5 Best Insoles For Plantar Fasciitis (Review) In 2022

Plantar fasciitis is no laughing matter. The plantar fascia is a fibrous band of tissue that extends all the way along the bottom of your foot from your heel to your toes. Its role is to provide support to the various muscles in the foot as well as buttress the arch. When too much sustained pressure is brought to bear on the plantar fascia it can develop tiny tears that are extremely painful. This is plantar fasciitis. Many runners and others who are on their feet a lot develop this condition. Thankfully, it can often be treated and even cured by way of the right plantar fasciitis insoles. Below are the best insoles for plantar fasciitis currently on the market. Make sure to check our guide on insoles for flat feet for some similar products.
The Best Insole For Plantar Fasciitis
1. Powerstep Pinnacle Shoe Insoles For Plantar Fasciitis

Antimicrobial fabric.
Deep heel cradle for stability.
EVA foam base.
Firm arch support.
For low, moderate or high arches.
Wide footwear compatibility.
Plantar fasciitis typically originates in the heel region and projects outward toward the arch, the ball of the foot and even the toes. Therefore it is crucial that your plantar fasciitis insoles address the problem at the source. The Powerstep Pinnacle Shoe Insoles do just that by providing a deep heel cradle with Variable Cushioning Technology. Impact shocks are effectively absorbed preventing pain while also helping you maintain proper alignment and mechanics. The fabric that contacts your foot has antimicrobial properties that absorb odors. While the semi-rigid arch support prevents the fascia from falling victim to forces radiating backward toward the heel. The Powerstep Pinnacle is ideal for runners or anyone who spends a great deal of time on their feet. It slips easily into most athletic and formal shoes and is fashioned from high-quality materials that won’t let you down. Make sure you also check our guide to the best insoles.
2. Dr. Scholl’s Insoles For Plantar Fasciitis Pain Relief

Clinically proven.
Typical Dr. Scholl’s quality.
Shock Guard technology.
Full length insoles.
For casual, work or formal footwear.
Reinforced arch support.
Dr. Scholl’s have been creating quality foot-related products for decades so it’s no real surprise they would end up on our list of best insoles for plantar fasciitis. These are full-length insoles that provide firm but flexible support throughout the entire foot. They feature the company’s patented Shock Guard Technology that absorbs the downward forces of walking or running, thereby removing the principal source of stress from the plantar fascia. Dr. Scholl’s Pain Relief Insoles will fit into almost any type of shoe from running shoes to wingtips and work boots. True to the company’s mission to provide high-quality products to the masses you can also easily trim these plantar fasciitis insoles if need be to make them fit into your shoes.
3. Footminders Comfort Orthotic Arch Support Insoles For Plantar Fasciitis

Deep heel cup.
Robust ankle support.
Wide footwear compatibility.
Doctor recommended.
Relieves plantar fasciitis pain.
Money back guarantee.
Footminders Comfort Orthotics are serious medicine for your plantar fasciitis. They feature Durapontex shock absorbing material in the heel that relieves the stress on your plantar fascia as well as an elevated metatarsal section that helps relieve stress on the ball of your foot. When combined with the firm arch support these three components address all the major points of the foot affected by this painful condition and set you squarely on the road back to good health. The top layer of material is also treated with an antimicrobial agent that prevents the growth of bacteria. And because these are proper orthotics and not merely insoles they also do a great job of re-aligning your feet to ensure proper mechanics and prevent further injury. Don’t forget to also check our guide to the best UV shoe sanitizer.
4. Sof Sole Full-Length Gel Shoe Insert

Ideal for runners.
Skydex air bubbles absorb impact.
Coolmax fabric keeps feet dry.
Polymer gel in forefoot.
Extremely light.
Use with existing insoles or as stand-alone.
Sof Sole goes to great lengths to produce insoles for plantar fasciitis that are both extremely comfortable and effective. With their Full Length Gel Shoe Insert they succeed on both fronts. The heel and arch sections of the foot are underpinned by the company’s Skydex air bubble-infused silicone gel the does a great job absorbing shock and enabling a smooth step back to front. While the forefoot features a polymer gel that’s both comfy and capable of relieving pressure on the ball of the foot and the toes. The neutral contour design is compatible with many different foot and shoe types. While the top is covered by a moisture wicking, antimicrobial fabric that keeps your feet both dry and odor free.
7. Tread Labs Stride Insole

Deep heel cup.
All day comfort.
Your choice of arch 4 heights.
2 part arch support system.
Antimicrobial fabric.
Replaceable top covers.
A lot of time and effort went into the design and fabrication of these Tread Labs orthotics and it shows. They’re available in 4 different arch heights to provide precise fit, unlike many plantar fasciitis insoles that are universal and may or may not deliver the support you need. These are some of the best made, most comfortable orthotics we tested and you can feel this quality difference when you hold them in your hand. They’re not going to fall apart on you in a couple of weeks. The antimicrobial top cover is replaceable so you don’t have to deal with foul odors emanating from your shoes as your orthotics age and the antimicrobial treatment wears off. They’re also compatible with a wide range of shoe types from work shoes to office shoes to trail running shoes. They’re going to cost you more but the practical results and their longevity will justify the financial stretch.
Insole For Plantar Fasciitis Buying Guide & FAQ
How We Chose Our Selection Of Insoles For Plantar Fasciitis
When it comes to medical conditions we always seek input from relevant health professionals. In this case we polled GPs and well as orthopedists to get their opinion about which insoles are most effective for plantar fasciitis and why. We also considered:
Reviews - We looked at a ton of customer and third party reviews like we always do. And, as always we did our best Olympic judge routine by tossing the overly enthusiastic or scathing reviews and concentrating on the rest. Our goal is to see if we can identify commonalities within the remaining reviews that might inform our choices. At the end of the day we take all this into consideration but make up our own mind.
Quality - We examined dozens of different plantar fasciitis insoles as well as insoles that are not marketed specifically as being for PI but which people with that condition have told us are helpful to them. We assess them for comfort, compatibility with different types of shoes and of course build quality.
Price - While most of the best insoles for plantar fasciitis are very reasonably priced (between about $10 and $25) there are insoles out there that can cost considerably more. Only one of them made our list because it was highly regarded by both customers and medical professionals.
Features To Look For In Plantar Fasciitis Insoles
Material - When it comes to this type of specialized insole there are four types of material that are typically used in their fabrication: gel, foam, leather and cork. Which material seems the best match for you will be your choice, hopefully informed by input from a qualified orthopedist. That said, cork is used less and less these days, leather has been on the way out for the better part of two decades and most of the best insoles for plantar fasciitis today are fashioned from either gel or foam.
Support - The amount of support the insole provides your arches is one of the most important considerations when choosing the right insole to deal with your plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia at the root of your discomfort plays a key role in supporting the various contours of your foot. Therefore, the job of the insole is to help relieve some of the stress on the plantar fascia so that it has a chance to heal. If the insoles don’t do that you’re simply wasting both time and money. When choosing an insole then, always make sure it adheres as closely as possible to the form and height of your arch.
Comfort - Support is key in choosing the right plantar fasciitis insoles but comfort has to play a part as well. After all, you’re going to be wearing these things all day almost every day. Comfort tends to be a product of three things:
Arch support - Arch support leads the list because if you are not getting the proper arch support your plantar fascia is going to continue to complain and make your life miserable. So the first step on the road to comfort is to alleviate the pain. And proper support is the best way to do that.
Material - As we mentioned cork and leather have fallen largely out of favor and been replaced in recent years with plantar fasciitis insoles fashioned from gel or foam. The number 1 reason these materials have gained primacy is because they’re more comfortable. So before you decide to go old school and opt for cork insoles take a minute and reconsider. For comfort’s sake.
Length - Plantar fasciitis relief doesn’t always call for a full length insole. Although most people will default to full length just to make sure they have all their bases covered there may be times when full length insoles are not necessary. Insoles for plantar fasciitis can either extend to the end of the arch, to the balls of the feet or all the way to the end of the toes. If the pain does not project beyond the heel area and the balls of the feet and the toes are largely unaffected, there may be no compelling reason to get full length plantar fasciitis insoles.
Durability - Nobody wants their insoles to fall apart after a couple of weeks. To avoid this make sure you don’t buy your insoles based solely (so to speak) on price. Look at what others are saying about the product and consider any input from your orthopedist or general practitioner.
Insole For Plantar Fasciltis FAQ
Q: Do insoles help plantar fasciitis?
A: In most cases, yes. Although in some cases your doctor may prescribe some preliminary treatment first in order to reduce acute pain to manageable levels before moving on to plantar fasciitis insoles. That preliminary treatment may include taping of the foot or certain medications.
Q: What treatment is best for plantar fasciitis?
A: In the vast majority of cases the right pair of insoles will provide plantar fasciitis relief. Unfortunately, if the condition has been allowed to fester a person may wind up needing surgery to try and correct the problem. Most doctors try to discourage a surgical cure simply because the condition so often responds well to insoles. However, if it is apparent no other type of treatment is working, surgery will be indicated as a last resort. Keep in mind too that surgery is not always successful in alleviating the pain associated with this condition and you may wind up needing plantar fasciitis insoles afterward anyway. The best course of action is to see your doctor as soon as symptoms appear and not wait until the problem is beyond the scope of insoles to address.