com/powerstep-pinnacle-maxx-orthotics.html

Flat piece goes on the bottom, insole goes on top. All sitting in my Bates Delta 8 Gore-Tex boots, which already has a chunk of gel for the heel. You would need to get a boot about a size or half a size up though. This thing got me through long 40-hour weeks with plenty of overtime over the holidays.
 
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