Anybody ever tried heat-molded Sole insoles?

They're comfy, but I wouldn't use them in my running shoes. I threw a pair in some flat-as-a-pancake nike skate shoes to add a bit more support/cushion and they work nicely. Montrail makes some real nice ones too.

As far as using them to run in though, I don't think it's the way to go. The insole, aka sock-liner, is such an unimportant part of the shoe and its only role should be to cover up the seams. If you need to compensate, maybe youre in the wrong shoe.

Just get a pair of Gel Nimbus and keep it on the crete.

I have in the past and will soon be going back to them. The first pair worked very well but I didn't replace them once they were worn.

I have to ask about your screenname. I was just diagnosed with a stress fracture of the Talus, which is why I will be going back to the Soles once I'm running again. My Dr suggested I try and OTC insole and I am going to try the thin Soles that are meant for dress shoes.

If you need the arch support Soles are a good brand.

I have tried them and found them to be a bit too stiff for my running preferences. I then put them in some casual shoes and have gotten good use out of them. I also tried, and continue to use, some half-sole EVA orthotics from one of those step-in-the-foam and send it back orthotics companies. I have been very happy with the orthotics. I have used them in training, racing and XC shoes and they don't reduce the flexibility of the shoes. The orthotics do give me a correction of the slightly pronated position that my feet naturally take, which relieves some achilles stress.

I have used these for the past couple of years, and I think they're a great product. I've had problems with plantar fasciitis, and the support the Sole insoles provides helps me avoid a relapse. I actually have a pair in my training shoes that's similar to the DK version, although they were made before he got his signature line. I think they're a little stiff, but they work well. I bought a pair of the 'slim sport' model for my work shoes, which I also use in my racing flats. They're not as stiff as the others, but they're also much narrower, and don't fit my training shoes well.

The one reservation I have is, I think you should buy a less-structured shoe than you usually would if you're using a stiff insole. I noticed when I started using Spenco insoles at my podiatrist's recommendation that my outsoles wore excessively on the lateral side, and I developed bursitis at the base of my little toe. Once I switched to the Sole insoles and a slightly less structured shoe, the bursitis cleared up, and my PF hasn't come back.

Haji wrote:

I have to ask about your screenname. I was just diagnosed with a stress fracture of the Talus, which is why I will be going back to the Soles once I'm running again. My Dr suggested I try and OTC insole and I am going to try the thin Soles that are meant for dress shoes.

If you need the arch support Soles are a good brand.

Nope - I didn't fracture my Talus, but it sounded like a good screen name given the foot problem. My problem is pain/callus under my 2nd metatarsal - pretty much since I ran a fast half in Sept. It's not debilitating, but annoying, especially until I warm up. I had a podiatrist look at it. He removed the callus and said it might or might not come back. I've moved to more grass/dirt and generally taken it more easy, but it's still there.

I'm a midfoot striker and have a high arch. I read the "The Runner's Repair Manual" (great book, by the way) and one possibility is that my arches are collapsing(?) (I'm 46) and adding extra stress to that point. I tried using a metatarsal pad and that only seemed to make it worse, so I thought I'd try these to get more arch support and maybe more even contact between my foot and the shoe.