Adult Insoles

Is there a significant difference between adult insoles and children's insoles?

The biggest difference between children's insoles and adult insoles is that most children's insoles are 3/4-length while most adult insoles are full-length. Full-length insoles are generally considered to be the best design, not only because they provide forefoot support that a 3/4-length insole lacks, but also because a full-length insole will provide a consistent feel from heel to toe.

Children's insoles are generally designed to be 3/4-length because a child's foot grows quickly. A 3/4-length design allows parents to use the same children's insole in 2-3 subsequent shoe sizes before needing to replace the insole with the next size up, since a 3/4-length design doesn't need to extend the full length of the shoe they're placed in. This allows parents flexibility and cost savings compared to buying a new full-length children's insole each time their child outgrows their current shoes.

With adults, however, a difference in shoe size isn't a primary concern, given that most adult feet have stopped growing or at least slowed dramatically. This means that a full-length insole can be used without the same concern about needing to replace the insole due to size changes.

Adults also have a better understanding of the features they're looking for in an insole, given that adults tend to have a more regimented daily routine. This means that adult insoles can vary greatly in terms of features offered, from the rigidity of the support (or lack thereof) to type & quantity of cushioning, there's significantly more choice for adult insoles compared to children's insoles.

How do I choose the insole that's best for me?

Since Adult Insoles is a broad category, you should start your search by narrowing down what you're really looking for in an insole. For a few examples:

• Try our Insole Selector for a quick & easy recommendation!
• If you know you want your insoles to have good support, we'd recommend heading over to our arch support insoles category to get started. Otherwise, if you just want to replace your original shoe insoles, check out our replacement insoles.
  
• Wear wide-width or narrow-width shoes? Shop our wide insoles or narrow insoles to ensure a good fit in your footwear.
• Are you shopping to prevent or alleviate a foot condition? Start by shopping products for that specific pain or foot condition.
• Shopping for a specific activity? Our lifestyle & activity categories are a great place to start.
  
• Reach out to us! We're always happy to answer any questions or product product recommendations!

How does adult insole sizing work?

Almost all full-length adult insoles are designed to be trimmed to fit in your shoes. You should purchase the size insole the most closely corresponds to the size shoe you intend to wear your insoles in, then trim the forefoot of the insole for a good fit.

For example: If you wear a men's 9.5 size shoe, you might select the insole size "Men's 9-10." When the insole arrives, it will likely be a half size too long, so you'd trim the insoles to match the shape and length of the insoles you're replacing. Check out our guide for more information about trim-to-fit insoles.