ISO new insoles

[ny biker]

I need new insoles for my Sidis. Something with decent arch support.

My current insoles are from Louis Garneau. I've only had them a couple of years and already they're wearing out -- my feet are hurting during and after riding.

So what do we like? Are Smartfeet insoles good for cycling? I noticed some Specialized insoles at a bike shop recently -- has anyone used them?

Thanks for any suggestions and advice!!

[Artista]

I like my Specialized insoles for bike shoes. Theoretically the Specialized insoles are designed to support our feet properly while pushing on the pedals with only the balls of our feet. Super Feet are designed to support our feet while our weight is more evenly distributed between the ball and the heel. Who knows...bike specific insoles could be just hype.

[Blueberry]

When I had a fit done recently, we added the specialized wedges to my shoes. They've made a big difference in terms of foot comfort (I have high arches, and wasn't pushing with enough of my foot) - I'm thinking of just purchasing the insoles (since my sidi stock ones are getting aged).

[Becky]

Specialized, definitely!

[zoom-zoom]

I like my Smartfeet. I have them in both pair of cycling shoes and used them in all my running shoes, too, until recently.

[ny biker]

So, update. I tried the Specialized insoles but they didn't fit right. I wound up buying some Shimano insoles that are heat-molded to your feet. You do the heating and molding at the LBS, using an oven supplied by Shimano (apparently their shoes also require heat molding).

They seemed fine at first, but part-way through my first long ride with them my calves started to cramp. And then my calves cramped during my next long ride in them. And again last night during a shorter ride.

I think the arch support is too pronounced. Which is kinda weird, since they were totally flat before being heated, and it's not like I used someone else's feet to mold them when they came out of the oven.

Anyway, the LBS manager said they could be heated and molded a total of three times, so I'm going to take them back and try molding them again.

[OakLeaf]

I think the arch support is too pronounced. Which is kinda weird, since they were totally flat before being heated, and it's not like I used someone else's feet to mold them when they came out of the oven.

Did you mold them weightbearing? You're still using your foot muscles when you pedal, just not as much as when you're standing or walking.

I don't know much about how those things work though - I did used to use the Specialized insoles, but I've learned to focus on four corners of my feet while pedaling as well as off the bike, and it definitely helps my Achilles and knees.

[ny biker]

Did you mold them weightbearing?

Yes. After they come out of the oven, you put them in your shoes, put the shoes on your feet, and stand in one place while they mold -- for 10 or 15 minutes, I don't recall exactly.

[Selkie]

Late to the game (sorry), but I've been using Superfeet insoles in my cycling shoes for several years. I have the pink ones. Knot recommended them, which is a high endorsement.

Not surprisingly, my ortho "prescribed" them for my other athletic shoes after diagnosing me w/Plantar Fasciitis. The arch isn't too high, unlike the Sole insoles that a different doctor recommended when I had an ankle/plantar injury last year.

[7rider]

They seemed fine at first, but part-way through my first long ride with them my calves started to cramp. And then my calves cramped during my next long ride in them. And again last night during a shorter ride.

.

Your first time out in them was a long ride? If so, that may be part of the problem. My SuperFeet recommended starting slow/short, and then building up. Your feet have to get used to them.

[ny biker]

Your first time out in them was a long ride? If so, that may be part of the problem. My SuperFeet recommended starting slow/short, and then building up. Your feet have to get used to them.

My first ride with them was a short ride (for me), about 90 minutes of hills. The next ride was 50 miles.

[indysteel]

I've worn these for a few years now in my SIDIs with good luck. Sadly, they didn't eliminate the horrible hot foot that I suffer from, but they reduced the severity of it. Oddly enough, I get the most relief from a repeated application of tiger balm on my right big toe. Go figure. Anyway the SOLEs were a vast improvement over the stock SIDI footbed.

[nscrbug]

I use what Indysteel is using...the Soles Thin Sport insole. Seems to be working okay for me.

[pll]

I used Specialized insoles in my old MTB Lake shoes and had no problem. In my Sidis, I am using eSoles and I like them quite a bit. You can choose the arch and they seem 'fresher' than the Specialized ones. For my running shoes, I like Powerstep insoles. I have been using those for more than 10 years now.

I've used Superfeet in walking shoes and they did not work for me.

[Crankin]

I have both Shimano mtb and road shoes. The road shoes are the heat moldable ones. I had the whole thing done at the LBS and owie. The innersoles were way too thick for me. I can't tolerate anything that makes my shoes feel tighter. I rode around with foot pain for a week, then went back and complained. She told me to take the inner soles out and ride with nothing, and then slowly ease into using them. I did not follow her advice. Instead I put the crumbling old innersoles from my Sidis in there (thinner than thin) as a temporary fix, and then got the extremely thin Superfeet liners for the shoes. They are perfect. While I appreciate the wider toe box of the Shimano shoes, I think the whole heat moldable thing is an expensive scam. The mtb shoes I use with the Frog pedals are not heat moldable, but had a major issue with metal pins sticking up through the sole and pressing on my feet. It was excruciating, the LBS thought I was crazy, but DH found the problem and fixed them. They, thankfully came with very thin liners.
Sometimes, I think I shouldn't wear socks. Even the thinnest ones bother me on long rides.