Boot insoles

[Spaceman3750]

My Danner duty boots need new insoles. Wondering what everyone else is doing for good, comfy insoles. I was thinking about taking them to the local shoe repair shop and having some custom insoles done, but wanted to hear from wiser people first.

[Garibaldi]

Dr Scholl's, or those ones that you can get at Walmart where you have to stand on that machine and it tells you which one is right for you.

[SarDragon]

I've used Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gels for years, and they work well. The ones related to the machine are, IMHO, overpriced ($50 a set) for what you are getting, unless you've got some really AFU feet, and then you should be getting them through a doctor.

[Panache]

I'm a big fan of Tuli's Heavy Duty Gel Heel Cups.  Relatively cheap, but have really helped on those long days when I'm on my feet.

[Eclipse]

My personal experience has been that insoles, etc., feel great when you first put them in, and
then you wind up with hotspots or blisters because your foot isn't seated in the shoe either
as designed or as it's worn in.

YMMV.

[a2capt]

My best result has been with the half length type, and always kick the heel to the floor as you get into it.

[THRAWN]

Buy new boots. COTS insoles are never going to be a perfect fit. They'll slip, bunch up, and make life generally miserable.

[SarDragon]

Buy new boots. COTS insoles are never going to be a perfect fit. They'll slip, bunch up, and make life generally miserable.

Disagree. My Dr Scholls are a little sticky on the bottom, and once I trim them and stick them in the boot, they stay in one place. Proper trimming is essential. Many folks end up trimming off too much, and that causes most of the problems. Just using the marking on the insole will guarantee a bad fit. Trim a little, fit a little. Repeat until it's right.

I need all the arch support I can get, and these do the trick.

[Pingree1492]

If you've got more than a quarter inch or so of wear on the outsole, I'd replace the entire boot.  You're just going to have issues with feet/knees/lower back if you keep wearing old boots (though, you probably don't wear them all day, every day, so not quite as important on this point for occasional wear).

Anyway, if you're boot is still pretty much good, I've had really good luck with the Dr. Scholl's boot insoles.  I have some knee issues, so I tend to get the ones designed for either knee or lower back relief (whatever is in stock at the PX at the time).  I definitely notice a difference- in fact, I always replace the boot insoles I get immediately with the Dr. Scholl's ones.  Maybe there's something to it, maybe it's just psychological, I don't know.

Either way, you should be able to get good quality insoles for no more than $20.  Just make sure you follow SarDragon's advice and trim the insole properly.  You probably already know this, but for the newer lurkers out there, take out the old insole!