This can be a sponsored submit dropped at you by Superfeet.
Like many new backpackers, I solely stumbled upon the magic of aftermarket insoles after weeks of entrenched foot ache. I stretched, I self-massaged, I modified sneakers, however nothing appeared to assist—till I invested in a pair of Superfeet insoles to exchange the flimsy footbeds that got here customary in my sneakers. The ache went away, and the world made sense once more. My Toes did certainly really feel Tremendous, and I’ve been a loyal buyer ever since.
All the pieces begins along with your toes whenever you spend half your life strolling round within the mountains, so that you higher ensure these puppies have the help they want. A pleasant orthotic can enhance the situation of your toes (in fact), however it could additionally do wonders in your ankles, knees, and backbone.
I began out with the traditional All-Objective Assist Excessive Arch (the insole previously referred to as Superfeet Inexperienced. Superfeet lately up to date their product names to be extra descriptive.) however quickly started exploring the model’s different choices. Just lately, I had the chance to check 4 specialised Superfeet insoles: the Hike Cushion and the Run Cushion Excessive, Medium, and Low arch varieties.
Observe: These insoles was once referred to as Adapt Hike Max and Adapt Run/Adapt Run Max, respectively. The product names have been only recently up to date, however the insoles themselves are the identical. So should you have been a fan of the outdated Adapt Hike/Run traces, these are those you need!

Entrance to again: Superfeet Hike Cushion, Run Cushion Excessive, Medium, and Low insoles
Circumstances of Overview
I’ve been utilizing the Hike Cushion insoles for a couple of yr now on backpacking journeys throughout the nation, so I’ve a good suggestion of how they carry out. The three Run Cushion insoles are new to me, and I’ve solely had them for a handful of weeks, so my ideas on these three are strictly first impressions. I’ve been utilizing all 4 insoles in my favourite zero-drop path runner round city, on the fitness center, and on the path.
I even gave them the final word take a look at by taking them mountain climbing on a stretch of the AT in rocky Pennsylvania—an exercise generally in comparison with strolling barefoot on Legos for a whole lot (or in my case, dozens) of miles.
Superfeet Hike Cushion vs. Superfeet Run Cushion
The names give it away, actually. The Hike Cushion is designed for hikers, whereas the Run Cushion is designed for runners. However past that, the 2 traces are surprisingly comparable, sharing the identical primary design and supplies. That being stated, the 2 traces do have just a few key variations that set them aside.
First, the Hike insole is barely out there as a medium- to high-arch insert, whereas the Run is available in three arch sizes: excessive, medium, and low. And though each footbeds use the identical sort of froth, the Run has considerably extra of it, leading to a springier, extra cushioned experience. The distinction is delicate however instantly noticeable.
Regardless of the title, the Run Cushion insole nonetheless works simply effective for mountain climbing. You may select it over the Hike Cushion when you have a decrease arch or want one thing softer underfoot. As I stated, it shares most of the options that make the Hike insole so nice for the paths (just like the deep heel cup and responsive forefoot padding), so there’s no motive to not throw a pair in your path runners earlier than your subsequent backpacking journey.
Superfeet Hike Cushion Insole At-a-Look
MSRP: $49.99
Measurement Vary: Girls’s 4.5 – Males’s 13
Weight (pair, dimension C): 2.75 oz
Arch help: Medium to excessive
Who’re these finest for?
The Hike Cushion insoles are finest for (you guessed it) hikers, particularly those that favor a bit additional cushioning underfoot. In comparison with Superfeet’s different hiking-specific insole—the agency, extra-stable Hike Assist—the Hike Cushion is cushier and extra aware of the foot’s pure flexion.
The Hike Cushion is an applicable alternative for day hikers, however particularly for long-distance backpackers who must maintain their toes wholesome for longer intervals within the face of making an attempt circumstances. Swapping the flimsy inserts that come customary in most mountain climbing sneakers for a sturdy pair of Superfeet is many thru-hikers’ first line of protection towards the specter of persistent foot ache.
One observe: the Hike Cushion insole has a medium-high arch and thus might not be appropriate for somebody with a low arch. Superfeet makes different insoles that cater to this foot form, one in every of which is roofed later on this evaluate. However I’m getting forward of myself.
Store the Hike Cushion Insole
Superfeet Run Cushion Excessive / Medium / Low Insole At-a-Look

Left to proper: Superfeet Run Cushion Low, Run Cushion Medium, and Run Cushion Excessive
MSRP: $49.99
Weight (pair, dimension C): 2.75 oz
Measurement Vary: Girls’s 4.5 – Males’s 13
Arch help: Low, medium, or excessive
Who’re these finest for?
They’re designed for runners, however as acknowledged above, the Run Cushion additionally works nice as a mountain climbing insole for anybody who needs a cushier footwear expertise and/or the power to customise their insole’s arch top. I most popular the softer Run Cushion to the Hike Cushion for informal around-town put on and journeys to the fitness center. The additional foam does extra to dampen impacts on unyielding pavement and different exhausting surfaces.
Store the Run Cushion Excessive Arch
Store the Run Cushion Low Arch
Store the Superfeet Run Cushion Medium Arch
Superfeet Hike Cushion and Run Cushion Insole Options

By which the writer has too many Altras…
So, I used to be going to do a separate options part for the Hike and Run insoles, however they use so most of the similar applied sciences and design parts that it appears a bit foolish to do it that means.
Adaptive Consolation
We hikers want insoles that transfer with our toes, defending us from tough terrain whereas nonetheless permitting us to really feel and reply organically to the path floor underfoot. To that finish, Superfeet’s “Adaptive Consolation Know-how” flexes along with your foot, selling more healthy footfalls and a extra pure gait.
Testing the Run Cushion and Hike Cushion insoles towards an outdated pair of Superfeet Greens I had mendacity round, the adaptive consolation know-how within the Hike and Run fashions made a noticeable distinction. I nonetheless love the traditional Inexperienced, don’t get me fallacious, however they’re rather a lot stiffer underfoot.
Sturdy
Designed to last as long as a yr or 500 miles, whichever comes first. I simply acquired recent insoles just a few weeks in the past for this evaluate, however I even have Hike Cushiones from final yr which have about 600 miles of mixed-use on them. They do look fairly beat, and the orange foam pads underneath the heel and forefoot softened fairly a bit. Nonetheless, I positively would have stored utilizing them if I hadn’t gotten this new pair within the mail.
Moisture-Wicking
Superfeet applies a coating to the highest layer of the insole that retains your foot cozy and inhibits odor-causing micro organism whenever you sweat.
Heel Cup
You know the way whenever you’re mountain climbing downhill, your toes can slide ahead a bit bit and bump the entrance of your shoe, leading to ache, misplaced toenails, and unhappiness? The deep heel cup on these insoles helps maintain your foot in place in order that doesn’t occur. The heel cup can be very supportive and consists of a further layer of cushioning foam to maintain the backs of your toes pleased. As a plantar fasciitis sufferer, this heel design is a godsend.
Rear Foot Assist
The arch placement is offset towards the again of the insole extra so than most insoles, coming in nearly proper in entrance of the heel. This placement is meant to cut back pressure and permit your toes to maneuver extra naturally. The arch help is a marked enchancment over different sneakers/insoles I’ve tried, offering construction with out being too agency.
The arch placement, deep heel cup, and additional layer of padding beneath the heel mix to alleviate stress and disperse vibrations in the back of the foot, an space that usually takes a beating on the path.
Responsive Forefoot Zone
A focused layer of soft (but responsive) foam offers additional safety underneath the ball of your foot, one other weak space that’s susceptible to put on and tear because the miles drag on.
Tremendous Cute
I could spend 50 to 80 p.c of yearly dwelling as an unwashed vagrant, however I nonetheless recognize good styling. True, not that many individuals aside from me get to benefit from the inside my mountain climbing sneakers, which is their loss solely. Nonetheless, I really like seeing the neat squiggly sample of my Superfeet peeking out each time I take my sneakers off or put them on. It’s the little issues in life.
Getting the Proper Slot in Your Superfeet Insoles
You need to use the insoles that got here along with your mountain climbing sneakers to measure and lower your Superfeet right down to the proper dimension.
Superfeet insoles are available quite a lot of dimension ranges relying in your shoe dimension. Once you take them out of the field, they’ll in all probability be too large for you until your shoe dimension is on the absolute top quality. Merely pull the usual insole out of your mountain climbing shoe and hint its define onto your Superfeet, then lower them right down to dimension with a pair of scissors. Voila! An ideal match each time.
For reference, I put on Altras in a girls’s 8.5. This technically places me on the backside of the Measurement D vary, however I’ve discovered that Measurement C matches my shoe completely with out me needing to trim the insole in any respect.
Arch Peak
Should you go along with the Run Cushion line, you get to decide on your arch top. There’s no customary method to decide whether or not you will have “excessive” arches, however the traditional take a look at is to stroll barefoot on a sandy seashore. In case your footprint solely exhibits your heel and forefoot with little in between, you in all probability have a excessive arch.
I discovered that the Run Cushion Medium and Run Cushion Excessive each felt good on my toes. I barely most popular the Excessive arch model as a result of I like a variety of help. For comparability’s sake, the Hike Cushion falls someplace between the Run Cushion Medium and Excessive when it comes to arch help.
Insole Thickness
All 4 of those insoles are “max” thickness, whatever the arch top. Not solely does the additional thickness present extra safety underfoot, however it could additionally assist fill out roomy footwear for an ideal match. In case your sneakers have a extra comfortable match, you may wish to go for a thinner insole.
And to not belabor the purpose, however as talked about elsewhere on this evaluate, the Hike Cushion isn’t fairly as thick because the Run Cushion (though each types are max thickness). The Run Cushion is about 4 mm thick, whereas the Hike Cushion is 3 mm thick.
Consolation
Two layers of froth cushioning take in impacts, that means a smoother, gentler experience for you. The froth is agency however has noticeable give whenever you press on it. I’ve tried standing on prime of the insoles on a hardwood ground in order that the cushioning of my sneakers’ midsole doesn’t have an effect on my notion of the insoles’ cushioning.
Even with out the rest beneath them, Superfeet insoles are good and soft. As I shift my weight from one foot to the opposite, I can really feel the froth responding beneath. It’s truly fairly pleasant. Regardless of being the cushier choice in Superfeet’s mountain climbing lineup, the Hike Cushion remains to be noticeably firmer than the Run Cushion insoles. Whether or not that’s a very good factor or a foul factor is solely as much as private choice.
General Worth
All 4 of the footbeds I examined felt nice after I first slipped them into my sneakers, after which I finished desirous about them inside 20 minutes. That’s precisely how I like my insoles—so cozy I neglect they’re even there. And the true testomony to their high quality isn’t how nice they really feel after I first put them on, however slightly how recent and non-injured my toes really feel after a 20-mile day of tough and rocky mountain climbing in Painsylvania.
Whether or not you select the Hike Cushion or one of many Run Cushions is a matter of non-public choice. They’re all nice insoles. And at $50, they’re truly considerably cheaper than the traditional All-Objective Assist Excessive Arch—a pleasing shock given how well-engineered they’re.
Anyway, I’ve by no means questioned the value of a pair of Superfeet. They final a very long time, they usually’re price each penny. I price range for a brand new pair each 500-600 miles after I change my sneakers, and their inclusion in my packing record is non-negotiable. I do know the choice is sore, fatigued toes at finest and plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and different hike-threatening accidents at worst.
The decision: Whether or not you’re scuffling with foot ache or simply on the lookout for methods to get essentially the most out of your mountain climbing day, I encourage you to attempt a pair of Superfeet. I plan to place many extra miles by myself pairs and can more than likely get extra of the Hike Cushion insoles (for mountain climbing) and Run Cushion Excessive insoles (for the fitness center and day by day put on) after my present ones put on out. The Hike Cushion, particularly, can be becoming a member of me for my 600-mile thru-hike of the Pyrenees Excessive Route this summer time.
Store the Hike Cushion Insole
Store the Run Cushion Excessive Arch
Store the Run Cushion Low Arch
Store the Superfeet Run Cushion Medium Arch
The Superfeet Hike Cushion and Run Cushion Low, Medium, and Excessive have been donated for the aim of evaluate.
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