How to Find the Best Gel Insoles

How to Find the Best Gel Insoles

Whether you need to ease plantar fasciitis, suffer from flat feet or simply want more cushioning in your everyday shoes, the best gel insoles can help.best gel insoles But with so many different options available, it can be difficult to figure out what type of insole is right for you. To make your decision, you should first consider what type of shoe you wear most often and how much support you need in the heel or arch area of your foot. Once you know these things, the rest of your shopping experience should be a lot smoother.

Insoles come in a variety of materials, including foam, cork and plastic, which can all offer different levels of support.best gel insoles Typically, insoles made of foam will be the softest and least supportive, while cork and plastic insoles tend to provide a little more stability, Graddon says. You should also consider how much space the insole will take up inside your shoe, as that can affect how comfortable they are.

Over-the-counter insoles are usually designed to match a range of sizes, such as women's shoe sizes 6 through 10 or men's size 8 through 14.best gel insoles Then you can trim the insole down to fit your specific shoes. This method is usually more cost-effective than purchasing a pair of custom insoles.

For those with very high arches, a pair of custom insoles may be the way to go.best gel insoles The Shape team tested these insoles from Superfeet, which are available in a range of arch heights, and found that they helped ease plantar fasciitis pain and improve foot biomechanics, especially for those who tend to overpronate. They also have a deep heel cup to reduce tightness and a moisture-wicking cover to avoid odor.

Another option is a full-length insole, which runs from the front of your foot to your heel. The Shape team tested these insoles by slipping them into a pair of running sneakers. One runner who spends full days on her feet noted that she was typically at a four or five on the pain scale after her run, but these insoles dropped her to a two or three.

While these insoles aren't made with as much cushioning as other options, they do have a built-in arch and a heel cup to absorb shock and reduce tightness. They're also lightweight, making them a good choice for runners who don't want to add too much weight to their shoes. They're also easy to trim down, with a guide in the package to help you achieve a more exact fit.

These insoles are made with massaging gel technology that the brand claims helps relieve plantar fasciitis, heel spurs and sore heels by offloading pressure points in your feet. They're available in a wide range of shoe sizes, and they're the cheapest of the ones we tested. If you find that they're not comfortable, the company will give you a full refund. However, we didn't find that the gel was as effective as other brands in reducing heel pain for our testers.

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