The Best Insoles That Will Make Your Travel Shoes Feel Like Ugg Slippers
While you might get some side eyes if you were to show up at the Vatican rocking an actual pair of super-soft Ugg slippers, it’s completely possible to get the same amount of comfort thanks to the magic of insoles. A good insole can make just about any old shoe feel Fluff Yeah-level comfy. Here’s everything you need to know about insoles, along with recommendations (all on Amazon, you're welcome) so your next long sightseeing day feels like walking on fluffy clouds.
Why Should You Use Insoles
Yes, insoles are medical devices designed to help people with orthopedic conditions walk comfortably, but they’re great for anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet—that’s you, travelers. Insoles’ benefits range from helping keep your feet supported to helping you stay on them longer without foot or back pain. They can also help your shoes last longer by reducing impact and wear and tear that comes from direct contact with the inside of your shoe. Finally, if you’re prone to sweaty feet, many insoles come with antibacterial lining and odor protection (especially handy if you’re traveling somewhere like Japan, where you’ll take your shoes on and off a lot).
What to Look for When Buying Insoles
Choose insoles that are designed to suit your specific needs, whether that be relief from back pain or extra support for high arches. If you’re susceptible to sweaty feet, go for insoles made of breathable, antibacterial material. Also, note that while gel inserts can be super-comfy, they may cause you problems at airport security—since gels are technically liquids, you’ll need to make sure they either go in your checked luggage or stay at home.
Best Insoles for Travel
Best Insoles Overall
Walk Hero Comfort and Support Insoles
Amazon shoppers have spoken: Walk-Hero Comfort and Support’s insoles are the best $18 you can spend on foot happiness. They’re designed to be worn every day, with cooling EVA material and a mix of deep heel cups and flexible arch support to keep your tootsies securely supported, without locking them in place. Best of all, they’re designed to last for at least a couple of years, and if they need a little refresh, just hand wash them in warm water, let them dry, and slide them back in.
Best Insoles for Flat Feet
Easyfeet Plantar Fasciitis Arch Support Insoles
What’s in a name? Easyfeet Plantar Fasciitis Arch Support Insoles are for everyone, not just those suffering from plantar fasciitis (painful inflammation in the heel). Available in five sizes that can be trimmed down even more for size, these inserts offer great arch support thanks to a mix of polyurethane and memory foam that keeps them rigid but soft enough to feel pillow plush. If these insoles’ 1,200 five-star (and counting) reviews on Amazon are to be believed, you’ll eventually be back for more.
Best Insoles for High Arches
Sof Sole Full-Length Foam Shoe Insert
Unless you’re a professional ballet dancer, high arches can be a curse—on days that require lots of walking and standing. The solution? Sof Sole’s High Arch Performance Full-Length Foam Shoe Insert. This moisture-wicking option offers an extra high arch support offset by a deep heel cup and gel heel support to keep your weight distributed evenly.
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Best Insoles for Heel Pain
Dr. Scholl’s HEEL Pain Relief Orthotics
The heel is so underappreciated: it strikes the ground thousands of times a day, but we never give it much thought it starts to twinge with each step. If that sounds familiar, it’s good ol’ Dr. Scholl’s to the rescue. Think of brand’s Pain Relief Orthotics for Heel Pain as the Toyota Camry of insoles—totally reliable. They’re designed to help relieve and prevent heel pain, including the kind caused by plantar fasciitis. And if you have wide feet, fear not: these inserts are designed to not crowd your toes.
Best Insoles for Back Pain
Dr. Scholl’s Lower Back Pain Relief Orthotics
Uncomfortable shoes can wreak havoc on your lower back. Again, we turn to Dr. Scholl’s for relief. Designed specifically to keep your back free from pain, these shock-absorbing insoles prevent pain by minimizing the impact of each step.
Best Insoles for Walking and Standing All Day
Physix Gear Sport Inserts with Arch Support
Lots of walking and waiting in lines sort of comes with the vacation territory. Instead of falling victim to the 3 p.m. fade, slip Physix Gear Sport Orthotic Inserts into your walking shoes before leaving the hotel. Made of EVA foam and polyurethane, these semi-rigid, ergonomic inserts help you distribute your weight more evenly, keeping you comfy from the buffet breakfast to the night cap at the hotel bar.
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Best Insoles for Vans
Superfeet Green Insoles
You love Vans, your best friend loves Vans, the neighborhood dog walker loves Vans. We all love Vans, okay, but they’re not always the most supportive of street shoes. Turn your Old Skools into the shoe equivalent of a cloud with Superfeet Green Insoles. Their deep, wide heel cups and stabilizer caps help absorb shock, and they’re coated with an organic anti-odor protection which keeps bacteria and stink at bay.
Best Memory Foam Insoles
Happystep Memory Foam Shoe Inserts
If you find most insoles too rigid, try a memory-foam alternative. Our pick: Happystep Plantar Fasciitis Orthotics Memory Foam Insoles, cushy inserts with medium arch support made of thick, gel-free foam that bounces back within seconds.
Best Gel Insoles
Dr. Scholl’s WORK Massaging Gel Advanced Insoles
If any of your day is spent trudging on hard surfaces, a little gel can mean the difference between agony and bliss. Made to pair with everything from hiking boots to slip-on sneakers, these trimmable shock-absorbing gel insoles provide a perfect blend of support and softness, so that every step feels less like a burden and more like a massage.
Best Fleece Inserts
Abusa Sheepskin Insoles
If you prefer something more natural or just get excited at the prospect of walking around on fluffy fur, these sheepskin insoles will transform your shoes into slippers in an instant. They don’t offer the same level of arch support as some of the other insoles on this list, but they will keep your toes super comfy and cozy.
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Best for Odor Protection
Odor-Eaters Heavy Duty Cushion Insoles
Have you ever gotten the stink eye after taking your shoes off on an airplane? If so, you might have a wee foot odor problem. Fortunately, so do a lot of people: it’s why Odor-Eaters stays in business. This particular Odor-Eaters product features activated charcoal, baking soda, and zinc to stop odor.
Best Insoles for Plantar Fasciitas
Dr. Scholl’s Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief Orthotics
Heel pain is a bitch. Dr. Scholl’s (and also maybe a trip to the podiatrist or orthopedist) can help—the brand’s full-length Plantar Fasciitis insoles offer pain relief and prevention by keeping shock to the plantar fascia to a minimum.
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Best Half Insoles
PCSsole 3/4 Orthotics Shoe Insoles
If you’d rather leave the ball of your foot free, consider PCSsole’s 3/4 Orthotics Shoe Insoles. The pair offers the comfort of half insoles with the support of longer insoles, and helps keep you comfortable and supported while relieving pain from overpronation, flat feet, or plantar fasciitis.
Best Insoles for Shoes with Heels
Walkize Metatarsal Pads
Yes we have marched all over Rome in a pair of M4D3 suede pumps! For one thing—block heel, baby. And for another, “ball of foot” cushions. Walkize’s metatarsal pads support the balls of your feet, ie, where most of your weight goes. The soft gel pads reduces the pressure that wearing heels puts on the front of your foot for some much-needed relief. Bellissima!
Best Insoles for Pronation/Overpronation
Powerstep Pinnacle Shoe Insole
Over-pronators, you know who you are. Your tendency to walk with more weight on the inner edge of your feet causes foot pain, and likely ankle pain, too. To alleviate the discomfort, an insole with a firmer shell, such as the Powerstep Pinnacle, might be the way. The semi-rigid arches help keep your feet in place, while the antimicrobial top-fabric helps prevent stinky bacteria from taking over your shoes.
Best Insoles for Supination
Dr. Foot Supination Insoles
Supination—the tendency to walk on the outside edge of your feet—can lead to bunions; foot, leg, and back pain; and foot rolling, which can lead to even more serious injuries. Dr. Foot’s Sport Supination Insoles keep your feet supported in a healthy, stable position, propping the sides of your feet to keep you comfortable. They’re also reversible, meaning pronators can flip them over for appropriate support, too.
Your Foot-Care Tool Kit
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