As a high-arched person I usually need to add insoles to my shoes, at least to the shoes I wear in the gym or for hiking or walking, to make sure I have adequate support. This alleviates pain in my heels, arches, and the balls of my feet. For a while I was wearing green superfeet, but I found that they were interfering with my gait too much and wanted to make the switch to something more flexible. However, I found that a lot of the softer insoles available right now have so much bulk to them that they make it hard to fit my feet into my shoes. At the worst I have gotten heel blisters when the back of my heel was pushed up so high in the shoe by a padded insole that the heel cup of the shoe no longer held it in place. For a while I was using the Spenco full-lngth arch support but those do not provide any sort of a heel cup or much in the way of moisture-wicking. Still, it was the best thing I could find. Until this insole came along, that is.
Someone over at Spenco had the good sense to realize that many or most well-fitting shoes don't always have room for a big bulky insole as well as the wearer's foot. This Proform insole was the product of that realization and is the only insole I use now. It provides a solid arch support and heel cup as well as a full-length cushion that is soft yet dense and wicks moisture during a workout. It is so thin and light that it does nothing to change the fit of the shoe except to add a bit more arch and heel support. In fact, it is thinner than some insoles that come with gym shoes, creating even more nice toe room. It is also very flexible and doesn't hinder your natural gait (pronators might want to look elsewhere).
So overall a great, great product which I hope Spenco keeps making for years to come.
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While I have been mostly happy with many other orthotics, the extra height they add always adds pressure under the laces that gets uncomfortable after a long day. In addition to being very comfortable and supportive, these do not add height or pressure. I've worn them for months various shoes, and they have transformed even the cheaper pairs into some of the most comfortable shoes I've worn. I tried about five other kinds, these pollysorbs are the winners and I'm stocking up.
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I bought these insoles for three main reasons: 1.) Deep heel cups, 2.) Arch support, and 3.) Forefoot cushioning. While they have good forefoot cushioning, they fail on the other two counts. Firstly, the heel cups, while deeper than most stock insoles for running or walking shoes, are not as deep as I had hoped about 1/2" at best. The pictures make it seem much deeperthis is misleading. Since I have narrow heels, I need something deeper to help stabilize my heel.
Second, the arch support is not particularly good either. Spenco lists these as being suitable for medium to high arches. I have medium arches that find high, firmed arches insoles (e.g. superfeet green or Sole softec Ultra) to be a little too high and uncomfortable. Yet these insoles provide little arch support, and not just because the arch isn't very firm. The arch just isn't high in these. I had to add a cut piece of foam under the arch (for both lateral and longitudinal arch support) to provide any support at all. This is again very misleading. The small metatarsal "bump" the insoles have are useless it is just a slightly raised area, and under the insole, you see an indent for it. It simply collapses under even the slightest pressure.
Third while the black forefoot cushioning is quite good, it is poorly placed. I measure a solid 10.5 US on a brannock device. I bought the size 10/11 spenco insole. These insoles are LONG could probably accomodate a size 11.5 shoe, maybe even a 12. The problem is that the black foam doesn't run close enough to the arch for me, and my forefoot is only partially on it. While the cushioning is still quite good, it seems odd to make the placement so far forward. If the insole is listed as able to accomodate a size 10 foot, the forefoot cushioning should be accomodated as well. I might have been better off with the size 8/9 unfortunately, no stores around me carry these insoles, so I couldn't try them on first.
A few other points while the cushioning is good, it is maybe too good. The insole is completely flexible, to the point of being able to be rolled up like a crepe. Using a somewhat firmer foam in the mid-foot and heel section would help a bit with stability.
Also, while it is thinner than their walker runner model, this is hardly a "thin" insole. I found it too thick to use in my hiking boots without taking up more toe volume than I would like. And I have thin, low volume feet. It will probably work for most athletic footwear, but for people with high volume feet it might be too much.
Conclusions these are probably only good for people who want/need a more cushioning insole that don't really need arch support. They are not suitable for over-pronators who need arch support and heel stabilization. I will wear them in my walking shoes with some added arch support, but I wouldn't use them for running or hiking.
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This product is exactly what I have been looking for and way cheaper on Amazon.com. I believe I saved 10 dollars by purchasing here. I have had no plantars faciatis and feel much more comfortable when I run. Spenco Polysorb Proforms are definitely worth the purchase and I will be a repeat customer when these finally wear out.
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These insoles are just like the same quality what I normally buy at the shoe store for a slightly less price.
