ZippyThePinhead

Any of you ever use the Dr. Scholl's foot-mapping kiosk to inform a purchase of insoles?

I'm using a pair of Diadora Speedracer 2 Carbon shoes, mainly, and I was thinking better insoles might help with the hotfoot I get on long rides. But Specialized, for example, has three kinds of insoles, and I have no idea which one to buy.

Grasschopper

If you go to a Specialized dealer they will have you stand on a board with material in it like a mood ring. The shape and color your foot leave behind tells them which insole you need. I also believe they will exchange them within 30 or 60 days if you feel like you bought the wrong ones...I know my LBS will do this anyway.

todayilearned

I actually did this last week. From what I noticed it's not really a custom fitted orthotic. What the kiosk really does is it sees what type of arches you have and then gives you a recommendations based on that.

I ended up just getting a pair of Superfeet Cycling insoles. They're alright...

weshigh

I have done it, but its giving you info based on walking, not on how your feet will be while riding. I'd look into something more cycling specific.

ZippyThePinhead

So, was it money well-spent on the Superfeet insoles, or not? What was the reason you were considering insoles?

mtalinm

avoid! avoid! they are superthick insolves that will not fit in your cycling shoes. (believe me, I've tried). go to an LBS and for the same money ($50ish) you will get what you need.

pdedes

I use the yoursole thin sport insole. You heat it in the oven to make it pliable, then put it in your shoe, put the shoe on and voila, a custom footbed.

Myosmith

Orthotics are generally designed for walking/running. The forces on your foot during cycling are quite different and may require different insoles/orthotics than a street or sport shoe would.

todayilearned

If you need arch support they are worth it. If you need more cushion then absolutely not. They are very thin and the area around the heel->arch is made of a strong plastic. The rest is a thin piece of... whatever it is.

The stock insoles on my Shimano R106 are garbage and were causing an issue on my left foot. I needed more arch support. The only problem is beyond a size 10 they don't adjust length between the arch with the heel appropriately. I have a size 10.5-11 depending on brand and I got the 9-10.5 Size (Size E?) but the arch was too close to the heel. I thought this was my fault so I bought a Size F (11-13) and it's the SAME length apart. The good thing is the yellow cycling version is slightly thicker than the stock insole that came with my R087s and R106s.

I already had Superfeet black in my work shoes and they help out a bit.

I guess I'm supposed to have custom orthotics.

Garfield Cat

I think orthotics are mostly for correcting people with flat feet. Maybe there's other corrections but mostly for flat feet.

I do have flat feet and I have custom made orthotics from my running days. I do insert them in my SIDI shoes. But I don't think it does that much for me. What I think matters is how I redistribute my weight so that when I push down on the pedals, the outer edge of the foot takes up the pressure rather than the inner part of the foot.

todayilearned

I forgot about these. I'll probably check these out.

HokuLoa

The accuracy of their recommendations leave a lot to be desired. I tried the computer assist a series of times when it was brand new and theoretically in "perfect" working condition. It ultimately spit out 3 totally different results. So...

fordmanvt

...or so that you don't get flat feet in the first place.

ZippyThePinhead

I went to Wally World yesterday and gave the Dr. Scholls kiosk a shot. Out of curiosity, to see if the results would vary, I did it twice, and the software made the same recommendation both times. Basically it told me I have "standard" arches, which (I would assume) indicates that I might want to consider the blue Specialized insoles, or something adjustable, like these Pearl Izumi insoles, if they would help with hotfoot on long rides.

I have no idea if the kiosk software then is the same as now.

Seemingly everyone says that the stock insoles which come with cycling shoes are not very good. The ones from my Diadoras (pictured below) look and feel like they offer some support, but if some other insole would more effectively combat hotfoot, I would be willing to try them.







The marketing of these aftermarket insoles is compelling, but they are not cheap (for a bunch of foam and plastic). I don't want to just throw money at this. But spending money on the contact points can be money wisely spent.

ZippyThePinhead

What kind of arch support do you need? Do you notice a significant difference between the stock insoles and these Your Sole insoles?

late

I've tried a lot of innersoles.

I have tried cycling with those Dr Scholls.

They are a 3/4 sole, and the front edge always bothered me after a couple hours.
They are bulky, but they fit in my Megas. But I can see where they wouldn't
fit in a lot of cycling shoes.

I don't see that as an issue. If they worked well, you could get Lakes.

If they come out with a full length version, I might try them again.

todayilearned

These companies want you to be happy and offer a 60 day return guarantee. I didn't like the first pair I got from superfeet and had worn them for a week. I told Amazon and they said this item is something they take back no questions asked. They gave me a return label and told me to send them back.

When you are paying $35-$45 for an orthotics that probably costs 1/20 to make that's the type of service they offer.

NWS Alpine

I have flater feet and orthotics helps a lot. I usually have a pain on the outside of my foot. Trek has e-soles in their shoes and my GF loves them. She has custom leather orthotics in her running shoes that keep her from getting pains.

I tried the specialized red soles but found that I liked this other brand better. They were heat formed ones but the shape fit my foot better from the start. If I didn't find any locally I would have ordered the Louis Garneau heat moldable ones as they get great reviews and decent price too.

pdedes

I have high arches and the stock insoles on my exustar sr232's were so flimsy that I could feel the cleat screws. I use them in my ski boots and ice skates too.

fordmanvt

I don't know the laws, but it seems wrong that Dr. Scholl's can market these products as "custom" when you are really only getting different sizes/styles. If your feet are in the normal range (#2 below) the generic insoles will probably work for you.

I have two sets of actual custom orthotic insoles at $200 each. My arches are so high that my footprints would be a 0.5 on this graphic, the prints connect, barely:


There is a good reason they are expensive as they have four different types of foam in varying thicknesses, with the inner part of my arch being nearly an inch thick total. I use them for cycling in addition to boots, sneakers, and dress shoes.

halfspeed

My fitter made some custom insoles for me. The conformables, in the right shoes make a huge difference. The e-Soles and YourSoles are crap by comparison.

mpath

Those Dr. Scholl's things aren't "custom" orthotics. If you truly want custom you need to see a certified pedorthis, and even better if he/she has a kinesiology degree. They'll assess you if you need one, and if you do, make a cast of your foot. Price varies but probably in the neighborhood of $400. Mine are for running only, carbon fiber, and lighter than the insoles of the shoes I replaced them with.

sqroot3

If hot foot is your only issue, make sure you're not overlooking the possibility that your foot anatomy requires a varus/valgus cleat shim/wedge (or several). An insole alone, however nice, would be a poor way of compensating for this.

Marto32

I have an extremely flat left foot (probably a 3 on the graphic fordmanvt posted) - it's almost completely collapsed. My right foot is probably around a 2. I make a conscious decision to put pressure on the outside of my left foot on the downstroke but I often experience foot pain along the 5th metatarsus at the end of a race.

I don't experience knee pain yet but my left calf does tend to cramp/tighten more than the right so I assume knee pain is not too far off.

I have already purchased bike shoes and don't want to buy new one's so is there anything other than a $400 orthotic option in a case as extreme as this? I would be willing to try the heatable/moldable insoles but I'm confused as to how they work.. If you heat it up and press it to your foot, wouldn't it mold as a flat foot?

pdedes

You heat them up, stick them in your shoes and put your feet in. They conform to you feet without flattening.