In this article, we discuss everything to do with heat moldable insoles. With many major brands offering a heat-moldable insole within their insoles lineup, we often get questions about what they are, or whether they're better than other insoles, as a few examples. We'll tackle all the important questions here in one place to make your heat-moldable insole decision-making process as easy and straightforward as possible!
Jump to content:
- What Does Heat Molding an Insole Actually Do?
- Are Heat Moldable Insoles Better?
- Are Heat Moldable Insoles the Same as Custom Insoles?
- When Should I Buy a Heat Moldable Insole?
- What Different Methods of Heat Molding are There?
- What Happens if I Mess Up the Heat Molding Process?
What Does Heat Molding an Insole Actually Do?
Heat molding is a process that temporarily relaxes the materials in the insole so that they can be reset into a slightly different shape. When you heat mold an insole, it relaxes the cushioning and support so that when you place the insoles against your feet during the molding process, the materials better conform to the shape of your feet than when they first came out of the box. After this short window of time has passed, the insoles resume their normal rigidity and hold their shape — this time closer to the actual shape of your foot!
Are Heat Moldable Insoles Better?
Rather than "better," heat moldable insoles simply offer different benefits to their user.
It's not often advertised, but all insoles mold their shape over time in a process that we typically call "wear molding." All this means is that, over time, as you wear your insoles, they will slowly start to mold to the shape of your foot. This process happens somewhat slowly and is simply the natural result of the insole being subjected to pressure, impact, wear, and usage. As materials lose their initial brand-new-out-of-the-box stiffness, the cushioning and support will better conform to your foot shape and motion.
At the same time, your foot will also begin to adjust to a new insole. When someone first purchases an arch support, we generally advise them to wear it only for an hour or two for the first few days to allow their feet to start this adjustment period. But the same applies when you purchase a brand new version of an insole that you've worn for years; the insole will be stiffer and not yet broken in like your old pair, and your feet will need to adjust to the new pair all the same.
So, coming back to the question of "are heat moldable insoles better," the answer ultimately is maybe; and the final decision is up to you. Heat molding an insole simply helps the break-in period happen instantly by heating and activating the materials to be able to conform to the shape of your foot. This typically leads to a better fit from day one, but that might not matter to some people. If it does matter, than we say "yes, they're worth it"; and if it doesn't matter, then "no, they're not."
Are Heat Moldable Insoles the Same as Custom Insoles?
We're going to have to say a definitive "no" to this one, as "custom insoles" and heat moldable insoles are very different things with very different usages and associated costs. And even if a heat moldable insole says that it's "custom," just remember that if it can be purchased over-the-counter without any measurements being taken, it's not really a custom insole.
So then what's the difference?
A custom insole, by most people's standards, is an insole designed and built to match the specific shape of your own foot and to meet your own insole needs. This means that your foot will be measured, generally an imprint of the foot will be taken, and an insole will be designed and built using those measurements so that it perfectly conforms to your foot shape and size when you wear them. It's a timely (and often costly) process that may or may not be worth it (we have a separate article that discusses the topic), but the end result is an insole that is truly custom in that it was designed only for your specific foot.
By contrast, a heat-moldable insole is still a generic ready-to-wear insole. And don't get us wrong: there's nothing wrong with that at all. We believe that most people are well-served by ready-to-wear insoles, and the ready-to-wear insoles made by reputable brands are honestly quite good quality. But they are designed for the general foot shape, not your unique foot shape.
So while the heat-moldable aspect of a heat-moldable insole might give some degree of customization in terms of feel and fit, ultimately they are not a truly custom insole.
When Should I Buy a Heat Moldable Insole?
Jumping off of the answers in the two sections above, we generally recommend a heat-moldable insole when these three scenarios all apply to you:
- There's a heat-moldable insole whose features fit your needs.
- You're interested in having a more personalized fit from day one.
- You do not need a custom insole.
To take these three scenarios in turn, let's start with #1: There are significantly less heat-moldable insoles available for purchase than there are insoles that are not heat-moldable. This means that if you're looking for a heat-moldable insole specifically, your selection will be much narrower than it otherwise would be. If there's a heat-moldable insole that meets your needs within this narrowed selection, great! But if there's not, we generally don't think that it's worth giving up finding an insole that meets all of your needs just to get one that it heat-moldable.
#2 should be relatively self-explanatory: The biggest advantage that a heat moldable insole offers is the ability to have a semi-personalized fit from day one. While it won't be a custom fit (see section "Are Heat Moldable Insoles the Same as Custom Insoles?" above), the heat molding process will make the insoles feel as though the fit better against your feet than other non-heat moldable insoles would. If this has appeal to you, great! But if it doesn't, you don't necessarily need to pursue a heat-moldable insole.
Our explanation of #3 will again be a bit of a rehash of our discussion about above custom insoles vs. heat moldable insoles. If you are looking for an insole that is truly custom — that is, an insole designed specifically for your foot using measurements and impressions taken of your foot — a heat-moldable insole is not the answer, as ready-to-wear heat-moldable insoles are still general ready-to-wear insoles regardless of the heat-moldable features. They won't be 100% custom made for your foot.
So if you like the idea of a heat moldable insole, don't need a custom insole, and can find a heat-moldable insole that fits your needs, we say go for it! You won't be disappointed.
What Different Methods of Heat Molding are There?
The most mainstream method of heat molding insoles uses a conventional oven to heat the insoles. You simply heat the oven to, generally speaking, a low temperature and simply place the insoles in the oven for a short period of time (usually around 2 minutes at 200 degrees Fahrenheit). This is enough to activate the insoles so that they can be worn and molded.
A different method that we've seen with a small number of insoles involves submerging the insoles in boiling water. Generally only used for insoles that feature a plastic support, this method softens the plastic support just enough to allow it to be molded to the shape of the foot when worn.
Other methods of heat molding may exist, but the most common method by far is the "heat it in the oven" approach. Always make sure to check your packaging before heating at home.
What Happens if I Mess Up the Heat Molding Process?
Whether it's getting distracted while your insoles are heating in the oven or even just misreading the instructions, we've talked to many customers over the years who have made a mistake during the heat molding process that's left their insoles in an unusable way. And while it's certainly frustrating, it happens! And any brand or retailer who's worth your time is more than willing to fix the issue.
To start with, make sure the brand you purchase has a satisfaction guarantee. This will allow you to exchange the insole for a replacement in the event that something goes wrong during the heat molding process. Most reputable insole brands have some guarantee like this, but you should still check to be sure.
Additionally, purchase your heat moldable insoles from a reputable store with a clearly-written return/exchange policy that you are confident they'll honor. Most reputable retailers will be more than willing to work with you to replace your insoles, even if there's no manufacturer satisfaction guarantee on the item. If you're not sure if they're reputable, check to see if they have customer reviews; poor reviews or a lack of any reviews at all might be a red flag.
Lastly, read all of the instructions and ensure you understand them prior to starting the heat molding process. While mistakes can be fixed with a replacement pair of insoles, this still takes time to do. But if you make sure that you understand all the steps ahead of time, you're much less likely to make a mistake during the actual heat molding process; and if you have any questions about the instructions, reach out and we'd be happy to help!