Being in nature and hiking is one of the best things to do for your mind and body. But, your feet may not necessarily appreciate this much physical activity over all kinds of terrain.
When you’re hiking with your backpack and all the gear packed and ready for adventure, it’s easy to forget one of the most important accessories that will significantly improve your hiking experience. We’re talking of course, about special insoles for hiking.
Hiking shoes only help to a particular extent, but the insoles play a critical part in deciding how painless and how long your journey can be. Insoles cushion and protect your arches and soles from long-duration hiking fatigue.
More importantly, they also act as the necessary cushion from various objects on the ground. Your hiking shoes do the majority of the job, but to ensure a longer run, insoles are necessary for your feet.
Have a look at the best 10 insoles for your next hiking adventure:
Timberland PRO Men’s Anti-Fatigue Technology Replacement Insole
The Timberland PRO Men’s Anti-Fatigue insoles are one of the best insoles you can get for your hiking trip. This is because they’re high volume and cover all the design basics to prevent long term stress and fatigue. The inverted cone foam on the top side makes sure your feet never feel the entire impact on a particular stress point.
This is balanced across the insole as the design ensures a proper balance of stress across the arch, sole points. This is a high volume insole meaning you’re going to have a deeper and more fuller insole to protect your feet from long term stress.
Most importantly, the material is durable and soft enough to last a long time and make sure you focus on your trip and not on the increasing pain in your feet.
Superfeet ORANGE Insoles
The Superfeet insoles with high arch support make your hiking trip feel like a breeze through the wind. The insoles absorb a big amount of pressure and prevent stress and fatigue over a long-distance trip.
They’re a great high volume pair of insoles and have a great shock absorbing design as well. Moreover, with the heel cup in place, your feet would never feel the shock and stress at the soles and feel a balanced pressure distribution.
The Superfeet insoles also have a shock-absorbing foam layer and the sturdy base provides support to it to make it as sturdy as comforting. Moreover, its full-length frame ensures no part of your foot feels much pressure and fatigue in the long run.
You can even count on the odor control layer on the foam to not stink up your hiking shoes by preventing bacteria growth.
Plantar Fasciitis Arch Support Insoles for Men and Women
These are an amazing cushioning pair of insoles that make sure your feet do not feel the entire brunt of your hiking trip. The arch support is the main feature of these insoles and you can rely on the hard TPU material to protect your arches and prevent stress.
Moreover, the deep volume and profile of the Plantar Arch support insoles make for quite an amazing experience when walking. The base is not extra soft which might be the only thing to look out for.
Overall, the Planter arch support insoles are amazing at what they do and can ensure your heels and arches do not take much punishment for the entire trip. These insoles were developed with a podiatrist consultation and also help people with treating foot injuries. The design further ensures these insoles prevent pain and relieve stress on your feet.
Superfeet CARBON, Thin and Strong Insoles for Pain Relief
The Superfeet Carbon insoles are a low profile and low volume pair of insoles primarily for athletic usage. Their main advantage is to provide ample comfort in athletic lightweight shoes.
As these are built for athletic usage with high pressure, they’re really good for hiking. The carbon fiber and polymer cap further make these durable and perfect to withstand hiking usage over a long time.
Additionally, the low profile form factor further assists with stabilizing balance on the stress points on your foot. The Superfeet Carbon insoles support and balance out the pressure on your arches, sole, ankles and help taking pressure off from the knees as well. Foam incorporated into these insoles as a layer further improves breathability and is coated with bacteria repellant layer.
Superfeet Trailblazer Comfort Insoles and Cushion in Hiking Boots and Trail Shoes
The Superfeet trailblazer comfort insoles are specially designed for the frequent hiker. With a dual comfort foam layer, these insoles are super comfortable and help you carry on with the hike much longer than usual. The sleek and high volume foam form factor makes the Trailblazer live up to the name and help balance pressure.
As a result, it minimizes pressure from the feet and prevents blisters and other painful conditions. The hardened heel further distributes pressure from your heel and makes it possible to travel for much longer. The heel and arch support make these perfect to handle the little dents and hurdles on your hiking trail.
Plantar Fasciitis Feet Insoles
The Plantar feet insoles are excellent at arch support and help take off pressure from people with flat feet. These are really good at taking off the pressure from your main stress points as flat feet take more pressure at the arches.
Additionally, the deep heel form further protects the heels from shock and fatigue and lasts longer while walking or running on a hike. The EVA material and fabric make it breathable as well as comfortable to use.
Sof Sole Men’s High Arch Insole:
The Sof Sole men’s insoles have a great gel/polyurethane-based frame. The air capsules in the heel and arch areas not only provide shock absorption but breathability too.
The ample arch support is great to prevent pain and stress on your arches. The Sof sole insoles provide ample protection from pressure and also help in preventing foot fatigue.
These insoles are perfect for everyday use as well as athletic usage. As one of the best insoles in the market, the Sof sole is a must-have accessory for your next hiking trip.
There are various models available from Sof Sole and the Arch and Athlete models are perfect for hiking. The heel and arch centric design of these two models provide great support and cushioning for your feet.
Keen Utility Men’s K-20 Insole with Extra Cushion
The Keen Utility Men’s K-20 insole is a great and deeply cushioned insole that covers all the stress points for pressure distribution. Moreover, the thick foam build complemented with a heel cup provides great comfort for your feet. It is a perfect insole for hiking and the anti-odor layer further prevents from bacteria build up in your shoes.
Another great advantage of the Keen Utility men’s K-20 insoles is its quick-drying capability and breathability. The insole also fits the Keen boots with perfect compatibility and can be trimmed for other brands without any damage to functionality.
Wernies Running Shoes Inserts for Men and Women
The Wernies running shoes insoles are great for people on a short running trail or for the morning run. These insoles provide great arch support and are a high volume pair of insoles.
Moreover, the contoured arch support makes it possible to get rid of a lot of pressure during workouts, hiking, running among other activities. Additionally, the heel cup provides another point of support and prevents fatigue where it matters most.
Another great thing about Wernies running shoes inserts is the material which is EVA and foam along with integrated gel pads that provide all-round comfort and cushioning. These are a perfect choice to buy for your muscles on a long hike.
Physix Gear Sport Full Length Orthotic Inserts with Arch Support
The Phsyix Gear sport full-length insoles are great for orthotic shoes as well as hiking trips. These are low profile and high volume insoles which are as heavy on comfort as they are light on pressure. The Phsyix insoles also provide great arch support and are perfectly built for long hiking trips.
These insoles are perfect for high pressure intensive activities such as running, rock climbing and hiking, among others. Made up of high-grade EVA and Polyurethane, they are really durable and comfortable for daily use too.
The Physix insoles are perfect for people with foot ailments as well as provide support and pressure balancing throughout the length of the foot.
How to Buy Insoles for Hiking
There are several factors you should be considering when buying insoles for your hiking trip.
Volume:
Volume is a big factor when considering buying insoles. If you are choosing insoles for hiking, they need to be high volume. They’re good for people with high arches as most of them come with arch support too.
You can also go with medium volume insoles, which are perfect for athletic purposes. You might use them for your morning run or a long and high intensity uphill run.
Foot ailments:
Another factor to consider is if you have foot ailments such as Plantar Fascilitis (tear between heel and forefoot connecting tissue). Or in case of flat feet, you need to go for low profile insoles that have medium or low volume.
Moreover, insoles also prevent future problems from manifesting such as – structural misalignment which can even lead to problems in your spine and shoulders, back of the head. People with existing ailments should go for orthotic shoes couple with a low profile and medium volume insoles for a hike.
Hiking Issues:
- Slippage: If you find that your hiking shoes foam layer often slips to the front, it is best to go for one with heel support. You can often find a heel cup/support in a high volume insole which not only covers the entire length of your foot but prevents slippage.
- Collapsed arches/low arches: If you have feet with collapsed or lower arches than normal, it is best to choose special arch support insoles which not only reduce pressure on the arches but provide great support and balance pressure too. It is ideal to go with high volume insoles with arch support.
FAQs:
How often should I change my insoles?
Insoles usually wear out in about 6-12 month of intense use. But, it is best to replace as and when you start feeling foot fatigue or see the insole lose their form factor from high to collapsed volume.
Can I put insoles on top of insoles?
Yes, you can use special insoles to put on top of your hiking shoes insoles or even combine them depending on your foot condition. But, you should not do that unnecessarily, otherwise it can lead to foot problems.
What are the best insoles for flat feet?
It is best to use orthotic shoes combined with low profile and medium to high volume insoles. These insoles not only provide ample support but also distribute pressure evenly.
Are insoles supposed to hurt initially?
In case of medium volume or low profile shoes, you are going to have some discomfort at first if you are not used to wearing insoles. However, this discomfort goes away after some time. You should start with gradual use of one hour per day instead of relying on them for a big hiking trip in one go.
Are soft insoles bad for my feet?
Insoles which advertise about being super comfortable and made up of foam usually aren’t necessarily ineffective. However, they do not let your feet get the necessary pressure and can be odd and lead to foot problems in the long run.
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