ProView – Superfeet Insoles

If you are not into feet…you should be.  How is that for an opening line? We as outdoor pursuers spend a lot of time researching, and money buying, our gear: base layers, layering system, sleep systems, bindings, boots, harnesses, weight saving materials, and tech. Yet not many people spend much time on their feet. Tai Chi is famous for its teachings of the performer needing to be grounded to the earth, like roots to a tree, through their feet. All movement is rooted in our feet before it is released by the legs and controlled by our waist. This all to say that if you have not thought about your feet and their pivotal role in movement and comfort then now is the time to pay attention.

Comfort

As a guide that is based in Moab, Utah you will find yourself working on all types of surfaces: slick rock, deep sand, rocky and uneven ground can all be experienced before you even reach your destination! My feet take a toll while I guide and a few years ago it became quite debilitating by the end of my busy season. It took a bit of time before I realized I needed to focus on my feet and their interaction with the earth.

I was able to try out 3 types of Superfeet insoles to see which worked best for me. The Adapt Run, Trailblazer Comfort, and Green. This was a bit of a Goldilocks and the Three Bears kind of situation to figure out which one worked best for me. It took some time, but I have settled on my favorite.

The Adapt Run was my initial frontrunner as it was supposed to provide adaptive comfort as you move plus they had a low profile, or rise. This meant that I would not feel as if my heel was lifting out of my shoes. In the end, I did not find these to be that helpful while carrying a pack on hardpacked terrain. By the end of the day my feet were exhausted – they just did not provide the heal and arch support I needed. They found their permanent home in my motorcycle boots, though, as the adaptive cushioning helps with vibration control.

The Green is Superfeet’s OG, tried and true model and for good reason! These will fit more like a standard orthopedic insole and provides fantastic support. I really thought these would be my favorite, but these gave me the biggest feelings of my heels resting too high on the backs of my shoes. They have a similar platform shape and rise as the Trailblazer Comfort but did not break in as nicely as they stayed stiff and rigid (great for support!) after the same amount of miles worn.

In the end, the Trailblazer Comforts were the insoles that worked best for me in my approach shoes as I hiked, climbed, canyoneered and adventured in the desert.

Fit and Performance

Let’s talk about fit. These are all trim to fit insoles which means they are easily modified to fit into your shoes. I wear a 11.5 or 12 in almost all my shoes and boots. A Superfeet size F (W 12.5-14, M 11.5-13) fit perfectly with no trimming. Slide out your old stock insoles that came with your shoes and slide these straight in and trim around the toes if they are a bit too big.

There is no easy way to say this but the footbed that comes with your shoes just isn’t cutting it. Sure, it might feel comfortable straight out of the box but what about 2 months down the road once those shoes have seen a few things? The ride comfort of your shoes will never be the same again with Superfeet. With an advertised lifespan of 12 months or 500 miles (whichever comes first) these will last far longer than that fabric wrapped piece of cardboard that came with your shoes.

The best aspects of the Trailblazer Comfort insoles were the heal impact cushion and the dual layer comfort foam at the toes. This was highly noticeable hiking for what seemed to be ages up endless slick rock domes while canyoneering in the North Wash of Utah. Spending hours navigating down slot canyons and up slickrock domes mean your feet spend all day on nature’s sidewalks. The heal cushion helped with those descents and big steps down with a pack on and the dual foam around the toes meant your feet lasted much longer before they dreamt of the comforts of your camp chair and a cold beer.

Friendliness to the Earth

While these insoles do not have any advertised “eco-friendly materials”, Superfeet does make it obvious that giving back to the community is high on their priority list. “Superfeet gives 1% of sales and more than 1,000 volunteer hours to shaping a strong foundation for a healthy future.” They do this through partnerships with other organizations like Protect Our Winters and the Conservation Alliance along with grants for local community organizations to apply for. But the one way they give back that was unique to me was the fact that they give every Superfeet employee a $1000 a year to donate to a nonprofit organization of their choice. This is a unique way to diversify corporate givebacks that puts the power much more in the People’s hands than we are used to seeing – bravo, Superfeet!

Final Word

By now you should have figured out that there is no reason to skip out on upgrading your insoles. There are quite a few options for you to choose from, but the Trailblazer Comfort would be a safe starting point if you are looking for an insole for your everyday outdoor adventure shoes. Your feet do a lot for you, and we often do not do a lot for them. Treat them with some Superfeet and you will reap the benefits!

Shop the Superfeet insoles on Outdoor Prolink. Not a member? Apply today!