Nothing stops a hiking trip in its tracks like aching, blistery feet. Whether you’re gearing up for a big hike and are hunting for insoles or feel like your current ones aren’t quite cutting it, you’ve come to the right place.
Today, we’re going to walk you through exactly what you need to look for when shopping for the best insoles for hiking. Next, we’ll break down our review of the top 5 insoles for hiking, before declaring the final winner.
Ready? Let’s get started!
The top 5 insoles for hiking we recommend for 2024:
Best Insoles for Hiking Reviews
Check out our detailed reviews of the 5 best hiking insoles. Keep reading to the end to discover the final winner!
Superfeet Blue Full Length Insole
- Good arch configuration with supportive structure
- Works with most hiking shoes and boots
- Odor resistant coating
- Don’t take up too much space in your shoes
- Toe width is a bit narrow
- Can be difficult to break in at first
The first selection on our list is this fantastic pair by Superfeet. Manufactured from high-density foam, the Superfeet Blue Full Length Insoles provide optimal comfort and are made to truly last. We like the fact that these insoles aren’t too bulky and don’t require tons of shoe space.
Even better, these insoles feature an organic coating that controls odors and wards off dangerous fungi or bacteria. These insoles also sport a heel cup to offer stability and comfortable support to your feet on long trails. What’s more, these insoles features a stabilizer cap to enhance the overall structure of the insoles and provide you with additional support.
If you take lots of long walks and extended hiking excursions, these insoles by Superfeet could be just what you’re looking for. We love their orthotic configuration, which makes them an ideal choice for frequent outdoor activities.
Keen Utility K-10 Replacement Insole
- Works well with low to medium arches
- No trimming required
- Easy to break in
- Lightweight and thin to insert in footwear
- Not as much cushioning support as some other products
- Not designed for high arches
These best hiking insoles by Keen Utility are designed for low to medium arches, and work well with both hiking boots and rubber hiking shoes. You can use these insoles for frequent hikes because they offer plenty of cushioning stability without being so thick that they crowd your feet inside your shoes.
Not only limited to heavy hikes, these insoles are an excellent option for a range of outdoor activities. We love the fact that these insoles feature antimicrobial components to ward off odors and fungi, which will help keep the after effects of sweaty feet at bay. The Keen Utility insoles are also very light, so you can insert them in your hiking footwear without having to worry about breaking them in too much.
Sof Sole Athlete Performance Insoles
- Compatible with most foot arches and types
- Comfortable orthotic gel design
- Good for athletic and hiking footwear
- Moisture wicking technology
- Not as much arch support as some other selections
- You might need to trim the arches to fit your shoe
- Could be too thick for shallow shoe volumes
The next insoles for hiking boots we recommend are these gel ones by Sof Sole. Manufactured from 100% foam, we love the orthotic design of these insoles that makes them an ideal choice for a range of outdoor activities.
A significant advantage of these insoles is the fact that they are compatible with the majority of foot types and arches. They are well suited to most athletic shoes, making them a strong contender for your outdoor adventures.
We like the supportive but lightweight cushioning of these insoles by Sof Sole, with pads in both the forefoot and heel area for enhanced comfort. The insoles also feature moisture wicking technology to help absorb sweat and keep your feet nice and dry. The moisture wicking capabilities mean you’ll have far less odors and reduce the risk of bacteria gathering.
These versatile insoles are a fantastic choice for everything from light to strenuous hikes. One element to note is that you might need to trim them around the toes to ensure they fit your shoe properly.
Sof Sole AIRR Performance Insoles
- Great for all varieties of outdoor adventures
- Supportive gel cushions and air chambers
- Fantastic option for high impact activities
- Moisture wicking technology
- Offers plenty of stability and cushioning
- Pretty thick so might not be compatible with all shoes
- Could have insufficient support for higher arches
As our next pick, we have another great option from Sof Sole. Featuring Skydex air bubbles in the arch and heel, you’ll have far less strain and impact on your feet when you hit the trails. We especially like the gel area in the front of these insoles that gives you extra cushion, plus the fabric top cover with moisture wicking technology to fight sweat and odors.
Not only are these a fantastic choice for hiking adventures, but they are a quality option for running and other outdoor activities. The fact that these insoles sport polymer gel cushions and air chambers for maximum impact absorption is a huge plus, not to mention the additional stability plate in the heel and arch areas.
One aspect to note is that these insoles are pretty thick, so they could take up a lot of volume depending on the shoe you’re wearing. Also, these AIRR Performance Insoles don’t have much arch support, so this is fine if you have low arches, but could be uncomfortable for higher arches.
Superfeet Green Insoles
- Good for high arches
- Closed-cell foam support
- Deep heel cup to reduce shock to feet from high impact activities
- Odor resistant coating
- May not be as ideal for lower or medium arches
- Takes a while to break in
- Not as durable as some
Our final selection on our list are these high-arch orthotic inserts by Superfeet. They are 2 inches high and 4 inches wide, and are compatible with high profile and high volume feet. Remember, volume is the amount of space the insole will require in your shoe, while profile is the shape beneath your feet with the insert in place.
We love that the Superfeet Green Insoles feature a stabilizer cap to support the base of your feet and the insert’s additional foam layer. It also sports a deep heel cup to absorb the impact when you’re on the go. The shape of these insoles not only provides exceptional longwear stability for your feet, but will lower the impact on other key areas like your knees and ankles.
The Superfeet Green Insoles offer closed-cell, high density foam for the optimal foot cushioning experience. For long hikes, you can’t beat these. What’s more, the insoles feature a special coating to reduce odors, so you won’t have to worry about super smelly feet after a long day outside.
How to Choose Insoles or Shoe Inserts for Hiking
Before delving into the right insoles for hiking, it’s important to understand what’s available for the best fit for your feet.
What Type of Insole Should You Choose?
The insoles for hiking boots are also called support insoles or sport insoles. These are the best option for hiking and outdoor activities because they are manufactured with harder, more durable materials that offer you better support.
Plus, support insoles offer excellent stability too, so whether you’re tackling a tough trail or a lofty mountain you won’t have to waste time worrying about your feet.
The idea behind support insoles is that the stability offers greater comfort than just a simple insole with basic cushioning, which makes them different from the standard varieties you could find at a drugstore.
Whether you tend towards preexisting foot issues or not, the best hiking insoles will offer you more stability and comfort on the trail to help you reduce unwanted aches and soreness. In particular, if you have certain foot conditions, hiking insoles are a must.
For instance, structural misalignment or plantar fasciitis can cause great discomfort in and of themselves. Take sensitive feet on a long hike, and you’ll be wincing with discomfort before long. So, save yourself and your feet considerable trouble by choosing a quality pair of hiking insoles that will serve you will for many trails ahead.
Insole Volume
Another key factor to be aware of when selecting your hiking insoles is a product’s insole volume. What is insole volume, you ask?
Insole volume is the amount of space it takes up inside your hiking footwear. Most of the time, there is a direct link between the volume of an insole and the foot arch shape it is supposed to fit.
For example, high volume footwear like hiking boots and running shoes are most suited to high volume insoles. If you have high foot arches as well, you’ll want a high-volume insole.
Some types of athletic footwear fit well with medium volume insoles, which are suited to an array of foot arches. Footwear like cycling shoes are considered low volume shoes, and are compatible with low volume insoles. If you have a super low foot arch, a low volume insole could be right for you.
Otherwise, if you tend to stick with hiking boots only when embarking on your outdoor adventures, you’ll probably want a high-volume insole for the support and comfort you’ll require.
Why It’s Important to Find the Right Fit
Finding the right fit for your hiking insoles is essential. If you experience heel slippage with your hiking footwear, mid to high volume insoles are going to be your best bet. These types of insoles will lower the amount of volume you’re experiencing in the back of your shoe while offering better stability for your heel.
Reducing slippage means you’ll reduce blisters and sensitive spots.
If you have foot elongation in either one or both of your feet, insoles could make your life a whole lot easier. A high-volume insole in your hiking boots will help to distribute the weight evenly in your feet. You also won’t have to worry as much about sizing up with your hiking footwear either.
Finally, if you have collapsed or low arches, a supportive insole that offers you the stability you need and spreads pressure evenly throughout your foot will lower the strain on your arches.
Feet have the tendency to swell up with a long day on the trail, so you should always purchase your insole at least a size above your regular shoe size to allow for that extra space.
What to Look For
Here are some factors to consider when choosing hiking insoles.
Support
We’ve already touched upon this, but the number one thing you need look for if you are on the hunt for insoles for hiking is quality support. You need a hiking insole that will bear the brunt of the impact as you climb, walk, run, etc., without flattening your arches. It’s better to have lighter hiking footwear with a quality insole than a bulky hiking boot with zero support.
Replaceable Cover
When you’ve been out on the trail for hours, it’s natural that your feet will start to feel clammy and sweaty. If you hit unexpected weather conditions while in the great outdoors, this could heighten the sweaty situation even further.
When moisture gathers for long periods in your hiking shoes, that is a prime spot for fungi and bacteria to develop. So, a good hiking insole has a replaceable top cover that keeps your feet protected and healthy. Some hiking insoles even sport bacteria fighting replaceable covers.
Heel Cups
You should also look for heel cups when shopping for hiking insoles. Heel cups are fantastic because they lower the total impact on your feet when you’re hiking. Additionally, heel cups offer a bit more cushion, so you’ll be more comfortable while you stay active.
Durability
Of course, any insole for hiking you choose needs to be highly durable and last you a while. Quality insoles will offer excellent longevity of use and be able to withstand many a rigorous hike.
The Winner
Each of the best insoles for hiking we’ve reviewed today have something special to offer. To us, there’s one that stands out above the pack—The Superfeet Blue Full-Length Insole. Not only does it feature high density foam for extra comfort, it won’t take up too much space in your shoe and is suited to most hiking boot and shoe types.
We really liked that it also featured the all-important heel cup for enhanced stability plus odor resistant technology to keep sweaty fungi at bay. All in all, the Superfeet Blue Full-Length Insole is a great choice to provide comfort, cushioning, and impact relief for any outdoor or hiking activity.
