what is the best foot cushion for my boots?

I tried to use gel, neoprene. it they still don't work. my feet hurt from standing too long.

i day hike, the longest perhaps 25 miles.
i like these: SOLE for my mid height merrells.


standing or standing as part of your job or walking or walking as part of your job or hiking in a day hike or hiking as in hiking the appalachian trail?

i think you need to let us know what kind - and for how long - your 'standing' lasts.

it may be you need insoles or maybe you need a different type of boot/shoe or different type of sole / tread on your shoe / boot.

I use Superfeet in my boots and some everyday light hiker shoes - I go with the green (average) but there are a variety of fits for different feet and comfort, I believe at REI where they sell them they have some sort of diagnosis machine device that helps you select what you need. While that's maybe a good thing (if you buy Superfeet anyway), nothing helps for sore feet like a visit to a foot doctor, followed by a qualified boot fitter. I've been getting boot advice from a guy at the Seattle REI flagship for about 25 years, whether I buy them there or not.

I also use Superfeet in both boots and running shoes. I've seen them at REI and Road Runner Sports

I know this is off topic, but consider the 5 fingers program. I know you may not be able to wear them all the time (like work) but when you do train with them they build up all those ligaments and muscles in your feet that you never knew you had and the pain goes away.

With almost 20 years of breaking myself on behalf of my government my feet, knees and back were killing me. A friend reccomended the whole barefoot running thing and I figured it couldn't hurt to try. It takes a while to get used to, but what a difference. You wouldn't believe how strong your feet will get.

After about 3 months of the barefoot running thing I am blown away with the results. Nothing hurts anymore

I am not Cody Lundine yet, but I cannot reccomend the 5 fingers enough.

How did you come across such reports not even released yet? Sounds like speculation unless you have a link to provide.

How accurate/creditable are these phantom reports?

Do a quick search on google about barefoot running and you have a list as long as your arm of doctors, professors, atheletes and hundreds of people (normal folks) who swear by it. I am no doctor, but there sure are a lot out there that believe you should run in your feet the way nature designed them and they have tonns of data to back it all up.

At any rate, to each his/her own. I know they have been amazing in my case but they obviously didn't work for you. I did have soreness at first, especially in the calves but it was "good pain" The kind where you know your muscles have had a good workout.

I will apologize to the OP. Didn't mean to swing the thread off course. I only mentioned it because the problem may not be the insoles but rather the feet.

Sorry to hear about the break in dude, That sucks.

Maybe we can start a new thread on the topic of barefoot running.

I see what you mean now Izzy, I didn't mean to sound like a dink.

They do take a while to get going in yes. You have to teach your self how to run an entirely different way (on the pads of the feet like nature intended) That won't happen overnight. In fact the "pros" say it could take up to a year. If you overdo it and try to run what you normally do it will hurt (A lot) they say to do no more than 10% of your normal time for the first while. My first barefoot run was 7 K. I was so sore for the next 3 days I litterly couldn't walk down stairs. I could walk up fine, but not down.

Once you break through the initial soreness its really amazing.

No insole in the world will replace strong conditioned feet.

I use mine to kayak a lot. Running aside they make the best water shoes I have ever seen.

Another vote for SOLE brand inserts.

It you're feet are getting fatigued it could be a lack of proper arch support + too little cushioning.

The problem could be situational also. Have you begun a new activity to which your feet are not accustomed? Are you standing ALOT more at work? Have you recently taken up hiking or running? It may simply be that your feet need time to adjust to the new situation. I don't have enough info - just suggesting.

Also, it may be the footwear that you need to change and not the insoles.

"Its the first few thousand miles. After that your feet limber up a bit..." Buster Kilrain "The Killer Angels"

I use spenco polysorb #3 have heard good reports about superfeet green.

Lee

I may be old school by mentioning Sorbathanes but 10's of 1,000's of combat arms guys can't be wrong. Wait, we all volunteered so maybe our judgement is off to begin with. Oh well, I've used them as inserts for over 20 years in all my hardcore footwear.

Also welcome Stephen. When you do a Google search for the benefits of V5F, you will find 1,000's of advocate blogs and personal reviews and zero scientific research that backs up their claims. In fact Vibram, whether rightly or wrongly, is being sued for injuries because there is no empirical study that backs their claims.

Bonafides. I bought my first pair of v5f in 2006 when they were only sold by independent retailers out of cars and back offices. Zero retail. I have been a running and triathlon coach. I have probably and with conservative estimation run 750 miles in v5f over the years. Mostly as a training tool but some obstacle course and trail races, not including just wearing out and about.

It is hard to refute anyone's personal opinion and for those that it works for in changing running biomechanics, as they did for me going from heel strike to midfoot, they work. But the fact remains that people transitioning from running shoes to v5f do not always find they work and my increase the rate of plantar injuries and possibly increase injury to the knee joint and quadriceps tearing. However these studies are still quite small and can also be attributed to a full range of issues with the runners one inherent flaw in adapting to the new footwear.

The only scientific study I found is this from ACE , though there are a few others. All stating five finger shoes can work if your body adapts but that is not a given just putting on the shoes. In fact I have read the best way to adapt to the vibram is to change your running biomechanics in your running shoes first and then switch to a minimalist shoe.

Glad they worked for you. They also worked for me, but the real science coming out, not the personal testimony's, is at best neutral towards the overall benefits of using them over regular running shoes to stop injuries.

Then there's me. My feet are so flat that they're practically convex. I wear prescription orthotics in all of my shoes, and I wear motion control shoes when I run. Fortunately this works well for me.

Thanks Comms

I don't know what works for everyone as I am no doctor but as you stated ref the sorbathanes, 1000's of people can't be wrong.... right? If that statement holds true of insoles it holds true of the 5 fingers as well.

My only point was it may be worth giving them a try if you have foot pain. You may find they don't work, on the other hand you may find they work wonders. You will never know until you give it a fair shake.

I should really be wearing prescription orthotics (arch support and pronation control), but I have so many pairs of boots in play that I'd have to take out a second mortgage to outfit them all.

IME, most over-the-counter orthotics/foot cushions turn to mush in about five seconds.

Spenco used to make neoprene and plastic footbeds with real arch support, but I can't find them anymore.

If you're hardcore, you can make your own by double-layering the wool felt footbeds from hardware and workware stores. They will squish down at the pressure points as you wear them. You'll have warm feet, though (great in winter, not so much in summer).

My current favourite: I've been having really good results with Softec Ultra Foodbeds. You can heat and mold them, but I find I can wear them "straight from the package" and they break in by themselves. Excellent, springy arch support. I get them from Mark's Work Wearhouse (Canadian chain) for $40 per pair. Looks like they're available online too.

https://secure.yoursole.com/ca/footbeds/softec-ultra/

Agreed. As I wrote, they did work for me. The problem is that sorbathanes do not claim to change the mechnanics of the foot and Vibram Five Fingers does . And they are being sued over it. Whereas aftermarket inserts and prescription orthodics have shown to be an effective item for less pain and more comfort, they don't claim to eliminate anyone's pain or change their biomechanics. Their basic function is to alleviate pain by providing better support to the foot. Simply ask why an insurance company would cover costs on orthotics if they did not work?

Just to be fair here, the first couple generations of V5F, (I think they are on Gen 4 or 5 now), their product was not designed for barefoot running, they were for nature walking, boating and yoga. Most people I knew at the time were using them for functional training in the gym. The move into minimalist running was organic not predetermined but it obviously became hugely profitable. It wasn't until the Bikila's came out around 2009 that they actually marketed a v5f specifically for runners.

For my part, I do mostly obstacle course racing and paramilitary challenges now, but I still see people running road marathons in v5f when I do them. I obstacle race with one guy who goes through a pair almost every race, always blows the toes out. He has perfect running form but the shoe can't handle extremes. To be fair they where not made for that kind of abuse, so really can't blame Vibram. But there are now events that I do while not banning, strongly discourage the use of specifically v5f for their events because of their overwhelming evidence of people failing their challenges who wear them.

To put my comments back onto the thread track, I agree that Vibrams or minimalist shoes are worth a shot if normal shoes are causing physical discomfort. But there is no real evidence supporting the benefits of five finger shoes leading to a decrease in injuries the way you can compare the effects of after market insoles decreasing pain.

can this insole support full body weight of a man? does it have rebound memory ?

The answer is yes. I'm 190 lbs. wearing a fig leaf. Add 15 for boots, clothing, and EDC. Plus whatever else I may be schlepping around.

I don't know what you mean by rebound memory, but the first set I bought is holding its shape and support after 6 months of casual walking.

I've had good experience with Spenco insoles, but I have no particular foot problems. The wear patterns on my shoes indicate that I am a mild pronator. The insoles do wear out after a bit, typically a year of continuous use.

So have I, for many years and many miles. My local source has dried up, but looking online I see they still make the type I've used in the past. They now have orthotics as well. I trust the Spenco name well enough to buy online, sight unseen.