If you haven’t tried any new insoles for your work boots, it would be easy to dismiss the night-and-day difference that a good pair of insoles can make. But anyone who has tried wearing custom insoles will swear by them, especially if you stand all day or work on hard concrete floors.
Some of these best insoles for concrete have been designed to match the hard concrete surface that hurt your feet most of the time. This naturally means that most of these inserts for concrete have plenty of cushioning and arch support. They can make wearing your work boots more comfortable and easier to slip on and off.
Also, picking a good pair of insoles is really not difficult. You can always look beyond the manufacturer’s technical jargon and buy insoles that are well made, have enough padding, and can support the natural shape and curves of your feet.
- What to look out for when buying insoles for standing on concrete
- Quality increases with price – only up to a certain point.
- Your insoles shouldn’t last longer than one year.
- Podiatrists will generally recommend insoles that you can buy in the market.
- Different insoles have different fitting.
- Sized-to-fit insoles have the edge.
- Insole materials don’t really matter.
- What are the best insoles for standing on concrete all day?
- Dr. Scholl’s CF 440 Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts
- PowerStep Pinnacle Signature Arch Insoles
- Superfeet Memory Foam Comfort Plus Insoles
- These are the best insoles for working on concrete
- Timberland PRO Men’s Anti-Fatigue Technology Insoles
- FORM Premium Insoles Maximum Support
- Spenco Total Support Max Shoe Insoles
- These are the best insoles for running on concrete
- Dr. Scholl’s Performance Sized to Fit Running Insoles
- Currex Runpro Insoles for running shoes
- Sole Active Medium Shoe Insoles
- Will my insoles fit any type of shoe?
- How do you know what level of arch support an insole offers?
- How long does a work boot insole last?
- Bottomline
What to look out for when buying insoles for standing on concrete
I’ve tried enough insoles to generally point out a few things when it comes to buying the best work boot inserts.
Quality increases with price – only up to a certain point.
As with many other things, more expensive insoles generally have better quality than the cheaper ones, but only up to a certain point, after which you’re paying for luxury. I think that this sweet spot is around $30 – $50.
Your insoles shouldn’t last longer than one year.
If you’ve worn your insoles for up to one year, do your feet a favor and get new ones as they are way past their useful period. The paddings should’ve thinned out, the arch support would’ve fallen, and it may become a Petri dish for bugs that cause foot infections and smelly feet.
Podiatrists will generally recommend insoles that you can buy in the market.
Except you have a feet condition like high arches, overpronation, or bunions that make it harder to find a good pair of insoles, you can save some money that would have otherwise been spent on your doctor’s consultation by shopping for insoles by yourself. This is because podiatrists generally recommend insoles that are already available in the market. So you don’t really need to visit a podiatrist if all you’re looking for is a pair of insoles that can keep your feet well cushioned and padded as you go about your day.
Different insoles have different fitting.
If you haven’t noticed, different insoles have different fittings. What this means is that you can generally find insoles for your feet type. These include, but are not limited to narrow feet, wide feet, high arch, neutral arch, and low arch. So this is one small detail you should pay attention to before buying your insole – to avoid going through the hassle of returning an insole because it doesn’t fit you properly.
Sized-to-fit insoles have the edge.
When it comes to getting your insole size, you have two main options: Insoles that are a wide range of sizes that you can trim to fit, and those that are already sized to fit. I will stick out my neck and say that inserts that are sized to fit offer a better overall fit and support than those insoles that you have to trim. I firmly believe this to be true because sized to fit insoles have the perfect position for the arch support.
On the other hand, some people may find that the arch support on the trim-to-fit insoles is off by a few centimeters which can ultimately ruin the insole experience.
Insole materials don’t really matter.
Many of the best insoles for concrete are made with polyurethane foam and/or gel padding. You will obviously hear a lot of patented words by manufacturers that are basically a blend of the same materials with their individual twists. If you’re in the market for inserts, try to ignore the marketing jargon. Gel insoles are great, and so are non-gel insoles. As long as the padding is adequate and there is enough shock absorption, then you’ll be fine with any material you decide to go with.
What are the best insoles for standing on concrete all day?
Dr. Scholl’s CF 440 Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts
This particular brand of Dr. Scholl’s CF 440 Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts has been available for more than 10 years and is still going strong. Over the years though, the product has been refined and polished to become one of the best shoe inserts for comfort and cushioning available anywhere.
Dr. Scholl’s CF 440 custom-fit insoles are made with a custom memory foam material, with polyurethane and semi-rigid underside which Dr. Scholl’s calls “Foot Mapping technology.” The result is that you have a shoe insert that is a perfect fit. The heel cups are deep and wide enough to support and stabilize your foot all day. And it has a thick layer of padding that is able to cushion and absorb most of the shock as you stand on concrete all day.
On the topmost part that is directly in contact with your feet, this insole has a top cloth lining that provides extra support and moisture-wicking. When you consider that these insoles do not need any trimming, can fit almost any shoes and are your perfect fit, they make for a compelling product.
PowerStep Pinnacle Signature Arch Insoles
Powerstep pinnacle signature arch insoles are another one of the best insoles for concrete, especially if your feet needs a lot of arch support. Unlike Dr. Scholl’s, it is a relatively new brand, but these insoles have been well-received and recommended by podiatrists.
The Powerstep pinnacle signature arch insoles are made from a durable EVA foam base with varied padding around the feet’s pressure hotspots (heels and ball of feet area) and a soft antimicrobial fabric top layer. This varied padding has a cool effect on the feet, making it seem like you’re simply gliding on concrete. The durable EVA foam base is supported by a semi-rigid arch area making this insole very suitable for those with overpronation or a greater need for arch support. The heel cups are also deep enough to cradle and stabilize the heels as you move around.
I think that these Powerstep pinnacle insoles are great for all arch types with their unique approach to cushioning and arch support.
Superfeet Memory Foam Comfort Plus Insoles
Superfeet makes some of the best insoles in the market, but the memory foam copper comfort plus is my pick of the bunch. In this model, you can find all the important things that you’d want in your insoles done well. Deep heel cups, ample padding, reinforced bottom, memory foam fit, and a moisture-wicking top material are all present.
However, what especially stands out about the Superfeet copper comfort plus insoles is that they are very ergonomic and comfortable. The pressure-sensitive memory foam padding is much more superior to so many other gel-padded insoles that I tried and I didn’t hesitate to place these insoles in the “bests” category. The heel cups are a bit narrow and may not be ideal for people with wide feet and the insoles can make your boots fit a bit tighter than usual because they are quite high-volume. So keeping these in mind, these insoles are otherwise great at stabilizing, supporting, and cushioning the foot, which is essentially what most people are looking for in the best shoe inserts for concrete.
These are the best insoles for working on concrete
Timberland PRO Men’s Anti-Fatigue Technology Insoles
Timberland is a large brand with a great reputation for making sturdy boots. This Timberland PRO Men’s Anti-Fatigue Technology Insoles follows that tradition. They are made with Timberland’s proprietary foam material and rubber sole design which have better shock absorption than traditional gel insoles. As a result, these insoles are very comfortable to wear and help with pain relief, especially for those with heel pain.
The heel cups in this insole are deep and the heel area is well padded. This means that you’ll always have that cradle feeling around your ankles without any of the discomforts. The top material is a moisture-wicking, antimicrobial material.
A big bonus is that they fit most Timberland work boots perfectly and so you don’t need to worry about sizing and trimming, you just need to buy your regular size. And more, you can expect to wear these for at least 6 months.
FORM Premium Insoles Maximum Support
Form premium insoles scream “high-quality” the moment you take them out of the package. They are made with a blend of EVA form and Polyurethane, with a moisture-wicking polyester top material. The result is a comfortable and well-padded insole for concrete. The heel cups provide good support while stabilizing and positioning the heel to absorb impact. It is also noticeably wider than some of the other insoles that I’ve tried, so would be a treat for people with wider feet.
The top layer is a thin polyester fabric that has an antimicrobial coating and is able to wick away excess moisture from your feet as you go about your activity.
The arch area does not have any extra rigid or semi-rigid support and so may not be ideal for those who need a bit of extra support for their fallen arches or high arches. That said, the FORM Premium Insoles are a great option if you have wide feet and need a pair of thick insoles with very good cushioning.
Spenco Total Support Max Shoe Insoles
These Spenco Insoles are another pair of veteran insoles that have been around since 2012. Their longevity alone points to the fact that these Spenco Total Support Max Shoe Insoles have a lot of good things going for them.
Starting at the base, they have a rigid arch support that is great for overpronation, fallen arches and high arches. In the heel area, the cups are deep, wide, and are able to provide enough support and stability, even for the hardest concrete surfaces. The top layer is covered with a polyester fabric lining that has moisture-wicking and antimicrobial properties.
These Spenco insoles are backed by an unconditional one-year guarantee. When you consider that they are not as expensive as some other insole on this list, you can certainly appreciate that they would make a great deal for most people looking to buy the best insoles for working on concrete.
These are the best insoles for running on concrete
Dr. Scholl’s Performance Sized to Fit Running Insoles
The second pair of insoles from Dr. Scholl’s on this list is geared towards running and performance purposes and leaves no boxes unchecked. Right out of the box, you can slip these insoles into your shoes as they are sized to fit and need no trimming or adjustments.
They are made from a double layer of cushioning that runs along the full length of the insole providing support and redistributing pressure from the impact areas of the feet as you walk/run. Where these insoles stand out is in the arch support area. They are made with a semi-flexible custom gel base material with a memory foam top padding that is quite unique to this insole alone. The benefit is that you will get precise motion control and maximum energy return with each step.
Currex Runpro Insoles for running shoes
Currex Runpro insoles offer a unique experience altogether. First off, it is one of the insoles that has certification from German podiatrists. They are designed to help reduce sports injuries while running, reduce foot pain from overpronation, plantar fasciitis & other common foot problems. The insoles have a rigid base around the arch area covered with several layers of polyurethane foam padding. This unique construction provides a strong arch support for people who have those nagging foot problems.
Interestingly though, the strength of the rigid plastic base depends on your foot arch as they are color-coded to fit different arch types and the available colors are blue, orange, and red for high, normal, or low arch respectively. So regardless of your feet type, these Currex Runpro Insoles will be a great fit for you.
They are hard to find here in the US, but don’t let that deter you as you can nab a pair or two on Amazon.
Sole Active Medium Shoe Insoles
Sole is a new environment-conscious brand that makes a really good range of shoe insoles in the US. Many of their insoles are accepted and recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association and so they might cost a bit more than the competitors. That being said, the Sole Active Medium Shoe Insoles are some of the best insoles for running on concrete that you can get online.
They are made with a flexible base of polyurethane foam and some thick padded layers around the heel and ball areas to help with equal weight distribution and energy return as you run. The heel cups are deep and spacious enough and they are able to control feet odor using a custom polygiene coating gotten from recycled silver salt. I chose the medium because they are thick enough to fit in your work boots without being too tight.
Will my insoles fit any type of shoe?
Most insoles are universally sized. This means that can fit just as well in any shoes that you want to use them in. The only issue that you might run into is that the insoles might make some shoes tighter, especially if those shoes have a narrow fit or the inserts are heavy-duty and/or bulky.
Also, some insoles have glues that require you to glue them down to your shoe and may not work well if you constantly need to insert and remove them. So it would be best if you can buy separate insoles for the different shoes that you wear frequently.
How do you know what level of arch support an insole offers?
Unless specified by the manufacturer, assume that an insole works best for neutral arches. However, most manufacturers specify if their insole is best for high, neutral or low arches and you can find this information in the product description or by reading some customer reviews before buying the insole.
How long does a work boot insole last?
Many top-quality inserts for working on concrete are guaranteed for up to 90 days and it is common to expect very good support and cushioning for up to 6 months. However, as I’ve mentioned earlier, try to replace your insoles every year – even if you can’t feel any change in the comfort or fit.
Bottomline
In summary, if you stand on your feet all day, it’s not enough to have a great pair of work boots or shoes. You need good shock-absorbing insoles to take the stress and tension off your feet. You can’t really go wrong with any of my picks of the best insoles for concrete. You only have to be cautious about your fitting to get the right size for your work shoes.
