All I need is a little support...for my feet

September 6, 2013 9:24 AM

Help me find a better soft arch support! I have been using Dr. Scholl's For Her arch supports in my work flats and low heels and, while they are soft and supportive, they never stay in place! Has anyone found an arch support that a) stays in one place and b) doesn't add as much bulk to a shoe as an orthodic or Superfeet?
posted by msfrizzle to Health & Fitness (7 answers total)

Try the full length ones. You are supposed to take out the existing insole, not put the new one on top.
posted by brujita at 9:48 AM on September 6, 2013

I have orthotics and they don't add any bulk to my shoes. The podiatrist made thinner inserts for my dress shoes than she made for my hiking boots. If you have insurance that covers orthotics, it might be worth a try to get a dress shoe insert.

If you're willing to go with ugly and obvious, then the strap type will work. If you want hidden, then you need to get the full foot type. Most full foots are pretty beefy. You can hack a thin one together by picking a half arch insert and gluing it to a really thin dress shoe insole. The other option is to put velcro fasteners on the insole and insert.
posted by 26.2 at 9:52 AM on September 6, 2013

Response by poster: Not to thread-sit, but some of my nicer shoes don't seem to have a removable insole. Would these work if they were on top of the built-in insole?
posted by msfrizzle at 10:13 AM on September 6, 2013

Those paper thin insoles in ladies dress shoes aren't a problem in terms of thickness, but they're slippery as heck. Velcro or full foot.
posted by 26.2 at 10:52 AM on September 6, 2013

I've built up arch supports in my running shoes using gauze pads and medical tape. I used a store bought insole that wasn't high enough and just added layers one at a time until they were high enough. I put them on the bottom since they were obviously removable. I wonder if a strip or two of cloth medical tape would secure yours? Just make sure your put it long ways from heel to toe so it doesn't try to curl up every time you put your foot in and lays flat so your don't get blisters.
posted by Beti at 1:15 PM on September 6, 2013

What about Superfeet Black or Dress Fit? They're supposed to be thin enough to fit even in shoes with non-removable insoles. If your heels are more than about an inch, they also make a High Heel version.
posted by augustimagination at 4:13 PM on September 6, 2013 [2 favorites]

I love those arch supports but they do slide around in some of my shoes. I've been meaning to try glueing them in to the ones where they slide. Is that an option?
posted by otherwordlyglow at 9:04 PM on September 6, 2013