Finding the best insoles for plantar fasciitis is in fact a really difficult task as you have to go through a wide variety of these insoles available in the market.
If you are on your feet all day then insoles more commonly known as orthotics should be an essential part of your life. They have a lot of advantages associated with them.
What can Insoles do for your feet?
Even if you suffer from plantar fasciitis or not, wearing orthotics will certainly be one of the good decisions you made for the health of your feet. Here’s why:
- Insoles provide extra comfort and arch support to your feet
- If you have flat feet or over-pronation and high arches or supination then orthotics aid you by supporting your feet
- Insoles can be practically inserted into any type of shoe – running, casual, formal or any other shoe. You can simply replace your older ones with new orthotics
- Insoles are designed with a heel cup that’s deeper than others and that renders your feet stress free. It also works as a shock-absorbent thereby relieving your plantar fasciitis pain
- Finally, you can save yourself some money by purchasing these inserts for plantar fasciitis rather than investing a large amount of money in buying new shoes for yourself
Features of Good Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis
Nobody wants to end up buying the wrong kind of orthotics or those that worked for some time and were then of no use. In order to make the right decision, knowledge of some of the features of the good insoles for plantar fasciitis is crucial.
- Reputation is the key. If a certain orthotic is not used by plantar fasciitis sufferers or if it was unable to do the job for them, then you might as well refrain from buying it.
- Look for insoles that might actually do something for your feet. You can do so by checking the brand you are interested in and whether or not that company makes insoles for plantar fasciitis. They must offer strong arch support.
- Lastly, best insoles are the ones that are according to your specific condition that is supination or over-pronation.
Problems with Insoles
There are a few problems reported by the customers who have been using orthotics. These issues are listed below
- It takes time to get used to adapt to the added arch support and thus a few days are needed until the orthotics can be useful and effective.
- Some orthotics can be fairly out of your range in terms of money. They are way too expensive and a better alternative is to buy new shoes.
- There is usually a chance that the insoles will not remain for a longer period of time. The reason can be that they are directly in contact with your feet all day long and can thus break down quickly.
What does Research say about Insoles?
Advising plantar fasciitis sufferers to buy orthotics for relieving their pain is a common practice amongst podiatrist and other health practitioners.
A study found that as compared to the custom orthotic inserts common pre-fabricated ones were able to out-perform and were beneficial as an initial treatment.
Another study concluded that foot orthoses were able to reduce foot pain significantly and the foot function was increased after only 4 weeks amongst the group which was required to wear functional orthotics.
Editor’s Recommendation: Top 5 Best Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis
Top 5 Best Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis for Casual Shoes
We have reviewed top 5 insoles for plantar fasciitis for casual shoes. Our reviews include the highlighting features, pros and cons of these 5 insoles.
1. Superfeet Blue Premium Insoles
Superfeet Blue Premium InsolesSuperfeet Blue insoles are considered to be the best in the market. Their ADD/APT System gives a 3-dimensional feel to your foot.
These insoles are podiatric designed and their structure gives maximum support and comfort to your feet. These insoles consist of a heel cup, rear foot support, firm foam layer and stabilizer cap.
Pros – Recommended and loved by many plantar fasciitis sufferers and helps in relieving the pain, Durable, Suitable for a variety of shoes and are best for flat feet.
Cons – Expensive, Requires Break-In and Size inconsistencies.
2. Powerstep Pinnacle Orthotics Insole
Powerstep Pinnacle Orthotics InsoleAlthough Superfeet wins when it comes to insoles for plantar fasciitis, but the second best that you can find in the market is one from Powerstep.
Powerstep Pinnacle is made up of Polypropylene anti-bacterial ETC fabric. It has a heel cup for feet stabilization and double-layer cushioning.
Pros – Heals plantar fasciitis pain, comfortable and gives perfect fit for any shoes
Cons – Requires time to get adjusted in, not of high quality
3. Powerstep® ProTech Full Length
This full-length polypropylene orthotic is another great one from Powerstep. It features Poron® heel Comfort Cushion that provides support and cushioning to your feet.
It comes in a variety of sizes and is available for both men and women.
Pros – Relieves plantar fasciitis pain, comfortable, long-lasting and fits perfectly in any type of shoes
Cons – You cannot get used to it right away
4. Syono Orthotics Gel Insoles and Shoe Inserts
Syono Orthotics Gel Insoles and Shoe InsertsIf you are on your feet the whole day and you suffer from plantar fasciitis then Syono Orthotics Gel Insoles and Shoe Inserts are what you need.
These inserts are made to provide comfort, support and cushioning to your ankle, heels and your body in general. They come over-sized so that you can alter them according to your needs.
Pros – Reduces plantar fasciitis pain, light-weight, reasonably priced
Cons – if you have high arches, then these might not be for your condition as they offer minimal arch support, have a tendency to get permanently damage at an early stage
5. Spenco Polysorb Total Support
Spenco Polysorb Total SupportPolysorb Total Support insoles from Spenco are one of their top guns as they include 3-PODTM Cushioning System which works great for shock absorption.
These are primarily made for people who over-pronate. They have heat moldable layer and forefoot crash pad for maximum support and cushioning.
Pros – Helps in escaping from plantar fasciitis pain, comfortable
Cons – Might not offer adequate arch support and is also not suitable for wide feet.
Top 4 Best Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis for Athletes
Insoles that are made for sport and athletic shoes are slightly different from the ones mentioned above, four of the best insoles for athletic shoes that reduce plantar fasciitis are listed below:
1. Dr. Scholl’s Active Series Replacement
Designed by a Doctor, these insoles are one of the best when it comes to the good insoles for plantar fasciitis. They have 3 main highlighting features.
Ball of foot padding for maximum cushioning, arch area is reinforced for better support to your feet and a deep heel cup for greater shock absorption.
Pros – Heals plantar fasciitis pain, great for runners, long-lasting and low in cost
Cons – Might not fit perfectly in every type of shoes, initially feels like minimal arch support
2. Spenco Polysorb Cross Trainer
Spenco Polysorb Cross TrainerSpenco Polysorb Cross Trainer inserts have some unique features like Eva forefoot cushion and Spencore heel plug that helps in providing cushion and support to your feet.
They are made up of polysorb polyurethane foam and have a 5/32 inch thick layer of Spencore material that works as a shock-absorbent.
Its 4-way stretch fabric with silpure antimicrobial keeps your feet odor-free and prevents any blisters from forming on your feet.
Pros – Works great for daily use, comfortable, lightweight and easy on the pocket
Cons – Does not keep your feet stable
3. Sorbothane Ultra Graphite Arch Insole
Sorbothane Ultra Graphite Arch InsoleSorbothane claims that these Graphits Arch Insoles are energy core metatarsal inserts that absorb 94.7% of the shock or impact we create while walking and thus they ensure smooth gait throughout the day.
Combined with the polyurethane layer, the graphite arch delivers great arch and heel support and cushioning. It also has a poron foam layer that serves as an extra shock-absorbent.
Pros – Relieves plantar fasciitis pain, comfortable and long-lasting
Cons – Does not provide adequate arch support and is costly as compared to its competitors
4. Sof Sole Airr Lightweight Insole Shoe
Sof Sole Airr Lightweight Insole ShoeAs the name suggest, Sof Sole Air Insoles include air chambers paired with the polymer gel in the arch and heel area which offers support, cushioning, shock absorptions and endures the impact of tough activities.
It also has a nylon plate that prevents the exaggeration of your plantar fasciitis pain and keeps your feet in their right position.
Pros – Decrease plantar fasciitis pain, keeps your feet cushioned and comfortable, effective during running.
Cons – New design is slimmer as compared to its ancestors, might have inconsistent sizing.
Final Word
The above mentioned insoles are our favorites amongst the large variety available in the market. We suggest you to make your choice from these perfect insoles for plantar fasciitis.
We hope that up till now you have got the hold on to the type of foot condition you have, your footprint and other useful information required for making the right choice.
You should be assured that these 9 insoles are the best as these are tested and loved by their users. To end our discussion, we would recommend you to buy a high quality insert as soon as possible so that your feet are relieved of the plantar fasciitis pain