Recently I started suffering from plantar fasciitis, which, if you’ve had it, you know is an extremely painful condition. I would wake up every morning and do stretches before I even got out of bed in the morning, but still, those first few minutes of walking around were so painful. I’d be walking around without being able to fully flex my foot, saying “ow, ow, ow” with every step, until my feet warmed up.
I’m on my feet all day, and I knew that doing stretches wasn’t going to be enough to help my plantar fasciitis. I wanted to try a pair of insoles that would give me good support, but would also be comfortable and flexible in my work boots. I work construction, so I spend at least 8 hours a day walking on uneven ground or floors, with varying hardness. From mud to concrete to uneven dirt with huge ruts, every step on these surfaces is different, as you can see from the picture below. My feet take a beating, and I needed comfortable yet durable insoles. So I decided to give the Soul Insoles a try.
When I first opened the package, I honestly thought that these insoles wouldn’t be enough. They were so lightweight and, well, small. But they are actually designed to support your arches, not be a full insole. And, as the website states: “Small Size, BIG Benefits”.
The additional benefits listed are:
- Adds Support & offloads pressure for all-day COMFORT!
- Use for both high arches and flat feet alike
- Stays firmly in place, yet can move from shoe to shoe
- Promotes improved alignment and balance
- Save hundreds & have support in shoes you actually wear
So, I decided to try them out.
Inserting them into my boots
I had a bit of a hard time lining them up when I was inserting them into my boots. Unlike regular insoles, which you can just slide into your shoes, I had to line these up in the boots so that they would line up with both my arches. I also had to figure out which was left and which was right, because again, compared to a regular insole, you can’t just see it at a first glance.
But the instructions were good, and they even came with a little paper template that really helped. I took out the liner that came with my boots, and put the insoles directly on the bottom of the boots, then put the liner back into the boot. I thought I was guessing a little bit on placement of the insoles, but I actually got them both in the right spot on the first try. So, really, it was easier than I thought it would be.
Honestly, it took about less than 5 minutes, and once they were in my boots, they were fine. Inserting them for the first time obviously takes a little bit longer, but once you know what you’re doing, it’s really easy.
Staying in place
I was also convinced that once I started walking around, they would be dislodged by the end of the first day. The insoles have adhesive on the bottom, so that they stick to the bottom of the inside of your shoes. It probably helped that I put them under the liner of my boots, but honestly, they didn’t move from where I inserted them. Or, if they did, it was only a little bit of shifting to match my arches (which I really didn’t even notice).
How it felt wearing them
It’s amazing how such a small thing like a little insole can make a big difference. I honestly noticed it right away. You feel it the most directly in your heel, obviously because that’s where the most support is felt. However, although I didn’t notice it right away, after walking for a little while I could also feel a difference in my knees, my hips, and even in my lower back.
The feeling is kind of hard to explain – it’s definitely not a painful feeling, but just a subtle shifting. I’m assuming this is the alignment effect. And I really only noticed this on the first day – after that, I could feel an increased level of comfort in my feet, but I didn’t consciously notice any differences in my knees, hips, or low back anymore. I’m assuming my body got used to the extra support.
Comfort
The insoles definitely made a difference in comfort levels for my feet. Before the insoles, after spending a full day walking in different kinds of terrain, my feet would be tired and achy – kind of a dull achy feeling. But wearing the insoles definitely helped the comfort levels for my feet. They were still tired at the end of day (I mean, I’m on them for 8 hours a day!), but the dull achy feeling definitely decreased.
Stickiness
I didn’t transfer the insoles to another pair of shoes, because I wanted to use them solely (pardon the pun!) for my work boots, so I can’t speak to if they retain their stickiness after moving them. But I can say that after wearing them for a few weeks, they haven’t shifted a noticeable amount in my boots.
I did take a look at them so that I could write this review, and they still seem really sticky.
Cure for plantar fasciitis?
So, I bet you want to know if I still get out of bed every morning limping along to my “ow ow ow” mantra? Well, while it’s definitely better, I still have some pain. But I truly believe it’s more due to my job.
Getting rid of plantar fasciitis takes a combination of things, including stretching, good footwear with proper support, and rest. It’ll be a long process to fully heal, especially when I’m still working 8-hour days. But I can honestly say that the insoles definitely helped by giving some good support to my work boots.
I’m really happy with the Soul Insoles and am considering getting another pair to use in my other footwear. I know you can transfer them easily, but I’d rather keep a pair dedicated solely for my work boots, and another pair for my other shoes.
Keeping my feet dry, warm, and comfortable in any kind of footwear is important to me. I’ve worked in the construction industry for over 20 years, in all kinds of weather conditions and climates, and most days it’s a challenge to take care of my feet. I’ve tried out different combinations of boots and socks to maximize comfort – adding the Soul Insole is a positive addition.