Thick Insoles

What separates "thick" insoles from other insoles?

Most shoe insoles have a thickness — measured at the forefoot (where the insole is flat) from the bottom of the insole to the very top of the cushioning layer — that is usually between 3-5mm. Insoles with this thickness generally can fit into most types of footwear without issue while also still providing good overall cushioning and pressure relief.

Thick insoles are insoles with a thickness that is 5mm or greater. These insoles may not fit well in tighter-fitting shoes, but they will provide much more overall pressure relief and cushioned comfort compared to insoles with less overall cushioning.

Thick insoles are also a good way to fill extra volume inside of shoes that are slightly to big in order to achieve a better overall fit for your shoes.

Will thick insoles work inside my shoes?

This depends entirely on how much room you have inside your shoes for your new insoles. Dress shoes, high-end running shoes, and other similar types of footwear tends to be tighter-fitting, meaning that a thick insole may take up too much room inside the shoes and make the shoes too tight to wear. Alternatively, hiking boots, military boots, oversized shoes, and some casual sneakers offer a fairly roomy inside, meaning that you can use a thicker insole without having to worry as much about the shoes becoming too tight.

Just remember that the thicker the insole, the less room will be available inside your shoes for your foot. For most people, 4-5mm of cushioning is a good compromise between comfort and fit, with thicker insoles generally simply offering additional pressure relief and improved fit in looser-fitting shoes.