Orthotics aren’t something one generally considers when gearing up for outdoor adventures, but what we put under our feet is extremely important for comfort and performance. There are several after-market footbeds on the market these days, but none of them can be custom molded right there in the store. In fact, custom molding usually requires an expensive visit to a professional fitter. But Footbalance solves this problem by offering custom molded insoles at a reasonable price.
I scored my own pair of the Footbalance Dynamic Blue custom footbeds at the last Outdoor Retailer show, and have been wearing them in my shoes for the past few months. So, the question is this: does wearing custom footbeds make any difference in comfort and performance?
The process begins with a complete foot analysis. When I got mine done, a Footbalance professional had me stand on a podoscope, which is a sort of platform which scanned the pressure points on the bottom of my feet and analyzed the arches. Then, photos were taken of my ankles to take a look at my alignment. Next, they had me stand on unmolded insoles that are heated. The guy from Footbalance then molded the footbeds to my feet while keeping correct alignment and support under the arches. In just 10 minutes, I had custom insoles in my Salomon Synapse shoes.
At first, as I walked around, the new insoles felt hard and stiff. I began to wonder if ditching my old footbeds was such a good idea. But a few hours later, I suddenly realized that I couldn’t feel any fatigue, pain or discomfort at all. I continued to walk around the Salt Palace Convention center with a new spring in my step. After a bit more break-in time, the stiffness was gone and the strange feeling of arch support disappeared.
From then on, I’ve been using my Footbalance insoles in all of my shoes, whether for hiking, trail running, or just going to work. The custom footbeds made all of my shoes, even my favorite ones, more comfortable. In fact, I even have shoes that are worn out which I don’t like to wear anymore, but the Footbalance insoles gave them new life. I’d say these guys can save you money as they extend the life of old shoes.
So how do they work? Footbalance says their insoles support your feet in proper alignment, improves overall body alignment, which improve biomechanical efficiency and reduces the incidence of stress injuries, reduce foot fatigue, and improve circulation for better endurance. They also say the footbeds help keep foot muscles and arches active and toned.
There are several versions of Footbalance footbeds for various activities like skiing, organized sports, running, or juts everyday wear.
In order to get a pair of your own, you simply need to visit a store. There are two locations in Utah with Footbalance dealers, which you can find on their website.
Happy Footbalance Custom Footbeds:
Comfortable, supportive, performance enhancing insoles that makes any shoe better.
Sad Footbalance Custom Footbeds:
A bit stiff and uncomfortable until you break them in.
Final Word:
The insoles that come with your shoes usually suck. Do yourself a favor and get some aftermarket footbeds. And you might as well get them custom molded for the ultimate in comfort, performance, and foot health.
For more information, check them out at www.footbalance.com