10 Best Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis – 2024 Buying Guide

The level of all the other most important factors we considered while choosing and ranking the best over the counter orthotics for plantar fasciitis on this list: the comfort, support, shock absorption, and fit, start right here. If the materials that the insole are made out of aren't high-quality, they won't be comfortable to wear, they won't give you the support, shock absorption, and fit that you need to combat and prevent plantar fasciitis.

A pair of high-quality plantar fasciitis insoles are usually made out of either synthetic materials or natural cellulose. Cellulose comes from wood fibers, so these types of plantar fasciitis inserts are highly pressed and condensed wood pulp. None of the products on this list are made of cellulose but we wanted you to be aware that some products on the market are made of this material.

We chose products that are made of synthetic materials because they tend to offer the highest levels of cushioning and support which is necessary to fight plantar fasciitis. Latex foam is one of the most common materials you'll find. These are made of open-cell foam, meaning they can absorb water.

This isn't ideal because they can absorb sweat, but these products also tend to be very comfortable, supportive, and affordable. Dynafoam® is another commonly used material. It is a foam made of polyvinyl chloride and is waterproof so it won't absorb moisture and it also quickly conforms to the shape of the user's foot, giving it a custom fit.

PPT® is yet another commonly used substance. While it is an open-cell, it also is extremely cushioning and gives the user a ton of support.

This was kind of a no-brainer when it comes to choosing plantar fasciitis insoles. Whether we choose insoles for running shoes or for our daily shoes, we definitely want them to be comfortable. In fact, this can be a good "canary in a coal mine" type of factor, because if the shoe inserts for plantar fasciitis aren't comfortable that also probably means that they aren't giving you the support or shock absorption need.

With insoles, comfort comes from the materials and fit. The right materials, such as the Dynafoam® we mentioned above for example, are plush and soft so your foot won't bottom out and hit the sole of your shoe with each stride or step. This is a good metric to look at when you're buying insoles for plantar fasciitis.

You probably won't be able to try insoles out before you buy them, which is why we considered over 1400 reviews from real-world users to see what their experience had been. If they experienced this bottoming out while using a product, it didn't make our list. Reading real-world user reviews is a great way of knowing whether the insoles are worth it.

In our FAQ's you'll find a lot of good information about how to prevent and treat plantar fasciitis. One of the best ways is to give your arches the proper level of arch support. The plantar fascia is a band of tissue that runs from your toes to your heel bone and one of the main reasons people get plantar fasciitis is from not being supported.

A good pair of plantar fasciitis insoles will conform to the shape of your foot to give you the appropriate level of support. This can be a tricky thing for us to choose for you, since the shape of everybody's foot is different and we don't know where you stand, pun fully intended.

They can do an assessment of your foot, stride, and biomechanics (the way you move when you walk and run) and then you can take this information and choose the plantar fasciitis insoles that are right for you. Keep in mind that every foot is different, so you will have to remember to keep your own needs and preferences at the forefront.

If you're unsure of whether your arches are high, low, or normal, we recommend visiting your local running shoe store or podiatrist (foot doctor).

Here we have another key consideration to make when choosing the right pair of plantar fasciitis inserts for preventing and treating plantar fasciitis. This condition is considered a repetitive use injury, meaning it happens not from a single incident, but from a series of impacts that happen again and again over time.

It's common in long-distance runners, which is most of our readers. So unless you're going to stop running altogether, and we certainly hope you don't, this is something you'll want to pay close attention to. When your plantar fascia--the tissue that runs from your toes to your heel bone--repeatedly experiences shocks and pressure, it can become swollen and inflamed and bam, you've got plantar fasciitis.

But by choosing a good pair of plantar fasciitis insoles, you can negate this impact by taking the pressure off your plantar fascia, and having healthier, happy feet. All of the products on this list use modern materials and technology to reduce and negate the shocks that come from running, but some more than others, which is why we assigned a unique score to each one regarding its ability in this category.

Obviously, this is an extremely important thing to consider for a pair of insoles for preventing and treating plantar fasciitis. An improper fit, being too short or narrow for example, can actually exacerbate the problem. Fortunately, it's also a very easy thing to get right. Most of the products on our list can be easily and simply cut with a good pair of scissors to the correct size for your shoe.

Two of the products, the Profoot Orthotics, and the Shoe Bubble by Soul Insole, only fit in the back of the shoe and don't extend along its entire length. However, unless you have very wide or narrow feet these options should fit you just fine. Please be sure to read the product descriptions before buying, however, to make sure they're appropriate for your unique foot.

Otherwise, it should be easy to get a great fit. Each product comes with a sizing diagram and template that can be used to cut the insole to the right size for your foot. We highly recommend reading and following these instructions carefully to ensure getting the correct fit. You'll know you've got the fit right when you place the insole in your shoe and it feels comfortable, without any pressure or pinch points.

In most cases, your new plantar fasciitis insoles are meant to replace the old ones so you'll need to remove whatever plantar fasciitis insoles are currently in place before putting the new ones in. This isn't always the case however, so again, read the instructions carefully and consider the unique shape of your foot while installing your new plantar fasciitis insoles.