cycling shoe insoles

[chaka]

I've finally converged on a shoe that seems to work for my problematic feet (Spec Recon), but I'm still chasing down some hotspots and occasional numbness. I'm thinking of trying a different insole. Anyone have a favorite? I have fairly high arches, narrowish heel so one that has a nice heel pocket may be helpful. I'm not sure the metatarsal bump on my current Spec Body Geometry insoles does anything other than feel weird and maybe contribute to some numbness in one foot. I'm mostly long distance xc mtb, gravel yada yada thanks.

[XXX-er]

Every foot is different so I don't use a special foot bed in bike shoes but I do in ski boots,

the Sole products work for me cuz I have flat feet/ high instep/ narrow heel/ wide forefoot

I get along fine with the met bump on a specialized foot bed

[McShortyShorts]

I've never been able to use my ski boot insoles biking for some reason. Most people in road cycling end up with custom insoles eventually, I always just ran stock ones even when I was racing. A lot of good bike fitters will offer just a shoe/cleat alignment including insoles. Cleat alignment probably less important for MTB but a nice custom bike insole sounds like what you need

[Shredhead]

I wear footbeds in almost all of my footwear, to avert a Morton’s neuroma. Most start out in ski and hiking boots, then migrate down to bike and everyday shoes.
My favorite riding footbed currently is a hard plastic 3/4 length ProTech an Orthopedic Doctor made for me 20 years ago. I also like some Superfeet cork blanks, I cooked and molded myself.
I’d just try a bunch, until you find one you like.

[plugboots]

It’s gotta fit in the shoe. Kneed makes a really thin forefoot (kneed2fit), one if the usual brand’s thicker ones squeeze your foot.

[paschta]

Currex Soles have done me pretty well, variety of insoles for different applications (including bike) and 3 arch support heights.

[s1ammy]

I've had pretty good luck with the Superfeet Carbon Run in rigid footwear like bike shoes and ski boots. The are very thin and have a relatively high carbon arch, which doesn't compress.

[Roxtar]

It’s gotta fit in the shoe. Kneed makes a really thin forefoot (kneed2fit), one if the usual brand’s thicker ones squeeze your foot.

2X on the Kneed. I just transferred mine to the 2nd pair of shoes. It has a pretty high arch.

[chaka]

thanks everyone. I have a pretty high arch. Looking at Kneed site, doesn't seem like they carry bike specific models. Is kneed2fit the recommendation then for bike?

[climberevan]

Those Kneed ones look about like Sole insoles. I have Soles in several sets of running and cycling shoes and find them just fine.

On my road shoes I went all-out and built my own monocoque fiberglass ones with some met posting etc.

I think the bikefitters' choice is G8. Ms CE needs some, and I might finally bite the bullet and order them, but man are they $$$. I do like the movable pieces etc, which could be good for her since she can't seem to describe what she needs.

[XXX-er]

sole makes a really thin footbed but I havent used it, I go with the red or black which are medium & thick

[carlh]

The specialized ones come in different arch heights, I think medium is stock and I’ve had good luck with the high in various clipless shoes.

[paschta]

Those Kneed ones look about like Sole insoles. I have Soles in several sets of running and cycling shoes and find them just fine.

On my road shoes I went all-out and built my own monocoque fiberglass ones with some met posting etc.

I think the bikefitters' choice is G8. Ms CE needs some, and I might finally bite the bullet and order them, but man are they $$$. I do like the movable pieces etc, which could be good for her since she can't seem to describe what she needs.

I wound up getting a pair of G8’s myself. If they were going into anything less stiff of flat than my Bont road shoes, I would have rather gotten an out of the box or custom moldable insole.

[chaka]

The specialized ones come in different arch heights, I think medium is stock and I’ve had good luck with the high in various clipless shoes.

yep. I use the green/high arch models currently and feel like I can use even more arch

[beaterdit]

Superfeet green work well for me. The blue has worked well also but has a thicker heel which can be too tall for the heel pocket on a lot of shoes and also push your foot forward. Most recently I’ve been using a blue that I’ve ground down a lot in the heel area. Gonna try green here again on my new shoes for that reason.

[kingsalami]

I've had a set of Superfeet Green insoles in my cycling shoes for 20+ years. Keeps my excessive pronation under control and helps power transfer.
Greens take up a bit more volume than Blues.

[Mudfoot]

Try moving you cleats back as far as they will go on your mtb shoes. You might have to lower your seat just a hair to make the spin feel right. This has greatly increased my foot and knee comfort for long rides. If you want more scientific info on the issue check out the subject of arch cleating. You end up with your foot more forward on the pedal like with flat pedals. It is also more comfortable when standing up to hammer hills.

[XXX-er]

I should add with the SOLE product its very easy to remove all the grey foam from the sock liner at the front of toe area which i have done so the Sole fits in a ski boot without crushing my toes

I use one of those red sanding discs in my drill to shave off all the grey foam and just leave the neoprene top layer which has never worn out, SOLE is a great product IME