squeegy200

I've used Sidi, Diadora, Nike, and Addidas road shoes on my road bikes. With all of them, I experience the same foot discomfort that I assumed was caused by poor position, flat feet, cleats, and technique.

I usually feel muscle soreness along the outside of my flat feet and over extended climbs and long seated efforts, I begin to loose feeling in my toes.

Two weeks ago, one of my riding partners asked me to try the Specialized Footbeds. These are replacement insoles for Specialized Road Shoes and required a little trimming to fit inside my Addidas shoes. With some difficulty, I located a set and replaced the stock Addidas insoles with the Footbeds. (Wasn't easy as my LBSs don't carry it and it's buried deep in the Specialized website)

After my first ride, my feet did not feel the usual discomfort and most surpsingly, I did not experience any numbness in my toes.

I don't know how these things work. There is very little arch support and looks like reinforcemet strips are placed in some odd random areas underneath the foot.

Has anyone tried these in their shoes? I want to make sure I'm not experiencing some placebo effect.

Marcus_Abundus

I have used Superfeet footbeds for over two years now. I starting using them in my hiking boots and they worked great. So I then used them in my ski boots and inline skates. I now use them in my cycling shoes and they work great. I have never seen the Specialized product so I am not familar with it.

squeegy200

I find it interesting that they're both called Footbeds.

Here is the link where I found them. Do these look the same as your Superfeet insoles?

https://www.specialized.com/SBCEqProd...onha9io.j27010

Rich G

I have Specialized road shoes with the Body Geometry insoles.
At first I thought it was a gimick, but after a few hundred miles I'm a convert. My feet have never felt better.

Paniolo

The specialized ones look simular to the Superfeet. I use Superfeet or ProStep footbeds that I had in running shoes. I have high arches and they helped a LOT in my cycling shoes.

ruger9

Yes and no. They DO look alot like Superfeet, but Superfeet don't have the "metatarsal button" (which is on the TOP of the insole, and can't be seen on the Specialized website.) I run, hike, and bike. MANY people (who hike especially)love Superfeet insoles. I have a pair of the Specialized road shoes, and I can't use the Specialized BG insoles; that metatarsal button, instead of reducing numbness like they are supposed to, increases numbness in my case. I can't use those insoles.

MtnMan

Another thumbs up for the Specialized insole. They came with my carbon pro shoes. Very nice and comfy. Best of all, no numbness.

Rich G

How long did you use them for?
Owner of my LBS said he had the same problem at first, but after a while it got much better...

bac

I now run the Specialized footbeds in all my cycling shoes. I first noticed how good they were after purchasing a pair of Specialized mtb shoes. My feet have never been happier!

Phatman

I've got superfeet in my nike shoes. They're nice, except that the last for the footbed is very straight, and the last for the shoes is very curved. so I had to trim the footbed down, and there was a bit of a gap on the medial side of the ball of my foot, but its not too bad.

I wish there was a bit more of an arch on the superfeets. I have a really high arch, with a low instep...my foot is not thick at all. I think thats called a "low-volume" foot

has anyone used the custom SOLE footbeds? I'd like to try them, I was going to put them in my running shoes, but they were really heavy and stiff...stiff=bad in running shoes. but in cycling shoes, that might not be so bad.

live311

My Shimano SPD-SL shoes give me nasty numbness right behind the middle toe on both feet. Eventually I can't feel any of my toes. I tried some cheap "sport" insoles and they seem to help a little, but I need something to reduce that little pressure point on the ball of my foot. Any other suggestions?

Rich G

That was my problem too, Try the Specialized Body Geometry insoles.

MelloBoy

specialized footbeds here as well
the trim to fit ones are $30, work alright, but you need to find a pair that'll match the contours of your arch. i sometimes slip in my cork superfeet footbeds...$150, and i use them mainly for skiing, but i like to swap them in and out for ***** and giggles. the first few days you'll be sore as your arch isn't used to being supported and held in an uncompressed fashion, but after that, you're good to go...i hate not having arch support....

ruger9

Several rides. Where my feet had been getting a little numb before (with other shoes), they got more numb instantly with the Specialized shoes. I put regular insoles in the Specialized shoes, and now I'm back to just a little numb. Still working on that...

Paniolo

Phatman, I've got some Sole inserts ... but I haven't tried them in anything yet I use some Birkenstock cork inserts in my street shoes and they have a higher arch than the superfeet. Run mid $50's at retail, but you can find them on ebay too. They are stiffer since they are made with cork ... I bet those would work good in a cycling shoe where you need more arch support.

hi565

I ahve orthadics for my knees and those things rock.

late

Hi,
I am a recent convert to Shock Doctor insoles. The Ultra2
is fantastic. I have the Ultra2 Low Profile in my cycling shoes.
I have seen the Specialized innersoles, I thnk these are better. They are certainly more expensive. If you have room in the shoe, go for the Ultra2. Snug cycling shoes will limit you to the Ultra2 LP. www.shockdoc.com

Rich G

The shock docs look good.
Have you seen the Specialized innersoles in person?
I ask because they have metatarsal button and a mid arch support.
It sort of spreads the bones in your foot and relieves pressure.
I'v tried a few other insoles, nothing compares.
FWIW- I did get the insoles with a nice pair of Specialized road shoes, just in case anyone didn't read my first post...

LordOpie

yup, I have a high arch and I like 'em more than the SuperFeet I was using. Used both in my Sidi Laser shoes, fyi fwiw yada yada.

Gonna try 'em in my ski boots this weekend

late

Yes,
I have seen them. Innersoles are like saddles, they work for some and not others. Metarsal bumpy thingys don't work for me.
They do have a Y shaped ridge in the same general area. If you look at the pic closely you can see it.

stevesurf

^
Does anyone have an update for the best replacement soles. It's time I lose the stock Sidi soles and go with something with more cushion and metatarsal support to reduce my numbness.

I did see eSoles (below) at Interbike, but I just really want to get something stock and less costly.

bigtea

I've used Soft Soles in my Sidi Genius for years. You can buy them at just about any place that sells athletic shoes. They work fine.

stevesurf

Thanks; are they more durable and supportive than standard walking insoles?

bigtea

yes...they are used by runners and are built to take tons of hammering.

mr_tom

I found that the Specialized insoles were too thick to fit well into Sidis. Are the Superfeet ones thinner?