Superfeet Insoles (Green) Review

Superfeet makes serious insoles.  If you’re accustomed to the drugstore variety, you’re going to be surprised, both by their price and their functionality.  Superfeet produces a number of different insoles with different densities and designs to correct various foot problems.  The green version provides maximum stability, support, and cushioning.  Most drugstore insoles only cushion the foot, not actually correcting the underlying issues such as plantar fasciitis and overpronation.  Superfeet are different.  They help guide your foot into the proper alignment to reduce or eliminate your pain and improper foot positioning.Initial Reaction:
Uncomfortable.  Period.  These insoles aren’t like Dr. Scholl’s.  They are firm, with a softer upper layer and an bottom layer that’s made from polypropylene to support your heel and foot.  My PT recommended only wearing them for an hour or so the first day and slowly increasing the time each day until I can wear them without pain.  Seemed weird at first, but the Superfeet insoles were actually changing the mechanics of my walking and running.  Muscles that had developed improperly that caused or influenced my plantar fasciitis and overpronation were marginalized while my muscles adjusted to a ‘normal’ gait.

Final Review:
I started using these insoles about a month before the first sprint tri of the season, the Parris Island Sprint in March.  By the tri, most of my daily plantar fasciitis pain had subsided and I only experienced discomfort towards the end of a run and in the 24 hours after a run.  After overcoming the initial discomfort as my feet and gait adjusted to the insoles, I noticed less pain during and after my runs and less recovery time after a run.  By June, I could run 10K+ without discomfort and with very little pain afterwards.  I completed the Hartsville International Tri in September and had absolutely no pain during the run and very limited discomfort after the event.

I now have two pair of Superfeet Green insoles: one for my causal shoes and another for my running shoes.  I normally wear the insoles in my bike shoes if I’m riding more than 25 miles.  Though the fit is a bit tight in my bike shoes, I absolutely need the support that these insoles provide.  When I was first diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, I was concerned that I’d need expensive orthopedic insoles and special shoes.  I’m very relieved that the Saucony Stabil 6 shoes and Superfeet Green insoles provide the necessary support and stability to correct my overpronation and mitigate my plantar fasciitis.

Pros:

• Very supportive
• Durable (400 miles on first set, still going strong in my casual shoes)
• Increases stability for overpronators
• Eases plantar fasciitis pain

Cons:

• A bit more expensive than other insoles ($40)
• Bottom layer detaches after washing.  Easily reattached
• Anti-Fungal treatment doesn’t work for long

Overall:
If you’re experiencing heel and arch pain caused by overpronation and plantar fasciitis, these Superfeet Green insoles will do wonders for your comfort.  Be careful to break them in, or break your gait in really, by wearing for only a few hours a day during the first week.  Don’t be afraid to wash them with soap and hot water, they hold up pretty well, though the bottom layer may detach after repeated washings.  You can easily reattach with a spot of glue.  We recommend rotating two or more sets into your most used shoes to prevent premature breakdown, though you can get by with only one pair if you prefer.  These are going for $40.95 on Zappos.com right now and are worth every penny.  When you’ve tired of cheap, drugstore brands, take the step up to Superfeet.  You’ll never regret the additional cost.