Dealing With Arch Pain? Podiatrists Say These Insoles Might Help. (2025)

Dealing With Arch Pain? Podiatrists Say These Insoles Might Help. (1)

As a long-term runner who constantly trains for races up to the half marathon, I must be careful of dreadful foot injuries. A common one that comes to mind that plagues the running community is plantar fasciitis. But, just because running isn’t your jam doesn’t mean you’re immune—this condition can affect everyday walkers. Besides securing the proper running or walking shoes, good insoles can elevate a pair of kicks that lack support.

Best Plantar Fasciitis Insoles

"Plantar fasciitis is pain and inflammation of the plantar fascia, the tissue at the bottom of your foot that connects the heel bone to your toes and supports your arch," says Disha Shah, DPM, a podiatrist based in Queens, New York. Thankfully, it’s pretty simple to diagnose. Patrick McEneaney, DPM, founder and CEO of Northern Illinois Foot & Ankle Specialist, also says you might be suffering from plantar fasciitis if you experience heel pain after walking first thing in the morning, after a long drive or car ride, or after a workout.

WH editors researched and compared dozens of top-selling insoles that help combat the pain associated with plantar fasciitis. An insole provides additional arch support in walking and running shoes under the arch, which is especially helpful to those with flat feet. But, first, it’s important to determine what support, arch type, and materials.

What To Consider

Materials

To help combat sweaty feet, it’s best for insoles to have some kind of moisture-wicking material as the top layer. Common fabrics that get the job done are polyester and mesh. As for cushioning, EVA foam is an excellent option for supreme comfort (and is the same foam found in Hoka shoes!), while cork molds to all arch types as your foot compresses with each step.

Support

“Insoles that are designed for planter fasciitis should have a deep heel cup, perhaps some cushioning in the heel cup, a forgiving medial arch for support, and typically should be a full-length [design] so that the pressure points on the sole of the whole foot can be distributed properly,” says Mark Mendeszoon, DPM, a podiatrist at Precision Orthopaedic Specialties based in Chardon, OH. Having proper support is essential in reducing the impact on the joints, which in turn helps alleviate plantar fasciitis symptoms.

Arch Type

Some insoles are designed with different arch types in mind, so it’s important to determine whether you have flat, medium, or high arches. An easy way to do this is by wetting the foot and stepping on a piece of paper. If you see your entire arch you have flat feet, while the higher the arch, the less you’ll see. There are also insoles on the market that cater to all arch types, like our best overall pick.

How We Chose

With the help of podiatrists, we tested, researched, and compared dozens of insoles for plantar fasciitis to help absorb impact and prevent the arch from overstretching. For over a year, we put them to the test by placing them into our kicks for runs and walks. Our best overall was tested by WH associate style commerce editor Lily Wolher, who has struggled with plantar fasciitis for a number of years. The other picks on this list were curated based on materials, support, and arch type. One brand is also a favorite of a podiatrist we spoke to (peep below to find out which one).

Additional reporting by Mike Richard.

Best Overall Plantar Fasciitis Insoles

Fulton Shock Absorbing Insoles

Dealing With Arch Pain? Podiatrists Say These Insoles Might Help. (8)

After evaluating dozens of insoles for plantar fasciitis, the Fulton Cork Insoles come out on top for comfort and support that molds to your feet no matter your arch type. Wolhner says they’re a game changer for combating her chronic foot pain. “I used to constantly complain about sore feet and joints at the end of the day, and now I almost never experience that problem (which is pretty major as a New York resident)," she says.

Although these are flat, don’t be fooled—they’re made with dense, cushy foam for adequate shock absorption. There’s also a deep heel cup to encourage ankle stability, which is a must for flat feet. While the cotton liner on the cork isn’t sweat-wicking, it’s still breathable, just note it may dry slower than other insoles on this list. As for sizing, options range from four and a half to 12 (including wide!).

Our only con is the cork will take some time to break in (Fulton says about 10 hours of wear), so keep that in mind if you want a faster-acting solution.

Read more: Best Walking Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis

MaterialsCork, cotton
SupportHigh
Arch TypeAll

Best Budget Plantar Fasciitis Insoles

Walk Hero Plantar Fasciitis Insoles

Dealing With Arch Pain? Podiatrists Say These Insoles Might Help. (9)

Skeptical about how effective insoles will be for plantar fasciitis? We get it. These affordable memory foam insoles from Walk-Hero only cost $20 to test the waters. They offer all the essential features necessary, including high arch support, deep-heel cups, and a sturdy construction.

These have maximum cushioning made with EVA foam throughout to absorb impact, which is the same material found in Hoka’s beloved sneakers. Whether pounding pavement during a run or a leisurely stroll, expect to be epically comfy. Plus, the foam is designed to combat odors.

The arch support is semi-rigid in the midfoot for added firmness. This is especially helpful in flat-footed people who overpronate (have collapsing arches) since a firm insole can stabilize feet. That coupled with deep-heel cups keeps feet supported and aligned. The sizing is very inclusive, ranging from six to 14.5. It’s also important to note these are designed for flat feet, so other foot types should seek out other options.

MaterialsEVA foam
SupportHigh
Arch TypeFlat

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Best Plantar Fasciitis Insoles For High Arches

Superfeet All-Purpose Support High Arch Insoles

Dealing With Arch Pain? Podiatrists Say These Insoles Might Help. (10)

These insoles by Superfeet are specifically designed for high arches with an ultra-thick construction for serious support. They offer every feature the podiatrists we spoke to recommended, and they’re available in large sizes, too (up to women’s 14). We also love that they have built-in odor control to keep foot funk at bay and sweat-wicking polyester material for r your nastiest workouts.

They have firm, maximum dense cushioning that can withstand up to 500 miles of walking or running, according to the brand. So, these are durable enough for long-distance training and will last a while depending on usage. On top of that, the deep-heel cups cradle your back foot upon each landing for extra shock absorption, in addition to a stabilizer cap to help align the rear foot.

We gave these to the testers on our panel with the highest arches. Straight out of the box, they trimmed them to fit, and tested them in various footwear, including sneakers, dress shoes, and hiking boots. They found the high-density foam footbed to be both extremely supportive and comfortable without the “too-squishy” softness of lesser inserts. One tester said, “I’ve put at least a few hundred miles of jogging on these—they’re crazy comfortable, and holding up really well too!” With the organic odor control tech, we also found they were the best at minimizing smelly feet—a great feature for athletes.

At more than $50 per pair, these are a pricey option. But they’re among the best-made insoles we’ve tested (for plantar fasciitis and in general). They offer every feature the podiatrists we spoke to recommended, and they’re available in large sizes, too (up to women’s 14). If you’re a plantar fasciitis sufferer with extremely high arches, these are the insoles to buy before you decide to go the custom orthotics route.

MaterialsFirm cushioning
SupportHigh
Arch TypeHigh

Best Running Plantar Fasciitis Insoles

Currex Professional Running Insoles

Dealing With Arch Pain? Podiatrists Say These Insoles Might Help. (11)

Running puts a lot of stress on the joints, which can cause and aggravate plantar fasciitis. The Currex RunPro Insoles are specifically designed to fit into running shoes and are a favorite brand among Mendeszoon for being lightweight and designed for all arch types. He also highlights versions made for athletic cleats, work shoes, and dress shoes when you’re not busy racking up miles.

It’s made with Poron foam, which gets compressed with each step and delivers rebound just like our favorite running shoes. If you're a heel-striker, you’ll specifically benefit from the extra deep heel cup for pillow-like support that keeps everything locked in place. Plus, it’s lined with breathable mesh to help combat moisture. There are three insole models to choose from: low, medium, and high to accommodate all arch types.

MaterialsFoam
SupportHigh
Arch TypeAll

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Best Heavy-Duty Plantar Fasciitis Insoles

Walkomfy Heavy Duty Support Pain Relief Orthotics

Dealing With Arch Pain? Podiatrists Say These Insoles Might Help. (12)

Whether you’re hard on your feet, are a bit heavier, or spend long hours on your feet all day, the Walkomfy Heavy Duty Support Pain Relief Orthotics get the job done. The double-thick construction combines memory foam and EVA foam for a durable, supportive walking surface that cradles your feet and keeps your heels well-planted.

Our testers—heavy or not—found these to be the thickest plantar fasciitis insoles. They’re extremely padded and comfortable but with a firm build designed for maximum support. Our largest panelist (over six feet and 250 pounds) took these on daily jogs and a few extended backpacking trips in Colorado and found them perfect noting, “My favorite pair of hiking boots that I’ve had for years felt brand new after installing these!”

It’s also the only insole we tested with an extra shock-absorbing heel pad to minimize impact. Like the insoles from Superfeet, the top layer is made with sweat-wicking polyester. Plus, it’s designed for all arch types, like our best overall.

MaterialsMemory and EVA foam
SupportHigh
Arch TypeAll

Dealing With Arch Pain? Podiatrists Say These Insoles Might Help. (13)

Meet The Experts

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Dealing With Arch Pain? Podiatrists Say These Insoles Might Help. (14)

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From: Women's Health US

Dealing With Arch Pain? Podiatrists Say These Insoles Might Help. (2025)
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