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The first step in hiking comfort is footwear, and for those with foot pain, the best insoles for hiking are a solid solution.
If you can find a good pair of hiking boots for men or women and always wear comfortable hiking socks, then hopefully you can alleviate foot pain before even worrying about insoles. But if you regularly need to search for shoes for high arches, flat feet, plantar fasciitis, or options outfitted for other common foot problems, then you may also benefit from augmenting your footwear with the best hiking insoles. (And unless you’re wearing hiking sandals, chances are your hiking footwear will accommodate some form of insole.)
You can find a variety of insoles for different types of conditions and footwear styles, and the best insoles are designed to truly give your shoe a personalized fit, allowing you to trek further in comfort across a variety of terrains. We’ll go into more detail about what you should look for when you choose insoles for hiking, but in short, search for an insole that fits your arch, then look at your shoe’s inner and find an insole that offers adequate cushion without compromising your fit.
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In my career, I’ve hiked thousands of miles on six continents, testing footwear along the way. The insoles listed here were chosen with those experiences as a testing matrix, along with extensive research and customer review analysis.
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Materials: Carbon fiber
Arch Support: Medium/high
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
Zappos Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
REI Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.9/5 stars
The Aerospring Ascent Dual Comfort foam features two distinct layers of foam with an impressive amount of cushion, while the Moisturewick technology does a standout job keeping feet dry. The insoles’ Heel Impact Technology pod disperses heel pressure on steep descents, too. One downside is that this set of insoles only comes in a single medium-to-high arch profile, so folks who wear shoes for flat feet may want to steer clear.
What testers say: “These insoles have now become my go-to choice for my hiking boots. They offer superior comfort and support compared to the OEM insoles. The only downside might be the higher price tag, but I’d argue it’s worth the investment, especially if you’re on your feet daily. They’ve been highly effective in reducing foot fatigue, in my experience.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $41.21
Materials: Nylon
Arch Support: Low
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
Zappos Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
What testers say: “I needed arch support in my dress flats, but most supports out there have the heel cup/cushion, which makes shoes fall off my feet. The standalone arch support inserts are invariably too stiff and high for me. The Spenco RX Arch Cushion has a flat heel area and is soft without compromising support. I had to trim a lot on the side and in the toe area because I have small feet, but otherwise this has been great.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $19.99
Materials: Polyester and gel
Arch Support: Low/medium/high
Amazon’s Choice
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
Zappos Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
Target Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
What testers say: “I have flat feet and severely overpronate… The moment I stood on these insoles in his office, I felt support and comfort. We trimmed them to size and my feet have been granted a new life. I get such support, stability, and comfort from these orthotics. Honestly better than I ever got from custom orthotics.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $44.89
Materials: Foam and gel
Arch Support: High
Amazon’s Choice
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
What testers say: “These insoles are great, especially while trimmable. I put them in some old Vans that I pulled the insoles out of. I walk the dog with these shoes since they’re old and worn, so the waste from dogs with lazy owners don’t stain or ruin other shoes. I had issues with pains in my one foot, but these solved that.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $31.99
Materials: Foam
Arch Support: Low/medium/high
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
REI Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.9/5 stars
The commitment to sustainability is evident in the insole base, constructed from 20 percent post-industrial recycled EVA and packaged up in 100 percent plastic-free materials. All told, these insoles not only prioritize foot health but also offer a conscientious and eco-friendly purchase.
What testers say: “These are the best insoles I’ve ever used. Reduced my foot pain tenfold. They are a bit pricey but worth it. My insurance FSA covers them so check in to that if available to you.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $49.50
Materials: Foam
Arch Support: Low/medium/high
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
Poron and Propo+ technology in the heel and forefoot adds shock absorption, while the zero drop profile keeps things organic, and a featherlight weight of 2 ounces makes for easy placement in just about any hiking shoe without a change in performance. The bamboo mid-layer and ventilated sole keep feet comfortable and dry, while the silicone heel grabbers offer added stability and control on steep terrain.
What testers say: “Fits my arch well and has proved to eliminate fatigue throughout the day. My go-to insole for poor-fitting flat insoles. Only need to trim a short piece from the toe to fit the shoe perfectly. Good cushion and durability.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $59.95
Materials: Gel
Arch Support: Low/medium/high
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
Dick’s Sporting Goods Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.6/5 stars
What testers say: “I have FINALLY found an insole that doesn’t make my feet hurt!! These are great insoles! I’m buying a couple more for other shoes I own.”
Price upon publish date of this article: $34.99
Materials: Foam
Arch Support: Medium
Amazon Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.5/5 stars
Zappos Top-Quality Store Badge on Google: 4.8/5 stars
What testers say: “I use these in all my work shoes. As a nurse, I’m on my feet for about 14 hours at a time and having Oboz is a MUST! The insoles have just the right amount of arch support to bring my feet in alignment and got rid of my foot, hip and back pain! I have since added them to all my shoes!”
Price upon publish date of this article: $34.95
What to Look for in the Best Insoles for Hiking
- Arch support: “A common misconception is that many people assume that if they purchase a ‘supportive shoe’ or a shoe with ‘arch support,’ then there is no benefit to adding an insole,” says Minnesota-based podiatrist Dr. Paul Langer. “Insoles can actually improve shoe comfort and help address foot pain when a supportive shoe is not adequate.” Every person’s foot is different, but most insoles can be broken down by those with low, medium, or high arches. Adequate arch support helps distribute your body weight more evenly and reduces stress on your feet, so selecting the right arch height is critical. Of course, you can visit a footwear store to find your arch height, but it’s also possible to do so at home. Wet your foot and place it on a paper towel or piece of cardboard to see the impression your foot leaves. Once you see this outline, it’s easy to tell if your arches are high, medium, or low. The lower the arch, the wider the imprint of your foot. Compare your arch imprint to different arch heights online for a more accurate height estimate.
- Fit: As NYC-based podiatrist and spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association Dr. Jacqueline Sutera says, no one size fits all. “You should start by fitting the insole for your foot type (flat feet versus high arches),” she says. Beyond this, the easiest way to choose an insole is simply to start trying them on. The insole you choose should make you more comfortable, not less, and unlike boots, there is little to no break-in period with an insole, so it should be comfortable fairly immediately. If not, look for a different insole. Beyond arch support, you should also look for insoles with a well-defined heel cup that cradles your heel. This helps stabilize the foot and improves overall comfort.
- Thickness: Your shoe volume can also be impacted by insole thickness. Hiking boots typically have a large volume to accommodate thicker socks and the swelling your feet may undergo at altitude, but if your hiking boots have limited space, you might want thinner insoles to avoid making the fit too tight.
- Material: Insoles are made from various materials, including foam, gel, plastic, and carbon fiber. Ultimately, different hikers prefer different materials. The important thing is that your insole provides enough comfort without compromising stability, and vice versa.
- Firmness: An insole works by absorbing the shock from your stride with each step, and it does this best when your weight is distributed evenly throughout the surface area of the insole. That’s why the best insoles for hiking must also be flexible enough to stay with your foot throughout the walk cycle. Without a bit of rigidity, an insole won’t be able to adequately support your arch, but avoid insoles that are too firm, as they can alter your foot profile and fail to absorb shock properly.
How We Chose the Best Insoles for Hiking
For more than 75 years, Footwear News has been the shoe authority. Our coverage spans top industry news, retail trends, head-to-toe fashion, athletic and outdoor analysis and more. Footwear News’ global network of editors has carefully curated all product selections featured using our expansive brand knowledge and thorough research to find quality, long-lasting items.
The best hiking insoles on this list were chosen using a variety of methods. We spent many hours scouring the web for customer reviews, touching on expert interviews, researching the market, and comparing evaluations of other professional gear testers, finally compiling this list of eight insoles for hiking using the lens of the writer’s experience in the outdoors. Ultimately, the choices listed here are an amalgam of personally-tested picks and highly-rated models we assessed using the writer’s 15-plus years in the outdoors and lifetime career as an outdoor gear journalist. Learn more about us here.
Meet the Author
Owen Clarke is a lifelong outdoorsman and outdoor sports journalist. In addition to contributing to Footwear News, Owen is an editor-at-large for The Outdoor Journal and Climbing House, and a regular contributor to Backpacker, Climbing, Outside Online, SKI, Iron and Air, Trail Runner, and a variety of other outdoor publications. He also edits for the American Alpine Journal. He is an avid backpacker, climber, and motorcyclist and has logged miles on two feet (and two wheels) in mountain ranges from North Africa to the Andes to the Balkans. Clarke used his expertise in outdoor gear to write this article on the best hiking insoles.
