Have Flat, Achy Feet? Try These Lab-Tested and Podiatrist-Approved Insoles (2024)

Walking

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• Our Picks

• How We Selected and Tested

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After walking dozens of miles, Spenco's RX Comfort Insole has quickly become our favorite insole for flat feet because of its budget-friendly price point and soft feel underfoot. We love how well they absorb shock, protecting our joints from the impact of walking or running on pavement and other hard surfaces. They're also covered with anti-odor fabric that helps prevent unpleasant smells and bacteria from building up in your shoes, even on hot days.

Over time, we've noticed that these insoles have reduced our shin pain and knee pain—impressive results at around a third of the cost of some other pairs on our list. Another bonus? They've received the American Podiatric Medical Association's (APMA) Seal of Acceptance, meaning a group of podiatrists have determined that they help promote better foot health.

We love these insoles for their ultra-soft cushioning, but it's worth noting that they're thinner and less contoured than some of our other picks. Although the RX Comfort doesn't offer rigid arch support, we still like how they mold to our arches. (For even more support, you can layer these insoles on top of one of the other, more rigid pairs we recommend.) Even with this drawback in mind, we're confidently awarding these insoles the best overall spot on our list because of the comfortable relief they provide.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Women's 5 to 12.5, men's 6 to 15.5 | Materials: Nylon, fabric | Anti-Odor: Yes}

You don't need to spend a fortune to find effective insoles. For even less than Spenco's RX Comfort Insoles, ProFoot's Flat Fix Orthotic absorbs shock and helps align your feet to prevent overpronation.

While most insoles on our list are full-length, meaning they run the length of your entire shoe, these slip just beneath your heels. Their thin, low-profile design is ideal for most shoes. We also love that these insoles provide customized support by molding to the shape of your feet and arches over time.

The brand notes that this insole also features a "flexible shell," or a sturdy design that provides solid stability for your heels to keep everything aligned as you walk. While we think this pair is a great solution if you overpronate, they only come in two sizes and don't cover as many shoe sizes as some of our other top picks do. ProFoot's Flat Fix Orthotic will also not prevent odors from building up, so you may want to invest in a reliable shoe deodorizer.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Women's 6 to 10, men's 8 to 13 | Materials: Foam | Anti-Odor: No}

For teachers, nurses, and anyone else who's on their feet all day long at work, we highly recommend Fulton's The Athletic Insole. We noticed a difference immediately after sliding these into our sneakers. The combination of cork and foam offers just the right balance of firm cushioning and sturdy support.

We love that, like ProFoot's Flat Fix Orthotic, these insoles have a deep heel cup for better stability. And as far as pain relief goes, our results speak for themselves: We felt a major difference in our lower legs and back after wearing these to concerts, out with friends, and while running errands.

We also like that The Athletic Insole feels breathable, preventing sweat from building up inside our shoes (even after over seven hours of wear). However, they're not meant to be trimmed—so if you need to adjust the fit for a certain pair of shoes, the process may be difficult. We've also found that the firm support can take some time to get used to, but they'll feel ultra-comfortable after the first few wears.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Women's 5 to 12, men's 8 to 14 | Materials: Cork, foam, cotton | Anti-Odor: Yes}

While all of the insoles on our list have comfortable cushioning, Superfeet's Copper Insoles are made with memory foam that sets them apart from our other top picks. One of the brand's thickest insoles that's designed for low arches, they mold to your foot for individualized support.

We like that this pair is easy to trim to fit most shoes, unlike Fulton's The Athletic Insoles. They also have an anti-odor coating, so if your feet tend to sweat, these insoles can help.

Although we appreciate that Superfeet's Copper Insoles are available in a wide range of men's and women's sizes, they are one of the most expensive pairs on our list. Still, we think they're worth it if you need an extra-plush insole for casual wear. (You can find our recommendations for runners, hikers, athletes, and more below.)

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Women's 4.5 to 14, men's 2.5 to 15 | Materials: Memory foam, polyester | Anti-Odor: Yes}

If you're a runner with flat feet, you need breathable insoles to keep you feet aligned so you can cover more miles. We prefer Redi-Thotics' Flex Orthotic Insoles because as we've tested them, we've loved how effective their design is at preventing overpronation and supporting our arches.

Underfoot, these insoles feel light and breathable, promoting airflow and preventing excessive sweat from building up. And we love that the padding is highly responsive, with a bouncy feel that kept us on the treadmill.

If you tend to overpronate, these insoles can help—the arch support successfully aligned our feet and ankles. However, they're one of our more expensive picks. We also found that the design, which is more contoured and stiffer than others on our list, may take a few wears to get used to.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Women's 6 to 14, men's 5 to 13 | Materials: Foam, plastic, fabric | Anti-Odor: No}

Having flat feet or fallen arches shouldn't stop you from hiking your favorite trails. Designed to promote healthier biomechanical movement, we love that these Spenco insoles help counteract overpronation for a more natural gait.

A heel plug adds cushioning and helps absorb shock—a huge plus for those who suffer from plantar fasciitis or other heel pain. They also have excellent support but don’t force a high arch, so you'll feel comfortable even if you're walking all day long.

Intended for athletes, these insoles are built to help you walk farther, longer. But the tradeoff for so much support is that they're very rigid, which some may find uncomfortable.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Women's 5 to 12.5, men's 6 to 17.5 | Materials: Polyester | Anti-Odor: No}

Breathe some new life into your work boots with Timberland's Pro Anti-Fatigue Technology Insoles. If you spend long hours walking on hard concrete or asphalt, we highly recommend these for their comfortable construction. From the first wear, we noticed how soft and padded the cushioning feels underfoot.

Our tester, who has flat feet, found that these insoles' deep heel cup offers great stability. She was also pleasantly surprised by how well this pair relieved her foot pain, enabling her to walk longer distances without feeling fatigued.

We like that Timberland's Insoles are thin and flexible, meaning they'll fit easily into most boots without taking up too much room. However, they are slightly elevated. If you usually look for zero drop shoes or insoles, this may not be the right pair for you.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Small to 2X-Large | Materials: Leather | Anti-Odor: No}

Whether you're an athlete with flat feet or you're just looking for some extra support during weekend pick-up games, Superfeet's Carbon Insoles are our top recommendations for sports enthusiasts. The thin, low-profile design makes them an ideal companion for slim, lightweight sneakers or cleats.

We love how effective these insoles are at relieving pressure points, preventing blisters from forming while we walk when our socks just don't cut it. Even better for athletes, they feature a deep, round heel cup. We noticed that this provided stellar ankle stability, allowing us to turn and pivot on a dime without fear of rolling or twisting.

Although they're pricier than some of our other picks, we think Superfeet's Carbon Insoles are well worth the investment for athletes. The combination of arch support, stability, and blister prevention makes them a must-have on the court or field.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Women's 4.5 to 14, men's 2.5 to 15 | Materials: Polyester | Anti-Odor: Yes}

Plantar fasciitis occurs when the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that supports your arches, becomes inflamed. This can cause pain in your heels and throughout your feet—not to mention uncomfortable swelling and stiffness.

Finding the right pair of insoles can help you keep symptoms at bay. If you have flat feet and plantar fasciitis, we recommend Samurai's Insoles, which have a unique design that works to combat plantar fasciitis pain. Wearers love their results, with less foot pain that continues even after taking their shoes off. Plus, these insoles are waterproof, so you can wear them in rain boots or bad weather with confidence.

We love that, unlike other insoles on our list, the sleek Samurais are actually intended to be used underneath your shoes's current insoles. (That does mean they aren't compatible with pairs that have permanent insoles.) It's also worth noting that they're much shorter than many of our other top picks, starting at the heel but stopping before the ball of the foot, which enables them to take up less space in your shoes.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Women's 6 to 18.5, men's 4 to 16.5 | Materials: Plastic | Anti-Odor: No}

With a specific 'Low' version that's intended for flat feet, Tread Labs' Pace Insoles are our top pick if you're looking to correct overpronation. We like that they have a deep heel cup to provide stability and extra-firm support to keep your feet and ankles in proper alignment.

What sets these insoles apart is their two-piece design. The arch support on the bottom is stiff and rigid, for miles of comfort. The top layer is soft fabric and can be replaced as often as necessary to keep your insoles looking (and smelling) like new.

These insoles are more expensive than many of our other top picks. However, wearers note that they're not just great at combatting overpronation—they also help relieve foot pain, treat bunions, and even Achilles tendonitis symptoms. Between these results and the two-piece design that helps you get more life out of one pair, we think you definitely get what you pay for.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: Women's 5 to 14.5, men's 4 to 13.5 | Materials: Plastic, foam | Anti-Odor: Yes}

If you've tried countless insoles and still haven't found relief, you may be the right candidate for custom insoles. Instead of going through a provider, purchasing your own can be a less expensive method. For easy and effective custom insoles, we recommend UpStep's On My Feet All Day kit.

After taking the site's fit quiz, you'll be able to choose the color of your insoles and select how many pairs you'd like to be fitted for at once. There are multiple options to choose from, depending on what kind of shoes you wear most often. You can also get specific by explaining exactly where you're experiencing pain or other symptoms and on which feet.

At home, you'll step into UpStep's mold and send your kit back so the brand can make your new insoles. Once you receive them, we like that you have 180 days to wear them and try them out before committing to your purchase.

While this method is significantly more expensive, UpStep frequently offers sales—and you still may find yourself spending less than you would at a foot specialist's office.

^{Key Specs:
Sizes: None | Materials: Plastic | Anti-Odor: No}

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do insoles help flat feet?

  A good pair of insoles can support or raise your arch, offering relief from muscle strain and other foot pain. “Inserts can be beneficial to people with flat feet because the inserts can limit excessive pronation that can contribute to pain,” Kor says. “By controlling this abnormal motion, the patient is usually able to perform normal daily activities with little to no pain.”

• How much does a quality pair of insoles for flat feet cost?

  You can expect to pay between $10-$80 for a high quality pair of pre-made insoles for flat feet. (Custom insoles often cost more—around $300 to $600, depending on the pair.) Less expensive insoles may not work in all kinds of shoes and may not last very long if you walk long distances every day. More expensive pairs can provide better shock absorption and tend to be more durable. Our top overall pick, Spenco's RX Comfort Insole, was $15 when we published this list.

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