Avid readers of Hiking Lady know that I am a proponent of enhanced insoles for a variety of reasons. Primarily, because shoe and boot manufacturers often put low quality insoles into their shoes to keep costs down. They know that people who really care about their feet or have foot problems will most definitely exchange the insoles and buy a pair of enhanced insoles to provide much better support.
Over the years, I’ve reviewed a variety of insoles, including Superfeet, Cadence Insoles, CurrexSole, Ortholite, and more. Most recently I’ve been testing a pair of SOLE Active insoles. What’s my take? Read on!
How Are SOLE’s Active Medium Shoe Insoles Different from Other Insoles?
SOLE’s Active insoles are quite unique relative to other insoles I’ve tried.
- Custom Arch Support. Unlike other insoles that have a relatively quick break-in period, the SOLE Active insoles have a roughly 3 day break-in period (per their published data). However, I chose to try their heat molding method. You can do either a regular break-in or an immediate break-in by heating them up in an oven for 3 minutes, then stand in them immediately so they mold to your foot. Don’t worry; it was easy to do, and there are very specific instructions on the packaging. There even is an indicator on the insoles so you know when they’re done “cooking”!
- Multiple Thicknesses. There are three thicknesses available, designed for different types of shoe volumes. I picked Medium for my hiking boots, but I would have picked Thin for running shoes and Thick for my backpacking boots.
The Verdict?
So far I love these insoles. The fit feels very custom, more so than other insoles I’ve tried, and they are quite durable. I will see how they hold up after several months of trail use. I’m looking forward to putting some real miles on them!
Where to Buy?
SOLE insoles can be purchased online through the SOLE website, Amazon.com, or at REI.
Happy trails!
Hi Maggie,
Great question! While I like my SOLE insoles, I still prefer my blue Superfeet insoles for my hiking boots. If your feet are quite thin, you could try the green Superfeet insoles (they take up more volume in your boots), however, for me, the blue’s work great.
Good luck and happy trails!
HL
Hi, HL,
Just found your website and am so happy to find someone else with hard-to-fit narrow feet. Am going to try either the Superfeet or Sole insoles to improve the fit of some hiking shoes with heels that are a bit wobbly. Are the new Soles you’re trying helping with fit? Or which model of Superfeet would you recommend to improve heel fit?
Thanks!