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Ashley Thess

Find pain relief, injury prevention, and more co*fortable hikes with these supportive and cushioned inserts

The post The Best Insoles for Hiking of 2023, Tested and Reviewed appeared first on Outdoor Life.

                   

Ashley Thess

 

   
     
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Best Lightweight	alt="The Currex HikePro is one of the best insoles for hiking."                  width="250" />	Currex HikePro	SEE IT
Best Cushion	alt="The Superfeet Trailblazer are one of the best insoles for hiking."                  width="250" />	Superfeet Trailblazer	SEE IT
Best for Flat Feet	alt="The Oboz Plus II are some of the best insoles for hiking."                  width="250" />	Oboz Plus II	SEE IT

 

If your feet hurt while hiking, you might benefit from insoles for hiking boots. But first take stock of your footwear. The right shoes are the first step, but if you already own a quality pair of hiking shoes, a quality insole can alleviate pain. The insoles that co*e in your shoes are typically just a flat piece of foam. If the arch of your foot isn’t supported, it can cause problems like blisters, hot spots, supination or overpronation (your foot rolling out or in), and plantar fasciitis (a condition where the tissues in your foot beco*e strained).

Blisters and hot spots can arise from excess friction in your shoe, and a thicker, more supportive insole can fill this space. Insoles can also give your foot a firm cradle to help aid in shock absorption and weight distribution to relieve stress on your body. I tested multiple models from the top brands to determine which are the best insoles for hiking.

• Best Lightweight: Currex HikePro





• Best Cushion: Superfeet Trailblazer





• Best Custom: Superfeet ME3D





• Best for Flat Feet: Oboz Plus II





• Best Replacement: Sole Active





• Dishonorable Mention: Drugstore Gel Inserts

Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Insoles for Hiking

There are two parts of an insole: the arch support and footbed. The arch support is a hard piece, typically plastic or carbon fiber, that cradles the foot. The footbed is the fabric covered foam in the shape of your foot. Some may contain additional padding at the heel or forefoot, but the arch and footbed are the two main co*ponents. Let’s dive into how these can affect your hiking performance.

Arch Support

While everyone’s feet are different, most insoles are categorized by low, medium, or high arches. Selecting the right arch height is crucial. I spoke with Dr. Selina Sekulic from Salt Lake City’s Final Kick Ankle and Foot Clinic and she says, “If you are buying the insole to correct your rearfoot alignment, then you don’t want to choose an arch height that just positions your foot in its naturally poor alignment,” she explains. Sekulic frequently sees patients that have chosen too low of an arch profile. “If the over the counter options are causing blisters, or are just not tolerable, it’s time to invest in a customized orthotic,” Sekulic says.

To find your arch height at home, you can wet your foot and place it on a paper towel, piece of cardboard, etc. to see the impression your foot leaves. Then co*pare your arch imprint to the different arch heights to determine your height. Another option is to try a Superfeet ME3D custom scanner. I visited Ossine Shoes in West Jordan, UT, to experience it for myself. While I don’t have foot pain while hiking, it was still an enlightening experience to receive so much data about my feet. For instance, I have low arches, but during the walking portion of the scan, my arch height slightly increased while in motion. This shows how important dynamic data can be.

Firmness

Currex’s CEO Lutz Klein told me that while the shape of their HikePro insoles are the same, the stiffness of the shank that supports your arch varies according to size and arch profile. The lowest arch profile is the most rigid, beco*ing more flexible with higher arches. This is because Currex isn’t aiming to change your foot profile, they’re filling the gap in your shoes. The more surface area of your foot in contact with the shoe, the less pressure and fatigue there will be from unnecessary movement. 

If the bottom of your foot has constant contact, then the impact will be more equally distributed. The equation they use to achieve this on a mass scale is force / area = body weight x acceleration. (This is following the assumption that body weight is correlated to shoe size which according to Currex researchers is 89 percent accurate.) Your arch height changes in motion, as evidenced by my dynamic Superfeet scan. Therefore the best insoles for hiking must also be flexible enough to stay with your foot throughout the walk cycle. 

Orientation

The orientation of your feet also plays a part in Currex’s arch profile. You can see in their at-home sizing method how your insole is dependent on your leg axis as well as arch height. This also helps visualize how an insole can alleviate problems beyond foot pain, like hip and knee issues. 

However, the wrong insole can cause problems. Klein told me that Currex’s insoles will not cause long term issues if you pick the wrong arch height, because they are so flexible as to not alter your foot profile. But, Dr. Sekulic does caution against arch support that is too rigid. “Some people tend to roll to the outside of their foot (i.e supinate),” she explains. “An arch support which is designed to prevent the foot from rolling inwards (i.e excessive pronation) could potentially push the supinated foot into a more co*promised position.” Essentially, be wary of disco*fort in your insoles. If it is too rigid, you might not be absorbing shock properly which can lead to issues. 

co*fort

Choosing an insole might seem daunting, but just like any other piece of gear such as backpacks or hiking shoes, you have to listen to your body. The insole you choose should make you more co*fortable, not less. Dr. Sekulic warns that since the arch support in insoles is made of a hard substance like plastic or carbon fiber, they cannot be broken in like a shoe. “Insoles should feel co*fortable after a few times of wearing them. If not, return them for a better fit,” says Sekulic. This is why the best insoles have a return period even after wearing or trimming to size to ensure a proper fit. Cushion in the insole’s footbed is also an important factor. 

Your shoe volume can be affected by a too-thick or too-thin insole. Hiking boots typically have a large volume to acco*modate thick socks and swelling. This gives plenty of room to replace the insole that came with your hiking boot with something more plush. The amount and distribution of cushion can also affect the performance of your shoes. Look for a zero drop to maintain the integrity of your footwear. The best insoles for hiking boots should work hand in hand (foot in foot?) with your shoe.

Best Insoles for Hiking: Review & Reco*mendations

Best Lightweight: Currex HikePro

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Ashley Thess

     

             

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