that’s impossible! Without the cyclist up charge those insoles will never work.
Bontragers insoles are Superfeet, but they put the vents in the right spot for your shoes sole vent. The hockey ones have the vents mid foot. Shoes are different so either may work/not work.
Personally, I find these too firm in the toe as they don’t mold to your foots shape at all. There’s also just too much to them- they all seem to be made for a work boot. A lot of them only work with a flat sole, but most shoes have a molded-in arch. Anything with a medial bump is a hard pass -I think I screwed up forefoot tendon’s with that. I prefer the stock Shimano ones in their high end shoes- thin and they have the adjustable arch.
Bit of a necro bump, but this is the route I’ve been thinking of going since skates don’t deal with pronation like cycling. Any advice on converting skate sizes to cycling shoe sizes?
No need to convert sizes - look at the size chart for one of their non-hockey models and figure out what your superfeet size is (B through G, with each letter covering a range of sizes). I’d guess your non-hockey size letter will be the same as your hockey size letter.
Other superfeet models worth looking at are the ‘Run Support’ models since they have the most rounded/cupped shape underneath the heel and are more likely to fit into a molded cycling shoe.
I have Run Support Low Arch (bought under previous name of just ‘carbon’) in one of my city/commuter cycling shoes. Cupped heel is the most likely fit for a serious cycling shoe, but it’s still a lot wider than a lot of cycling shoes at the heel so I’m not sure it would sit well in any of my race shoes.
Pretty sure I also have a pair of Run Support Medium in my insulated/waterproof winter cycling shoes. I originally bought the red insulating winter insoles for those shoes but they took up too much volume. I think I ended up using the running ones not by deliberate choice but because I had them on hand and they were slim enough to fit - I think I’d bought them for a pair of running shoes and decided they were way too stiff for that use case, but I’d already trimmed them to size so couldn’t return.
In my best shoes I prefer something with arch support but no structure (like others have mentioned above) - Shimano with the high arch insert are my favorite. Giro sell something similar aftermarket which is similar enough to be almost perfect for me. And I can do Specialized blue in a pinch but I don’t like the metatarsal button. I really wish Shimano would sell their insoles aftermarket!
Thanks! I guess I would have figured that out eventually. I have Superfeet Carbons that I like and guess I never noticed the letter range when I ordered those. Saw it for the hockey sizes and thought it p was a weird skate specific thing.
About G8 insoles. The good thing about them is the adjustable arc, obviously. So, if you have one pair of G8 and some DIY willingness, you can use the spare arcs for another shoes.
I put the arcs in the stock insoles that came with my Fizik Vento Wide shoes. I used Command strips so I’m able to adjust them. They’re great but I can’t find insoles that fit this model due to the curve and wider toe box.
Besides the adjustable arc, I don’t think there’s anything particularly good about the G8 compared to the alternatives. I personally find them too thick and hot.
On the other hand, an advantage of the G8 Is that you can end up paying way more by just trying different models of other brands finding the right spot for you. They’re also well made and last a long time. I used the Specialized ones before but had to replace them often and ended up paying more than the cost of the G8.
Btw, I’ve found the previous G8 model on eBay and on Sierra for almost half the price of the 2620. They’re very similar, I don’t think there’s a big difference in functionality.
I used to be a bike fitter and have G8, Sidas custom, Sidas 3 feet slim, Specalized blue and green and a bunch of other brands. I’ve tried so many and even made my own.
The G8 in particular are not a rigid insole which can be good or bad. I still use them in one pair of my older shoes but currently trying a more rigid style in my current shoes. The shoe also affects how the insole feels.
I think nearly everyone benefits from insoles. Interestingly my Lake 403 perform really well without insoles due to how prominent the arch support is and how rigid the rear is once moulded.
If you are a relatively normal human the G8 will work well as you get a bunch of arch support heights to try. If you are a special case you probably are already aware of this and have specific custom insoles made for you anyway.
I may be a good candidate for custom insoles but wanted to throw a question out to the group first.
I wear a US 14 for regular shoes and 48 or 49 depending on cycling shoe brand. I’ve always found the arch to be a bit too rearward on standard, off the rack insoles. I’ve even tried green Superfeet in the 15.5-17 size thinking I could trim them to fit but I wish the arch was about 1 cm more forward.
Has anyone run into something similar? Are there brands that tend to have the arch a bit more forward?
Thanks!!
I took the plunge years ago on custom and haven’t looked back.
My podiatrist said custom would be ~$400
Did you get cycling specific insoles or do you have insoles fkr regular shoes too?
Just for cycling. I’ve done imprint customs and also the heat molded Retul ones (Specialized)
I’d start with those and then maybe look into Lamson Shoes. I’ve had insoles made by him as well.
Hump
I was buying the Specialized ‘body geometry’ insoles in the really high version, and ran into a pair where the arch was displaced more forward. I ended up tossing them into a pair I don’t use very much rather than throwing them away, and now apparently they have stopped making them according to a really small LBS, after Specialized dropped a larger and more capable shop.
Specialized hasn’t stopped selling them I guess, but the small shop saying they had makes me cautious to deal with them on these. I’ve tried other brands, and gone through the wringer with the sometimes bizarre things they do. IE: One brand that felt amazing also make their insoles very thick overall, so though they do feel like heaven (I have massive high arches) the thickness makes fitting in shoes a struggle. I finally found a pair but have to watch the tightness and the shoes look over-stuffed for sure.
I did have ‘custom insoles’ made by a ‘podiatrist’ in California. They sent me a ‘crush pad’ that I stepped on and sent back. What I got back was less than helpful. Someone highly recommended this service, and, well I was disappointed.
My podiatrist does do custom insoles, but didn’t recommend them making a pair for my riding shoes. I can’t remember the reason. shrug (Cost?)
My Insole journey has been
Icebug
Specialized Body Geo (blue)
G8 Pro Series.
I still use Specialized for my trainer shoes (they sit next to the trainer. and Icebug in my social ride shoes (road rides under 2 hours.) but the G8 are in my Bonts that I wear for 4+ hour Gravel & XCM rides.
I tried the Dr Scholl’s step on measuring machine, and it misdiagnosed my arches, and trying to find the model that is for high arches wasn’t worth the effort. Just in case someone is thinking of using that system. But it’s in groceries in the hinterland, and is better than nothing for the masses who don’t have a podiatrist.
Interesting…my podiatrist also didn’t think the insoles would be worthwhile for cycling shoes but didn’t explain why. I might look to see if there are any other podiatrists with a sports medicine background.
I also tried insoles from an online vendor where you make a mold of your foot in foam. Those didn’t work at all. I expect that was because they just matched your foot as it was, rather than taking into adjustments. For example, if you have a flat foot, I think the mold would fit your foot without the “proper” arch support.
As to the podiatrist appearing to not want to do insoles, I wonder if it’s the shape of the shoe. It is a fairly odd ‘shoe’ to stick something in. I had to hack the custom ones I received, and used an existing insole for a pattern, but had to cut a lot out. I guess it makes sense. (Also I tried the partial insole arch supports, and they just tended to slide around in the shoe, and wondered about taping/gluing them down. The bike shoe is an interesting environment for insoles. Hot, often wet, a lot of forces imparted in possibly interesting ways)
Find a new podiatrist, my custom insoles were covered by insurance.
There is definitely a technique to the crush pad. I am surprised it was do it yourself for you. I went into the office to do it, and they were very aggressive, pushing in certain areas to ensure exact fit. I don’t know how you would get a proper fit without the assistance of someone else who knows what they are doing.
With the crush pad box thing you have to put your foot into neutral position and then mould it. Typically this is done with subtalar joint in neutral and with a bit of load to the foot.
Some podiatrists don’t think this though with Kevin Kirby being writing a lot on this subject if you want further reading.
The joys of having a great job yet a high deductible health plan