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Custom insoles a scam?

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ArseneFox
Posts: 147 - Karma: 1,176
I have flat & wide feet. Got some sidas from the bootfitter along with my vacuum fitted fischers, still had fuck loads of cramps, yet my feet weren't tight in my ski boot either ("go see a bootfitter" turned out to be a big fail for me, went to DutchBootFitter). Did an experiment at an indoor ski piste, cut out a 2dollar flat insole, ski'd with them in one boot and bootfitter custom sidas insoles in the other, had much less cramps in the boot with flat insole, than replaced the custom sidas insoles with flat insoles in the other boot and cramps eased down A LOT.

What is the rationale behind insoles that have the exact shape of your feet anyway? Why should you equalize pressure all across the foot? Isn't it only normal that you stand on your heel and the part before your toes (mtp joint)? And that there is no pressure in the arch of your foot? (So no bump in your insoles either) In nature you mostly walk on flat surface, not on surface that has the exact same shape as your feet. I DO believe in equalizing the pressure on the leg and over/around the foot, and removing pressure points in these parts. But I don't get the rationale behind equalizing pressure below the foot, it's not natural, and standing on a flat surface is what worked the most for me.

**This thread was edited on Jan 4th 2019 at 11:47:44am
Jan 4 2019 11:40AM
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evaroni
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,776
I spent three years selling and fitting boots, and I would get $20 cash for every custom I sold so you can imagine I was out to HUSTLE custom footbeds. To answer your question, the majority of people will benefit from a custom footbed given the fit of the boot is correct and the footbed is offering the correct support. I have run across feet where the footbed was molded and their foot actually flattened the footbed completely taking away the arch support (maybe they were fine with a flat stock insert). I have also done plenty where the arch needed to be increased as a means of stabilizing the foot. So every case is different and for someone who plans on skiing more than 1 week a year it often takes more than one or two visits to the bootfitter to get the fit dialed. This is why buying from a shop with a fit guarantee that you have access to is so valuable because these changes are typically incremental.

So my recommendation is to work WITH the bootfitter and ask questions and give feedback. If the problems don't go away you might consider starting from the beginning with a completely different boot.
Jan 4 2019 12:34PM
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HypeBeast
Posts: 9826 - Karma: 73,087
Look in your tennis shoes. There's a reason there's arch support in there. Sure if you're a caveman walking on soft ground, the surface conforms to your arch and you're good. If you're in ski boots or on hard ground, it's not optimal.

There's a reason so many people who stand all day wear Asics or Crocs and not Nike shoes. Ever seen the shoes nurses wear? You think think wear funky looking shoes for the looks? Nope. The arch support minimizes foot fatigue.

Never had custom insoles so can't comment on that but it may take a few days to get used to them. The concept of arch support is well documented and good for feet however. Maybe they just weren't done right. If the arch is too big it probably is uncomfortable.
Jan 4 2019 12:38PM
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onenerdykid
Posts: 6714 - Karma: 11,500
ArseneFoxI have flat & wide feet. Got some sidas from the bootfitter along with my vacuum fitted fischers, still had fuck loads of cramps, yet my feet weren't tight in my ski boot either ("go see a bootfitter" turned out to be a big fail for me, went to DutchBootFitter). Did an experiment at an indoor ski piste, cut out a 2dollar flat insole, ski'd with them in one boot and bootfitter custom sidas insoles in the other, had much less cramps in the boot with flat insole, than replaced the custom sidas insoles with flat insoles in the other boot and cramps eased down A LOT.

What is the rationale behind insoles that have the exact shape of your feet anyway? Why should you equalize pressure all across the foot? Isn't it only normal that you stand on your heel and the part before your toes (mtp joint)? And that there is no pressure in the arch of your foot? (So no bump in your insoles either) In nature you mostly walk on flat surface, not on surface that has the exact same shape as your feet. I DO believe in equalizing the pressure on the leg and over/around the foot, and removing pressure points in these parts. But I don't get the rationale behind equalizing pressure below the foot, it's not natural, and standing on a flat surface is what worked the most for me.

**This thread was edited on Jan 4th 2019 at 11:47:44am


Your foot has evolved as a suspension system for walking and running. It has not evolved for being stuffed into a rigid plastic shell, strapped to 1.8m lever arm, and thrown down a frozen hill. Your flexible foot will twist and move inside the rigid boot, and it is the job of a footbed to stabilize your flexible foot inside the rigid shell and create the best possible interface between foot and boot. Without a footbed, your foot will twist and move internally leading to performance loss and potentially pain & discomfort.

Your foot was cramping out because you've never had arch support before. You are supposed to wear your boot and insoles before you go skiing so you get acclimated to them. Otherwise, your foot will cramp out. Once you are used to them, you will not get cramps and ideally should should have something in your everyday footwear too. You do the most help or hurt to your feet and knees in your everyday shoes, so definitely start there.
Jan 4 2019 2:00PM
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