I have been trying various off the shelf orthotic arch supports in my shoes with mixed results.

My podiatrist looked at the gel ones I had and nixed them right away, telling me I need rigid ones as I have high arches.

He told me to try off-the-shelf first but also offered to scan my feet and make custom ones molded to my feet and they would be around $400. Looks like I can pay with my HSA card which would be ideal.

My question: are these worth getting? How long do they last?

Yes, they're worth getting. I have flat feet, and invested in custom orthotics from my podiatrist before I started my LE career ~15 years ago. They make a big difference in my feets/ankles/knees when running or walking/standing for long periods.

They're supposed to be replaced every 5ish years, but I still have my original 15 year old set as a backup, and they still work just fine.

Most orthotics will come with a rigid heel/arch support section attached to a soft full-foot insole. The idea is to take out the factory insole and insert the orthotic instead. But that full size insole portion doesn't fit 100% in most shoes, leaving gaps around the sides in the toe area, which bugs me. So I remove the rigid portion of the insole from the soft portion, and just stick the rigid portion under the shoe's factory insoles.

I will caution you that, depending on the exact size/shape of the orthotic, they can change how some styles of shoe feel/fit. So you'll want to try new shoes on with the orthotics inserted, and your favorite style of shoes before may no longer be quite as comfortable with the orthotics, forcing you to search for a new favorite.

And they can also wear on the insides of some shoes, due to the rigid sides of the support portion rubbing on the inner lining of the shoe, so you may have to replace some pairs of shoes faster than usual.

I would suspect that the length that they last will depend on the manufacture and design of the insert.

I have 5 pairs of custom orthotics. The oldest pair is 15-16 years old. All were in the price range that you quoted. I added a set every year or two for a while until I had enough to accommodate a reasonable amount of shoes. the oldest pair is showing signs of wear through the top layer of the insole, but they are still plenty usable. I leave them in my boots that I shoot in. I think getting to the point where you have enough sets and aren't constantly putting them in and out of shoes helps with longevity.

Totally, I have had plantar fasciitis for years and the hard insoles my Dr sold me are wonderful.

My right leg is .25" shorter than my left due a break...they helped that as well.

Yes they are worth it. I have flat feet and have had pain for most of my entire life. I got my first custom pair in 4th grade, about 1982 or so. I get a new pair every 8 - 10 years ever since my feet stopped growing. I have always had a plaster cast made of my feet. When I got my last pair 2 years ago I thought they would've switched to a different method of measuring them. My new podiatrist still made plaster casts of my feet. She said it's still the best method.

I can't live without them.

My wife has some (which she doesn't always use) and they help her.

My daughter uses them in running and basketball shoes. After a full day of running her feet do “hurt”, but this is after a very competitive action(s). I’d hate to think how she’d be without them.

For hers, they generally last about a “season”, but she’s particularly hard on hers, so don’t measure her usage for yours. We buy three sets a year at $300. She goes in, has a mold made and three days later her custom inserts are available.

For casual wear she does use old ones, but they get replaced when new ones are provided for her primary purpose.

yeah. They are worth the money. I have a couple of pairs. Some are over ten years old and they are great. I have high arches and have had to deal with plantar fasciitis. Can't live with out em.

It’s the only way I’m walking today without a limp. Get them! I’m actually in the process of getting another set this week. I’m on my fifth set in 20 years.

Tony.

Thanks all, I'm going to get an appointment to see the Doc and get a set made.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Thanks all, I'm going to get an appointment to see the Doc and get a set made.

If you can afford it, see if there is a discount for a second pair. When I bought mine, the second pair (made at the same from the same mold or pattern) was considerably cheaper than the first.

Also, you often need to trim the toe portion to fit your shoes. Best to approach this slowly with multiple small cuts. It is always easier to cut just a little more than it it to cut just a little less...

Love mine. They helped with a short leg issue which in turn helped with back pain caused by walking funny to lift the longer leg.
Oddly, I’ve never had an issue with foot pain but I do need motion control shoes to run or I get IT band pain on my short side leg.

It’s only 1/4” to 3/8” length difference but wow what a difference the insoles made.

quote:

Originally posted by slosig:


Also, you often need to trim the toe portion to fit your shoes. Best to approach this slowly with multiple small cuts. It is always easier to cut just a little more than it it to cut just a little less...

The one he showed me that they make was a 3/4 type model without anything to trim and it was hard plastic or carbon fiber?

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

quote:

Originally posted by slosig:


Also, you often need to trim the toe portion to fit your shoes. Best to approach this slowly with multiple small cuts. It is always easier to cut just a little more than it it to cut just a little less...

The one he showed me that they make was a 3/4 type model without anything to trim and it was hard plastic or carbon fiber?

Cool, oughta just fit then.

Our local Costco had a special lab that made them. They are gone now but they were substantially cheaper than the DPM I looked into. I have both custom and off the shelf. I usually use the non custom and regularly replace them. They all will change how your shoes/boots fit.

I have worn custom orthotics for over 20 years. I also have high arches and my local podiatrist made rigid ones for me. Several years ago. I had major surgery on my left foot due to problems arising from the high arches.

After my recovery, the Chicago surgeon was using a suburban shop and they made me new soft orthotics. I was told then, that I should have not worn the rigid ones.

I could not walk without pain unless I was using my orthotics. be they hard or soft. I have probably half a dozen old pairs and just got new ones this Summer as I needed a change for my right foot. I replace mine about every 2 or 3 years and am happy to spend that money.

I bought a pair about 30 years ago.
Also high arches like you.

They didn’t have a scanner back then. I had to stand on floor scales, one foot on each, to see if I leaned more weight into one foot or the other. Then, they made plaster casts of the soles of my feet.

A week or so later, I picked up the pair the podiatrist made. Almost like football helmet material, went from the heel to the ball of my foot, with an additional layer of softer compression foam, which extended under the ball of the foot, stopping just short of the toes.

They were not comfortable... but they did seem to help the pain in my arches.

They cost me almost $600, which insurance covered a good chunk of, but after about 2 years, the padded portion past the arch started tearing away from the rest of the orthotic.

Haven’t seen them in about 20 years.
These days, I find that a good pair of shoes with higher arches accomplishes about the same thing, and is a helluva lot more comfortable.
My shoes of choice for about the last 5 years have been Merrell.

The podiatrist I saw sent me over to REI. They, among other vendors, have one called "Sole Support". They have three thicknesses. I've used them quite successfully for a couple of years now.

Take them out of the holder and step down onto them - find the one that fits your length and arch placement.

I use Powerstep Pinnacle Max inserts and they’ve helped a lot. Worth a try.

https://www.powersteps.com/pinnacle-maxx.html