Reader Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5

Thirty bucks is a lot of money for an insole. But it is way cheaper than knee surgery. I've been using them religiously for four years in everything but rock climbing shoes and backcountry ski boots (with custom footbeds).

The difference over stock insoles is pretty dramatic. Actually trying them on one foot and the stock insole on the other for fifteen minutes was enough to persuade me that these are worth the money.

Rating: 5 / 5

I have flat feet after wearing rubber slippers in Hawaii for 15 years. When I got back into hiking I found I could only pack for a mile or two before my feet started screaming. Superfeet solved that problem, and now I won't hike without them. I just picked up a pair of Superfeet WinterGreen for my ski boots.

Rating: 1 / 5

I had read may good comments about the Superfeet on this site. Everyone raved about them so much that I decided I must have them. I never really had foot problem but I thought they might help prevent blisters.

I got a pair of the Performance Green. They have very high arch support. I put them in my trail shoes and they were immediately very uncomfortable but the box said to give it 10 days. I wore them as much as I could for 10 days but they continued to hurt my feet.

I eventually returned them (they have a satisfaction guarantee) and got the blue ones which don't have as high an arch. These were comfortable.

I wore the blue ones on the 220 mile John Muir Trail. I was hoping they would help prevent blisters but they did not. And after hiking for about 100 miles, your feet swell and even though I sized up a 1/2 size, I found that the Superfeet took up too much space in my shoes and reduced the amount of toe room.

If you get these, make sure you size up your shoe size at least 1/2 size. Maybe even a whole size. And don't be shy about returning them if they don't work out for you. Even after you have cut them, they can be returned.

Bob

Edited by bobg on 11/26/2005 12:37:53 MST.

Rating: 3 / 5

While I think these are a great product and something everyone with an arch issue should try, they did not offer me any relief from an on-going issue with blisters and black big toe. (hence the 3 rating). I was hoping the Superfeet would give new life to boots that were not yet worn-out, but failed to keep my feet comfortable for the last couple of trips. I also tried remolding the heel cups on the boots...but to no avail.

The bottom line is: You need footware that fits well first, then you may need superfeet. I would not get them right off the bat unless I already had an issue that needed addressing. I have taken this same approach with my latest footware selection. As I lighten my pack weight AND since I have never had ankle issues, I have decided to forego the heavier hiking boots for lighter, more breathable trail running shoes. I suspect that this will impact my foot issues far more than inserts like superfeet.

Rating: 5 / 5

I use the Performance Greens exclusively in my various Montrail trailrunners and my Lowa Tempest Lows. Not for arch issues, but for the added torsional rigidity which is very useful when using light footwear off-trail in the rocky high country I frequent. I get more control plus the padding does not instantly go flat as in stock insoles. Shame they don't seem to work for everyone--but then, nothing does.

On me---5 out of 5

Rating: 2 / 5

I found the Superfeet Green to be too stiff and result in heel blisters because my shoes wouldn't flex properly. The arch was a little high/uncomfortable but I got use to that. I prefer gel/foam insoles for cusioning.

Rating: 5 / 5

I wear them in my Montrail hikers (various models) and have found them to be a wonderful addition. No heel or toe blisters for me; nothing but very much needed arch support which leaves my feet feeling fresh at the end of even 15 - 17 mile days.

Rating: 5 / 5

Was about to retire my Salomon XA comps due to foot pain even though they still had a lot of life left in them. I switched to NB 809's which are

On a whim and with 20% off at REI, I gave these a shot and am happy to say that with the Salomon's my feet are once again pain free!

Rating: 5 / 5

I wear the SF Greens 6 days a week.

I have very flat feet and other issues and they help me a lot. Would not want to go a mile without them.

Rating: 5 / 5

Alpine ski boots, randonnee, double mountaineering boots, hiking, trail and roadrunning shoes all get the superfeet treatment. I like a firm, pronounced arch. Stock insoles are for making camp thongs.

Rating: 5 / 5

My original Green Superfeet were recommended by an REI salesperson in Spokane after my feet began to cause me some minor problems when I was training for my JMT thru-hike by running 7+ miles six days per week. They provided immediate relief and I haven't looked back.

I wore them on my 10-day JMT thru-hike in 2005 with Montrail trail running shoes without any major problems. I did experience a few minor blisters on one foot but I attribute that to wet socks (should have brought more than two pair).

I wear them daily in my running shoes and now am using them in my new Fly-Rocs. I have also used them in dress shoes, though I believe the blue model would be better for that.

Everybody's feet are different, but these have really helped this 54-year old reduce foot and knee pain especially on those 25+ mile trail days.

Rating: 3 / 5

I liked my Asolo Tazman XCR trekking shoe after 100 + break in miles with light packs/daytrips.

Then I added Superfeet. After 85 mi. on The Long Trail with swollen ankles & sore feet I thought it was just me adjusting to 32lb pack /longer miles but unsure if it could be the Tazmans and/or the Superfeet.

Repeated experiment at home with 20lb pack: Quit after 20 mi.with slightly swollen ankles.

Went home and did comparaison by trekking same 5 mile aggressive terrain with 3 pair shoes I like: traditional Leather Asolo Boots, generic Salomon light trekking shoe, then with my Tazmans, all without Superfeet, & finally hiked with my Tazmans WITH Superfeet. It was the Superfeet! All my shoes worked fine except my Tazmans WITH the Superfeet.

So I stopped using them. Ahhhhhh!

Normally, I tend to wear out the outer edge of my heels (suppination I believe it's called). Maybe this played a roll with Superfeet accenting my stance?

Maybe I needed a custom orthotic??

But Superfeet did not seem to work for me with my Asolo Tazman XCRs.

In future I may try them with my other shoes. For now I'm ditchin them.

Rating: 1 / 5

After reading glowing reviews on this site and other about the benefits of these insoles, I (for some strange reason) decided that my already comfortable boots could use some of these insoles. In other words, I "drank the kool-aid" on these, big time. Big mistake. After my first long day with these in my boots, I came home with a painful knee injury. After trying everything I could think of over the next few weeks, with little improvement, I eventually decided that these might be the culprit, and took them out of my boots. My knee was much improved within days, and completely healed within another week. Now, I'm not disputing that these may help some people out, but be cautious with these, and only use them if you really need extra arch support, or are adivsed to by a podiatrist, otherwise you may cause yourself injury!

Rating: 3 / 5

I agree with James. I use the green ones in my dress shoes 5 days a week for a little more arch support, but IME choosing good hiking boots (eg. Montrails) and trail shoes (eg. Inov-8) carefully with the proper 'last' can avoid problems developing.

Try these insoles if you need to adjust the volume in your shoe or if you need arch support.
There is no substitute for good shoes, good posture and foot-placement, and good training IMO.

Rating: 5 / 5

I bought my superfeet several years ago when they first came out after reading a review in Backpacker mag. Even though I thought the price exorbitant, I willingly coughed up the green with a prayer that the Greens would give me respite. They did! With narrow, flat feet no boot - and I went through plenty - was pain free. The deep heel cup of the Superfeet prevented lateral movement and solved the blister problem, and the arch solved the aching feet and back. For me, they were miraculous! That reminds me: it's probably time to get another pair.

Rating: 4 / 5

I do not think superfeet are supposed to prevent blisters, unless because they help correct the fit, they, by chance, correct an area that might otherwise chaffe your skin. Also, cut off about 1/8 inch back from the toe, and taper the cut in the toe area. Insoles help to level your foot. This can be especially critical for skiers who control speed and turning by the edges of the ski. It is impoortant to have your skis flat when standing still, especially if your foot has a natural roll toward the outside. Insoles are a bit like the emperor's new clothes. Unless you can feel or tell a difference right away, it is hard to judge the effectiveness.
It is important to fit these to your foot size, not your shoe size. For example, my foot measures just over 9 standing on a foot ruler, yet I wear a 10.5, sometimes an 11 shoe depending on the model. So, if you wear an 11 shoe, do not necesarily use a size 11 footbed.
Eventually I got blisters just behind my toes. The footbed was too big. This happened after many miles. You could see where the foot bed had worn, by noting a discoloring in the plastic. Bend the plastic and it whitens. The plastic must have been riding back and forth into my toes along the bottom of my feet at the first toe joint. When I replaced the foot bed with a smaller size, it worked in the same shoe as the other that had blistered both feet in the same area.

Edited by rambler on 09/05/2007 09:50:15 MDT.

Rating: 3 / 5

I am an over-pronator and have moderatel high arches. I tried Superfeet for two years in a pair of NB 907's, and ran and hiked in them with great success. Rather suddenly, I started developing foot fatigue and heel blisters. My feet literally outgrew the need for Superfeet insoles; as I got into running, bicycling, and fastpacking, my feet got to the point where they actually seemed to relish a lot more flex and movement in the footbed of shoes. Just wanted to throw this into the mix because I'm one person who was both a convert to Superfeet...and now can't wear them at all!

Try before you buy, absolutely. It's a solid product, you just need to make sure they're right for your feet!