Boot insoles
- Thread starter Whiteburn
- Start date
el manana
Thru Hiker
Are you sure its the Superfeet? I get a blister in the same place on some trips, I think its caused when the route involves a lot of traversing around slopes and the sides of hills. It occurs when I don't use Superfeet. My solution is 4cm wide Strappal around the heel and sides.
Whiteburn
Thru Hiker
The insoles in my Meindl boots are crap, zero support & starting to disintegrate.
Found the Superfeet pretty supportive & feet definitely feel less tired after a long yomp. Keeping the callus around the edge of the heel filed right down does help stop blisters but making the foot fit the insole didn't seem the right approach.
Set out on the HRP with the Superfeet in the Terroc 330's & had to replace them with the original insoles after about 10 days, as the callus builds up at the 'hot spot' it becomes increasingly sore. Same happened on the TGO last year. I did think of buying the next size up, with a slightly large heel cup, & then cutting them down but I reckoned the arch support would probably be in the wrong place & they're a bit expensive the experiment with.
Mole
Thru Hiker
I used superfeet in terrocs for a few years, but find not enough forefoot cushioning for long trips with lots of miles on tracks. never had heel problems- just occasional blistering under forefoot if not careful.
(Gazelle- superfeet have solved/alleviated various issues for me and several friends over the years - wait until you get older, slack off training for a year or more through family/work commitments and then get back into doing stuff, and you might suddenly understand )
moved back to these
http://www.tauntonleisure.com/sorbothane-cush-039-n-039-step-insoles/p1801
a couple years ago. no forefoot problems anymore, but did get a sore callous forming on lower outer heel on this years tgo. but usually fine.
(Gazelle- superfeet have solved/alleviated various issues for me and several friends over the years - wait until you get older, slack off training for a year or more through family/work commitments and then get back into doing stuff, and you might suddenly understand
)moved back to these
http://www.tauntonleisure.com/sorbothane-cush-039-n-039-step-insoles/p1801
a couple years ago. no forefoot problems anymore, but did get a sore callous forming on lower outer heel on this years tgo. but usually fine.
gixer
Thru Hiker
Was talking about insoles with a friend of a friend a while ago who is a Physio, he was asking if i'd problems with my knees as my Salomon shoes have a pronounced arch sole.
The conversation then went onto how folks are effectively self medicating with these in-soles, the phrase he used was that it was like wearing prescription glasses when you don't need them.
He has had a few cases where folks using higher arched in-soles have causes a fair bit of damage to themselves when there was absolutely no need for them.
I'm certainly no physio, but my understanding is that if you are slightly bow legged and you buy high arch in-soles then you are pushing your knees out further which is worsening a already bad situation.
We're not talking about not being able to stop a pig in a entry bow legged either, it can be very subtle and still cause problems.
Higher arch in-soles offer no useful support, that should be from the boot/shoe.
Mole,
Age shouldn't be a factor, it's how you walk.
As i say if your 90 and bow legged then the last thing you want is a high arch pushing your knees out.
The conversation then went onto how folks are effectively self medicating with these in-soles, the phrase he used was that it was like wearing prescription glasses when you don't need them.
He has had a few cases where folks using higher arched in-soles have causes a fair bit of damage to themselves when there was absolutely no need for them.
I'm certainly no physio, but my understanding is that if you are slightly bow legged and you buy high arch in-soles then you are pushing your knees out further which is worsening a already bad situation.
We're not talking about not being able to stop a pig in a entry bow legged either, it can be very subtle and still cause problems.
Higher arch in-soles offer no useful support, that should be from the boot/shoe.
Mole,
Age shouldn't be a factor, it's how you walk.
As i say if your 90 and bow legged then the last thing you want is a high arch pushing your knees out.
Whiteburn
Thru Hiker
I'm already old by some standards.......but I reckon 60 is just middle aged
Yoga
best training is just get out & yomp 
Hedley Heap
Section Hiker
Insoles are a useful tool, but IMHO you shouldn't self medicate as gixer says.
A good running shop can help, there are various tests, wet foot test
Gait analysis etc.
That will tell you if you need correction or just general cushioning.
I moderately overpronate like the majority of people.
Not a simple subject at all.
A good running shop can help, there are various tests, wet foot test
Gait analysis etc.
That will tell you if you need correction or just general cushioning.
I moderately overpronate like the majority of people.
Not a simple subject at all.
Teepee
Thru Hiker
Great advice Hedley. Running gait analysis is a great tool for finding out what your feet are doing. Really should be performed walking as well as running if you do both as the feet can behave completely differently.
I forefoot strike when running, also downhill and through snow/mud. Very lucky to have a neutral gait and need neutral footwear.
I forefoot strike when running, also downhill and through snow/mud. Very lucky to have a neutral gait and need neutral footwear.
Last edited:
Whiteburn
Thru Hiker
Lots of science......my brain hurts
From Hedley Heap's post I reckon I've pretty 'normal' feet, was thinking of just going with one of the Sorbothane Cush 'N' Step insoles.
From Hedley Heap's post I reckon I've pretty 'normal' feet, was thinking of just going with one of the Sorbothane Cush 'N' Step insoles.
Teepee
Thru Hiker
4 years happy use with those for me. They get cycled round most of my outside footwear.
I like the way they soak up sweat and keep feeling dry. Can also wring them out after washing out the silt in streams. Hope they work for you.
FWIW, Millets had them on offer a while back for £3, might still be there. I stocked up.
I like the way they soak up sweat and keep feeling dry. Can also wring them out after washing out the silt in streams. Hope they work for you.
FWIW, Millets had them on offer a while back for £3, might still be there. I stocked up.
Mole
Thru Hiker
for a fiver you can't really go wrong?
I put them in most shoes these days. I notice the difference.
sure, but age = length of time how unrecognised issues (exacerbated by work/sport activities) can and often do affect how one walks. That's obvious from the state of plenty of middle aged folk I know!
My benefit from superfeet IMO was from the alignment given from the heel cup to the arch shape, rather than 'support' per se. I already had high arches naturally.
I put them in most shoes these days. I notice the difference.
sure, but age = length of time how unrecognised issues (exacerbated by work/sport activities) can and often do affect how one walks. That's obvious from the state of plenty of middle aged folk I know!
My benefit from superfeet IMO was from the alignment given from the heel cup to the arch shape, rather than 'support' per se. I already had high arches naturally.
gixer
Thru Hiker
Dunno so much, i spent more time injured when i was younger than now i'm older.
Sure our bodies aren't as fresh, heal or recover as quickly, but we also tend to be a lot more careful and cautious when we get older.
T'other thing is that selecting insoles based upon our own self assessment has just as much a chance of doing more harm than good.
These are corrective in-soles, if they're designed to correct a problem we don't have then at best they're no more use than the standard soles, at worst it could cause more injuries.
No doubt that they work for some folks, i just think that it's not advisable to just pick up a pair just because a person "thinks" they need them, best to go and see a professional first and take it from there.
With regards to arch support, please take into consideration that i'm no expert by a long long way, even the experts tend to disagree depending on who you speak to and when, or what articles you read.
From the stuff i read and discussed i'm of the opinion that arch support is NOT a good thing.
From my readings and discussions i found that many professionals felt that although the arch is an extremely strong support (like a arch in architecture) it's only really the top that offers any strength.
At the bottom of the arch where a high arch insole will be in contact with, it's a very very weak part of the foot.
By stuffing a arch support inside your foots arch you're transferring force that would have been taken by the stronger top section of the arch.
Not only does this put strain and stress on the vulnerable, weaker section of the arch, even worse is the fact that if you wear these high arch supports over time you'll be worse off, as your upper section of the arch will get weaker and weaker.
As i say i'm no expert and if they work for you then it's all good.
But if your interested it might be worth your time doing a bit of searching and reading up to see what opinion you form.
If you do it'd be fantastic to read your thoughts, especially if you disagree because as i say it's tough to find a good consistent opinion from the experts.
Personally though at this moment in time, i'm a believer that IF you don't have a problem that's been diagnosed by a professional then it's best to leave well alone.
The least amount of support (again as long as you have no diagnosed problem) you can get away with the stronger and less injury prone your feet are going to be.