10 Extraordinarily Effective And Best Shoe Inserts For Standing ALL DAY
For those of us who spend many hours on our feet for work, play or even everyday life, finding the best insoles to relieve discomfort or even pain in our feet, knees, or hips, is a matter of urgency. You have researched and found the best shoes or work boots for your needs, and you might have even tried a few different pairs of socks. However, something is still missing. Your feet still hurt after standing for a couple of hours. Now, it is time to find the best shoe inserts for standing all day.
This is not a simple topic. There are hundreds of options out there. Nonetheless, in this article, I have identified the 10 best shoe insoles for standing all day.
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Best Shoe Inserts For Standing All Day
How The Reviews Are Organized
I have divided the following reviews into two sections. In the first section, I discuss the best shoe inserts for standing all day that offer excellent cushion and shock absorption. Most of them have a little additional support in the arch and heel, but that is not the main purpose of the insole.
In the second section, I highlight the best insoles for standing all day that may have a little bit of cushion and shock absorption, but more significantly, have other elements that address issues with which you may be suffering. For example, insoles that help ease low or high arches, back pain, over or under pronation, plantar fasciitis, or metatarsal pain.
For optimal results, it is best to understand why your feet still hurt after finding a great pair of shoes and socks so that you can choose the best insoles for your needs. However, if that is not possible, then it is important to understand what each shoe insert is offering so that through trial and error, you can ultimately find the best insole to help make your feet comfortable all day long.
Best Shoe Inserts For Standing All Day That Offer Superior Cushion And Shock Absorption
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Dr. Scholl's WORK Massaging Gel Advanced Insoles are affordable and some of the best insoles for standing all day when you experience tenderness and fatigue in your feet and legs. They contain massaging gel and extra padding to provide all-day shock absorption and comfort. More specifically, there is cushioning in the ball of the foot and multi-layered "waves" in the heel and arch to give you additional comfort.
In addition to cushion and shock absorption, Dr. Scholl's WORK Massaging Gel Advanced Insoles supply firm columns which provide contoured and side support to help reinforce arches. In addition, they offer cooling vents to help prevent sweaty feet.
These insoles are designed for men from size 8-14 and are easy to fit and glue down into shoes. However, they also can work for women who have compatible shoe sizes. For comfort and relief from continuous impact from walking, these are some of the best shoe inserts for standing all day.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Timberland PRO Anti-Fatigue Technology Replacement Insoles are one of the best shoe inserts for standing all day. They offer an inverted cone foam which supports, absorbs impact and supplies energy to the feet. In addition, there is some arch support and antimicrobial mesh to combat odour.
Timberland PRO Anti-Fatigue Technology Replacement Insoles start at x-small (men's shoe sizes 5-6) and go up to xx-large (men's shoe sizes 14-15). Accordingly, depending on sizing, these insoles could naturally fit into a women's shoe, or could be trimmed down to fit.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Trek Support Work Gel Insoles are affordable shoe inserts that are designed for those who need support for standing all day. These include construction workers, teachers, chefs and commercial kitchen staff, or most hospital positions.
The top layer of these insoles are made of lightweight, shock absorbing, polyurethane foam. Below that, there is a honeycomb gel layer to cushion against hard surfaces to reduce leg and foot fatigue. For additional comfort, a velvety soft top-cloth lines the insoles and ventilation holes to help reduce moisture. Finally, a medium firm arch support is provided for added support. Accordingly, for comfort and shock absorption, they are some of the best insoles for standing all day.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Spenco Polysorb Heavy Duty Maximum All Day Comfort and Support Shoe Insoles are one of the best insoles for standing all day. They are moderately priced and offer excellent comfort.
They supply a 5/32" (4mm) layer of cushion along the length of the insole with extra cushion on the ball of the feet and heel. This padding absorbs impact and provides excellent comfort. Thickness at the heel is 0.5 inches.
Spenco Polysorb Heavy Duty Maximum All Day Comfort and Support Shoe Insoles are made from four way stretch fabric and has a low friction top cloth that helps to prevent blisters. In addition, odor is controlled through antimicrobial elements added to the inserts. There is some arch and heel support from a lightweight polysorb polyurethane foam but this is limited.
The manufacturer suggests purchasing the next size down for half sizes.
Best Insoles For Standing All Day That Offer Support
Best Shoe Inserts For Standing All Day If Over 200 Lb (90kg)
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Dr. Scholl's HEAVY DUTY SUPPORT Pain Relief Orthotics are made for men or women who weigh between 200Lb-300Lb. They help eliminate lower back pain, and foot & lower leg fatigue from standing for long hours. They add extra support to the foot by distributing weight and reducing impact on the foot. In addition, the shoe inserts are designed so as not to crowd toes.
Dr. Scholl's HEAVY DUTY SUPPORT Pain Relief Orthotics primary focus is to redistribute weight and firm up arch support, not provide excessive cushion, so people who are looking for extra padding will be disappointed by the hard plastic under the arch and thinness of the insole. Nevertheless, this is one of the best shoe inserts for standing all day for those over 200Lb.
Best Insoles For Standing All Day For High Arches And Comfort (Thick)
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Superfeet GREEN Insoles, Professional-Grade High Arch Support, Orthotic Shoe Inserts for Maximum Support are well reviewed and some of the best insoles for standing all day. They have a thick foam layer which provides shock absorption and cushion for long lasting comfort. In addition, its stabilizer cap at the base of the insole supports the rear feet and provides structure and stability to the foam layer.
Superfeet GREEN Insoles, Professional-Grade High Arch Support, Orthotic Shoe Inserts for Maximum Support has a deep heel cup which supports high arches and offers natural shock absorption. The high volume shape of the insole with the strong arch support helps to stabilize and support the foot, which can eliminate stress on feet, ankles and knees.
They are expected to last for one year or 500 miles. They are coated with natural substances to reduce odour causing bacteria.
Best Shoe Inserts For Standing All Day For Flat Feet, High Arches And Plantar Fasciitis
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Work-Hero Plantar Fasciitis Feet Insoles Arch Supports Orthotics Inserts relieve Flat Feet, High Arch, Foot Pain. They are very popular insoles and easily one of the best shoe insoles for standing all day.
These shoe inserts mitigates pain through firm, resilient arch support and provide comfort. When arch support improves, foot and leg re-alignment follow, thus enhancing comfort, easing stress and pain caused by flat feet, and providing relief from Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain & heel spurs).
Work-Hero Plantar Fasciitis Feet Insoles Arch Supports Orthotics Inserts offer pronation control to relieve pain, and mobility to allow for free and easy movement, without locking the feet in place. They offer a deep heel cup to maintain correct foot positioning, protect your heels during heavy impacts, and stabilize the feet. In addition, the top fabric reduces friction-causing blisters and keeps the feet cool. Accordingly, for all kinds of foot support, they are one of the best shoe inserts for standing all day.
Best Insoles For Standing All Day For Semi-Rigid Arch Support (Thin)
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Powerstep Full Length Orthotic Shoe Insoles Original with Arch Support Unisex- Relieve Metatarsal, Arch and Heel Pain are reasonably priced insoles with excellent reviews. They offer targeted cushioning while also keeping the insoles thin and flexible so they easily fit into most shoes. The structure of its' shell helps reduce fatigue and dense foam base provides durable shock absorption. Arch support is firm yet flexible and its heel cradle supplies extra support on impact.
Powerstep Full Length Orthotic Shoe Insoles Original with Arch Support Unisex are covered with an anti-microbial polyester fabric to help control odor. Unlike other brands, buyer's are not required to trim the insoles so they can be easily swapped between shoes and boots. The advantage of being able to use one set of insoles among all your shoes and boots offsets their extra cost. Nevertheless, they are still well priced and one of the best insoles for standing all day.
Best Insoles For Standing All Day For Plantar Fasciitis And Comfort
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
SOLE Active Thick Shoe Insoles are premium priced insoles that are available for men and women who suffer from plantar fasciitis. They are vegan and latex free and have been recommended by podiatrists as a reliable alternative to prescription orthotics which makes them some of the best insoles for standing all day.
SOLE Active Thick Shoe Insoles have a deep heel cup and dynamic arch support for stability. They offer neutral alignment and ensure that there is pressure distribution. The insoles are thick with a 3.2 mm cushioning for comfort and shock absorption, but also provide "zero drop" thus ensuring foot fits comfortably within your shoes or boots. In addition, they have a "polygiene coating" for odour control which uses recycled silver salt.
For an excellent fit, they can be molded to the shape of your sole with a convection oven. However, that is not necessary, and if you prefer, they can be molded to your foot simply by walking on them over a few days.
Best Insoles For Standing All Day For High Arches And Comfort
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Sof Sole Insoles Men's High Arch Performance Full-Length Foam Shoe Insert is a reasonably priced insole that offers cushion, stability and high arch support.
The deep heel cup stabilizes the heel to reduce pressure on knees and feet, and lowers the risk of slippage. Targeted gel drops add extra cushion in significant places. Hydologix and Microban are both included which keeps feet cooler and drier, and deter odor-causing bacteria. The arch has a one year replacement warranty against defects.
Buyer's Guide To The Best Shoe Inserts For Standing All Day
Why Change Your Insoles?
Most shoes come with their own insoles. However, most of them can be removed, giving a buyer the opportunity to exchange the manufacturer's insoles for something that works better for them.
There are many reasons why you may wish to do this. You might have a condition, such as plantar fasciitis, which requires extra support or cushion for key areas of your feet. However, it might be a lot simpler - your work requires you to stand all day on your feet, and you need more padding to relieve fatigue.
How To Know Which Shoe Insert Is Right For You?
This is both a simple and difficult question. If you spend long hours on your feet and after a couple of hours, your feet hurt or your lower back aches, then you might only need insoles that give extra padding and shock absorption to reduce impact.
However, this might not solve the problem. If your feet continue to hurt even after the shoe inserts are replaced, you might have another problem. For example, you could have high arches or fallen arches (flat feet), overpronation (your foot rolls inward as you walk) or under pronation, plantar fasciitis (inflammation that causes heel pain), or even something else.
In order to determine which one of the 10 best insoles for standing all day that you should purchase, you need to figure out what exactly is your specific problem. There are literally hundreds of orthotic insoles available, and selecting just one can be confusing without knowing what exactly you are trying to solve. If you pick the wrong shoe inserts, not only will your feet remain sore, but it might actually make them feel worst.
Broadly speaking, there are two categories of insoles - those that are meant for comfort and shock absorption from impact, and those that are designed for support - to remedy specific issues related to your feet.
Cushion and Shock Absorption: The Best Insoles For Standing All Day
As discussed earlier, a "comfort" insole is one that provides additional padding to your feet so that you can stand or walk for long hours on hard surfaces in comfort. These shoe inserts can either be simple padding, or extra gel or foam in certain high impact spots on the insole, such as the heel and the forefoot. In the first part of this article, I have identified four of the best shoe inserts for standing all day that specifically address comfort and shock absorption.
Support: The Best Shoe Inserts For Standing All Day
"Support" insoles are different. Normally, they focus more on supporting the foot to address specific issues and less on cushion. They usually feature a harder and less flexible surface which is structured to support key areas to help remedy the problems.
Those with plantar fasciitis or flat feet require additional arch support that places the foot into a more natural position. In the case of plantar fasciitis, insoles are also designed to remove pressure from the heel.
The same goes for those with high arches. Additional arch support is required to relieve the toes and heels from having to support the full weight of the body.
Some people have over or under pronation, which means that the foot naturally rolls in or out while walking. Without the proper support, the foot rubs against the shoe, causing blisters and unusual wear on the shoe, not to mention stress on your knees and hips from the irregular movement. A support insole can affix the foot in place, thus stabilizing it to avoid these problems.
How Do You Figure Out What You Need?
The purpose of this article is to focus on the best shoe insoles for standing all day. The assumption is that your shoes and socks fit properly and are the best shoes and socks for your activity. However, that might not be the case. Your feet could be hurting because your shoes, boots or even socks are not providing you the support and comfort that you need.
I have written many other articles on this topic, such as the best shoes for standing or walking on concrete, or the best socks for work boots or for sweaty feet. Here are a list of them:
- The 10 Best WOMEN's Shoes For Walking On Concrete
- The 10 Best MEN's Shoes For Walking On Concrete
- 10 Best Work Socks For MEN and WOMEN
- 12 Best Socks For Sweaty Feet For MEN and WOMEN
You may wish to take a look at these to determine whether your shoes, boots or socks are the right ones for you.
Assuming that they are all satisfactory, how do you figure out which insoles you need? The most productive way to find out why your feet are hurting is to go to a Podiatrist, a person that specializes in feet. However, this could be expensive. Another option is to find vending-like machines in drugstores or large grocery stores that will assess your feet. Not all stores offer this, so you would have to look around to find one.
The least efficient, but a reasonable approach when the other two options are unavailable, is trial and error. In this case, I would first try a simple cushion shoe insert. If your feet, ankles, or knees continue to ache, then I would look at your shoes or boots to see whether you can identify unusual wear and tear. If it does, maybe that will give you some insight into the shape of your foot or how you walk. If it does not, then at least try to figure out if you have high or low arches. After that, you will have to choose insoles that offer what you think you need and try them, swapping them out until you find one that works.
Sizing and Fitting of Insoles For The Best Insoles For Standing All Day
To determine the proper sizing of an insole, you need to place the insole on the ground and then, place your foot on it. Lift your other foot off the ground and try to balance on the insole. Then ask yourself these questions:
- How stable does your foot feel?
- Is your heel cupped properly?
- Do you feel pressure in the arch?
- Is there any pressure on the front of the foot?
- Is there any pinching?
- Is there cushion in places that you feel you need?
Next, remove the old shoe insert from your shoes and replace them with the new ones. Put your shoes on, wiggle your feet about and assess the fit. Then, walk around a bit. How do they feel?
If something doesn't feel right, then these insoles don't work. There isn't a "breaking in" period for shoe inserts. If you think about it, the whole idea of insoles is provide support and/or cushion to your feet right away so that you can walk or stand for long hours without your feet aching.
The difficult part is that you may have found the right type of insole - something for high arches or overpronation, for example, but it could be the wrong fit. On the other hand, they might be the wrong insoles altogether. Unfortunately, without a proper assessment, you don't really know. You will just have to try another.
How To Replace Shoe Inserts?
- Remove the existing insoles. If they are meant to be replaced, they slip out easily. If they shoe inserts are glued down, you will need to loosen the glue with heat. Once out, put the insoles aside. You may need them.
- If the shoe insert is supposed to automatically fit the size of your shoe, then fold the insole in half and slide it in toe first. Unfold it and press it so it is positioned properly without any lumps or creases. Most insoles run the full length of the shoe, so make sure that the insole lies flat from toe to heel. If they are only a half size or something else, make sure that they are positioned properly and lying flat.
- If the shoe insert is oversized, then you will need to cut the excess material off. Most new insoles come with instructions for sizing. If they do not, then use the original insole as a template. Finally, cut your new insole to match the original shoe insert.
How Often Should You Change Your Insoles?
There are several ways to figure out when your shoe inserts are no longer effective and need replacing.
- Time - If you use them every day or for long hours every week, then you should replace your insoles between 3-6 months, depending on how they feel. Of course, if the manufacturer has provided specific time lines, then you should pay attention to those.
- Comfort - If your feet or legs begin to ache when they felt fine before, or other parts of your foot begin to hurt, then odds are you should replace the shoe inserts.
- Smell - If the insoles begin to smell when there is anti-bacterial odour control, then you may need to replace them. If everything else seems fine - your feet feel otherwise comfortable or supported - then, you may wish to remove and hand wash them with a light soap and warm water. This should extend the life of the shoe inserts. However, if the insoles are glued to the shoes, this may not be possible.
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