What Are The Best Insoles For Standing All Day? – Complete Product Guide And Review
Whether you are at work or take part in any activity that requires to stand for long periods of time, foot aches and pains can be both frustrating and hard to deal with. With proper insoles, you can avoid common foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis, Mortons Neuroma, and even back pain, which can be a cause of improper posture.
In this guide, we will be looking at the best insoles for standing all day. We will also be going over the benefits of upgrading your shoe inserts, the different types that are available, and how to choose the right ones so you can make the most informed decision possible when choosing your insoles.
Points We Will Be Covering
- What Are The Benefits Of Choosing An Insole For Standing All Day?
- What Are The Different Types Of Insoles?
- How Standing All Day Without Proper Insoles Can Affect Your Feet
- What Are The Best Insoles For Standing On Concrete All Day?
- What To Consider When Choosing Insoles For Standing All Day?
- Reviewing Our 11 Best Insoles For Standing All Day
Our Top Insoles For Standing All Day - At A Glance
Best Insoles For Over-Pronation, Supination And Overall Pain Relief
Best Insoles For Wide Foot Types
Best Insoles For Plantar Fasciitis
Best Insoles For High Arches
Best Insoles For Heavier Individuals
What Are The Benefits Of Choosing An Insole For Standing All Day?
Having proper insole can provide multiple health benefits, as well as relieving pain from common foot conditions. Below are some key benefits of having proper insoles designed for standing all day.
Can Help Relieve Heel Pain Caused By Plantar Fasciitis
One of the most common causes of heel pain is due to plantar fasciitis. This is a condition where there is inflammation of the thick band of muscle tissue (plantar fascia) that runs across the bottom of your foot that connects your toes to your heel bone.Â
As you get tired from standing or walking all day, you may notice that you can naturally start shifting your weight to the back or front of your foot due to discomfort. This can lead to the overuse of the heel, therefore causing foot pain in the heel region of your foot.
Having proper insoles can help distribute your body weight throughout your foot and can help to support the arch in the center. For plantar fasciitis, we recommend going with insoles that have good foam orthotic arch support insoles with either a rigid or semi-rigid footbed.Â
It can often take a while to recover from plantar fasciitis. However, with the proper footwear and supportive insoles can provide the support needed to help the plantar fascia heal. To help expedite the healing process, you can also look into investing in a foot massager as a natural way to recover from this condition.
Helps People With Arthritis And Diabetes
Having proper insoles can also help relieve foot pain caused by arthritis as well as type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Both diabetic nerve damage and arthritis can cause discomfort and symptoms such as tingling due to a lack of blood circulation in the foot.
People who suffer from either of these conditions should consider an orthotic insole that is gentle on the foot and is designed to improve blood circulation by reducing pressure. Orthotic insoles will also help minimize the amount of shock and abuse that your feet go through every day, therefore preventing inflammation and the overuse of the foot.
Prevent's Mortons Neuroma
Mortons Neuroma is a condition where there is persistent pain and swelling in the bottom ball of your foot, where the bottom of your toes begin. This often causes the surrounding nerve tissue to thicken, therefore creating a large tumor-like bump.
This condition mostly affects women because they tend to wear shoes with high heels, which directs their body weight towards the front of their foot. Symptoms of Mortons Neuroma can include burning, tingling, or a sharp pain while walking or standing on the affected area.Â
If you suffer from Mortons Neuroma, then it is recommended that you go for an insole with extra padding in the front region of the foot. This will help transfer a lot of your body weight away from your toes and can help relieve pressure on the irritated nerve.
May Help Prevent Injury
Having a good pair of insoles in your shoes can help correct your stance by providing proper support to the foot, therefore reducing the risk injury caused by rolling or twisting.
If you are on your feet regularly, then you probably understand how tired your feet get towards the end of the day. A common thing people tend to do when their feet get fatigued is they start transitioning their body weight to different parts of their feet. This is a perfect recipe for ankle injuries such as sprains or twists.
Can Help Provide Better Back Support
Your posture and how you stand during long periods of time is also linked to back pain and lower back problems. Research also suggests that foot posture, particularly hyperpronation is associated with lower back pain which has a correlation with spinal problems.
Having insoles that maximize heel support can help reduce supination and overpronation. These are conditions where the foot either rolls inward and/or outward when walking. Preventing this will not only help reduce back caused by improper posture but can also relieve foot pain and prevent common injuries such as twisting or spraining your ankle.
What Are The Different Types Of Insoles?
Custom Orthotics
These types of insoles are prescribed by a doctor and molded to your specific foot size due to the severity of a condition which ‘off the shelf’ insoles simply cannot treat.Â
Accommodative orthotics are also a common kind of custom insert that is custom-fitted for people who suffer from diabetic ulcers, painful calluses, or pain caused by arthritis.Â
Functional orthotics are the second kind of custom insert that can be prescribed by a doctor. These are often crafted using rigid materials such as plastics or carbon fiber and typically provide strong arch support.
Partial Shoe Insoles
The most common type of insole you can find over the counter is a partial shoe insert. There is a wide range of products in this category and they are all designed to target a specific part of your foot, such as your heel, arch, and toes.Â
Partial shoe insoles can be a great option if you do not want to replace your entire insoles, or want pain relief in a specific area. They can also be much more cost-effective since they aren’t full-sized inserts and contain less technology.Â
Full Length Insoles
Full length insoles are opposite of partial shoe inserts. Rather than targeting a specific part of your foot, they instead provide overall support from your toes to your heel.Â
You will also find a wide selection of full length insoles over the counter. These can vary from heated-cushioning inserts for improving blood circulation, arch supporting inserts, and extra foam cushioning to help absorb shock and stress when walking.Â
Full length insoles are often the best option if you are standing all day and don’t have pain that is caused by injury or a more severe foot condition that restricts walking or standing.
What Are The Best Insoles For Standing On Concrete All Day?
Concrete floors or any type of surface that is similar can be extremely unforgiving on the feet. These types of surfaces are one of the biggest causes of foot pain caused by conditions such as plantar fasciitis or Morton’s Neuroma.Â
Standing on hard surfaces like concrete will cause you to shift your weight to different points on your foot, and can even cause back pain due to improper posture. To prevent this, there needs to be more care given to the plantar fascia as well as the arch of your foot.Â
For this, we suggest going with a full-length insert that provides additional arch support for the plantar fascia with extra cushioning, like the Powerstep insole. Concrete can also be quite cold which can slow down blood circulation, which is also why we recommend applying foot warmers in addition to your insert.
What To Consider When Choosing Insoles For Standing All Day
Many people who look for insoles do not give enough thought as to what they should look for when choosing them. Making a mistake with your selection often worsen the symptoms you may be already experiencing , or even in some cases, make matters worse.
Here, we will look at some key things to consider and look out for when choosing your insole:
Arch Type
One of the most important factors when choosing your insole is finding one that supports your arch type. people will either have a low, medium, or high arch. Each product should indicate which arch type the insole is designed to support.
An insole that does not fill the gap between the base of the shoe and your arch simply will not provide enough support, therefore increasing the amount of stress applied to the plantar fascia.Â
Material
There is no right or wrong choice when it comes to material. However, different materials can help enhance the benefits of your specific needs.
There are 3 types of materials that insoles are typically made of; foam, gel, leather, and cork. Leather is great at providing more cushioning, whereas gel helps to absorb shock and impact. Cork is good for providing support, and foam helps with relieving pressure on your foot.
Size
Ensuring that you select the right size of insole for your foot can be the difference maker of whether or not you are maximizing the support for your foot. A proper fit can also prevent friction and can reduce the cramming of toes or top of your foot.
Picking the appropriate fit is fairly simple. Insole sizing is already determined according to your shoe or foot size and is typically indicated on the packaging in which your product came in.Â
You can also find many full-length insoles will give you the ability to trim or cut to your required size, and come with a reference chart to help guide you. Different styles of shoes can often be off in diameter, even if they indicate the same size. That is why trimming is often the best option, as it helps size the insole to more accurately.
Extra Features
Extra features such as anti-odor technology can be great if you find that your feet sweat a lot from standing all day. This is most common in dress shoes or work boots that prevent breathability.Â
Moisture-wicking and anti-micro bacterial materials such as polyester can also help keep your feet dry, therefore helping to reduce bad odor.Â
Reviewing The Best Insoles For Standing All Day
Best Insoles for heavier individuals
Dr. Scholl's
Pain Relief Orthotics
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
Supported arch types: Flat feet – medium
If you are a bit on the heavier side in terms of your weight, then the Dr.Scholl’s shoe inserts are a great option. They can support people up to 300lbs without wearing down the supportive cushioning and padding on the insole.
This shoe insert is also effective for relieving symptoms such as back pain and leg fatigue by using a feature called ‘arch-guard technology ‘. This works by distributing your body weight evenly while absorbing stress on impact.Â
The slim design of this insole helps to not crowd the toes and supports flat to medium arch foot types. The insert is also designed to fit almost any type of shoe and can be trimmed to your appropriate size. The slim design can also allow you yo keep your current insole by allowing you to stack them, depending on the size of your original insert.
Pros
- Supports people up to 300lbs
- Arch guard technology distributes weight and reduces stress
- Helps relieve back pain and leg fatigue.
- Fits all shoe types
- May not require you to remove your current insole.
- Trim to fit
- Affordable
Cons
- A few people reported a squeaking noise coming from the plastic supporting layer on the insole after extended use,
- Not ideal for reducing supination and over-pronation.
Best Insoles for High Arches
GAOAG
Shock-absorption Breathable Insole
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
Supported arch types: Medium-high (1.38 inches)
If you have a high arch, then the GAOAG is a great option that supports arch types up to 1.38 inches. This insert uses a gel pad that is located in both the heel and ball area of your foot to help absorb impact and help alleviate pressure.
This insole also offers a deep u-shaped heel cup that provides maximum support to your heel. This feature also helps to position your foot correctly and helps to absorb weight when standing or walking for long periods of time.
What we liked most about this insole was the material. It uses a breathable thermoplastic rubber that helps absorb sweat and reduces friction when walking. The material also allows this insole to be machine washable without ruining it over time.
Pros
- Great for high arches
- Absorbs impact in both the heel and ball using targeting gel pads
- List Item #1
- Helps correct foot positioning
- Keeps your feet dry by wicking moisture
- Machine washable
- Affordable
Cons
- Quality of these inserts has decreased over time according to customer reports. Customers said that they used to last more than a year, however they seem to wear down in around 8-10 months.
Best Insoles for plantar fasciitis
Powerstep
Orthotic Inserts For Men And Women
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
Supported arch types: small – high
If you suffer from pain caused by plantar fasciitis, then Powerstep is a reliable insole that is recommended by several podiatrists throughout the United States. The insert is also clinically proven to improve foot function by providing maximum heel support using a deep cradle which improves stability.
The fabric is also made from anti-micro bacterial fabric that helps keep your feet dry by wicking moisture. The insole comforts your feet using dual-layer cushioning along with a durable EVA foam base which distributes stress evenly throughout the foot.
In terms of fitting, this insert will support all arch types. To match your foot or shoe size, you must refer to the product sizing chart rather than trimming to scale.
Pros
- Made in USA
- Recommended by podiatrists
- Improves foot function.
- Double layer cushioning provides comfort and even stress distribution.
- Anti-micro bacterial fabric keeps feet dry.
- Relieves pain from plantar fasciitis
Cons
- Higher price point
- No trim to fit. Must refer to sizing chart which can often be inaccurate due to different shoe styles.
Best Insoles for Wide Foot Types
Walk-Hero
Multi-Arch Support Orthotics
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
Supported arch types: 7mm
If you find that your feet get hot and sweaty from standing all day, then the Walk-Hero orthotics are a fantastic option. These inserts are made from fabric that keeps your feet cool, therefore helping to reduce odor and friction caused by moisture.
The Walk-Heros supports 7mm arch types and provides a u-deep heel support cup that improves balance and helps maintain correct foot positioning. The insert also helps to distribute weight and stress using a unique 3 point support design in order to prevent pain in areas such as the heel and ball of your foot.
The fitting can be adjusted by trimming to your matching shoe or current insole. Overall, this is a great shoe insert for everyday use and is also a great option for people with wider feet.
Pros
- Keeps your feet cool and dry
- Supports all arch types up to 7mm
- Evenly distributes weight and stress
- Corrects foot positioning over time
- Can last up to 2 years with consistent use
- Supports wider foot types
- Affordable
- Good for all arch types
Cons
- Cannot be machine washed. Must be hand washed using warm water only.
Best Insoles for over-pronation, supination and overall pain relief
Superfeet
Pro-grade Orthotic Inserts
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
Supported arch types: low – medium
Superfeet insoles are recommended by health professionals worldwide and are highly popular due to their unique design and comfort using a high-density foam cushion, which helps to distribute your weight evenly.
These insoles support low to medium arch types and provide maximum shock absorption using a deep heel cup. This deep heel cup is also one of the widest on the market, providing complete heel support.
What we liked most about the super feet insole was the unique carbon fiber stabilizer cap that extends from the middle of the insert to the heel. This feature helps to prevent over-pronation and supination by preventing your foot from rolling left or right when fatigued.Â
Overall, this is a great insole for reducing aches and pains in your feet and help you stand correctly when fatigued when standing for long periods of time.
Pros
- Recommended by health professionals worldwide
- Easy sizing by tracing and trimming around your original shoe insert.
- Provides maximum stability to prevent over-pronation and supination.
- Wide heel cup for maximum heel support
- High density cushions foot evenly.
- Absorbs shock evenly throughout.
Cons
- Expensive
Did you try any of our reviewed and recommended products? We want to know your feedback. Leave us a comment below so we can learn more about your experience!Â
