Think of the material. According to the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine (AAPSM), plastic and graphite-made insoles have plenty of flexibility that can keep pain-pumping forces to a minimum, whereas softer textures like neoprene can strike that happy medium between comfort and support. Wearing any new footwear or accessory (like insoles or heel cups) in your footwear can take some getting used to. But properly fitted insoles for plantar fasciitis should not hurt your feet, even at first. If you find your foot pain doesn’t improve or worsens with any insole, that’s your sign to consider other alternatives. A number of customers mentioned that the insole required a bit of a break in period. However, most of them only required between a few days to a week or two.

We love that PowerStep's Original Insoles earned the APMA's Seal of Approval. However, the arch support was so high that it made the toe boxes of our shoes feel tight. Since these insoles are so thin, they're not very supportive. But we found they make a great replacement insole for well-loved pairs of shoes.

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When choosing an insole for plantar fasciitis, volume is one of the most important characteristics to note. There are high-, medium-, and low-volume insoles, and each option is designed for a specific arch level and activity. Insoles come in all shapes and sizes, with some being geared toward providing more comfort, while others are geared towards providing more support or relief for foot-related pain. While this review can serve as a guideline for what the best insoles are like, if you suffer from foot pain, it should not be a replacement for medical advice from an expert in foot care. If you are not used to arch support, it is recommended that you give your feet time to adjust to your new insoles by wearing them for longer and longer each day before you decide they are not for you.

Unlike other insoles on this list, this pair has a stabilizer cap that acts as a base to support the rear foot. They also provide stability to the foam layer and have a deep heel cup that cradles your foot to prevent it from rolling. It has a high volume profile, which means it takes up a lot of space in your shoe, but you can trim it to your level of comfort and fit. Although these are marketed as “sport” insoles, Physix Gear notes that these insoles can also be used in work boots—so you can interpret “sport” to mean anything requiring a lot of physical activity and movement, including a strenuous job (though, of course, they’re good for running and hiking, too). Insoles can be very helpful for plantar fasciitis as they are designed to help dissipate the pressure points on the bottom of the foot, provide more support, and even provide cushion,” said Dr. Mark Mendeszoon, a podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Precision Orthopaedic Specialties, Inc., in Chardon, Ohio. “Sometimes regular shoe insoles do not have the ability to provide the biomechanical advantages of over-the-counter insoles.” (More on that later.) Sizes: Men’s 6 to 15.5, Women’s 5 to 12.5 | Arch Type: Low | Anti-Odor: Yes | Materials: Nylon, neoprene | Our Overall Rating: 5/5 Sizes: Women's 4.5 to 12 | Arch Type: Low | Anti-Odor: Yes | Materials: Foam | Our Overall Rating: 4.8/5Make sure the structure of the insole is not too aggressive for your foot type,” Fishkin says, “and that you can tolerate the support provided by the insole.” Sizes: Men’s: 5.5 to 17, Women’s 4.5 to 14 | Arch Type: High | Anti-Odor: Yes | Materials: Polyester, foam | Our Overall Rating: 5/5