Flat feet… yup, I’m the poster child. Since my youth, I’ve been wearing some sort of arch support–sometimes an over-the-counter solution and other times custom orthotics. For me, I’ve had great success with many of the latest generation of footbeds from Sole, Superfeet and now Spenco. Yes, Spenco… the company that makes all kinds of odds and ends that are found in your local pharmacy.
The Spenco PolySorb Total Support is a premium insole made to slip into athletic shoes with removable sockliners. I’ve used these head-to-head with Sole, Superfeet and stock insoles with much success. Trail running, hiking and pounding pavement have all been comfortable thanks to these surprisingly-good insoles.
About the Spenco Polysorb Total Support Insoles
Built to replace those basic insoles found in your shoes, the Spenco PolySorb Total Support Premium Insoles are built for proper foot alignment to offer support and cushioning during all types of athletic activity.
The insole consists of an upper layer molded to a supportive heel/arch skeleton with strategically-placed cushioning pads.
Features:
- 3-pod Cushioning System
- PolySorb Stability Cradle
- Optional Heat Molding
- Low-friction & Anti-microbial Top Cloth
- Metatarsal Arch Support
- Reverse Morton’s Extension
- Unconditional One Year Guarantee
- MSRP: $34.99
Spenco PolySorb Total Support Insoles Review
My feet are very, let me repeat, very flat. I have to select my footwear very carefully and typically need to wear some sort of supportive insole. I’ve tried many different insoles over the years and have been pleasantly surprised at the performance of the PolySorb Total Support insoles.
My podiatrist has me on the hook for orthotics, but I’ve found them to be 1) expensive and 2) not very performance-oriented. So, I’ve typically opted for aftermarket supportive insoles. For the most part, these aftermarket insoles have been as good or better than my expensive orthotics.
The Spenco PolySorb Total Support insoles are not your basic insole and come in at a lower pricepoint than the competition from Sole and Superfeet. Support seems to be on par with others in this category and cushioning is at the top. I also really appreciate the metatarsal arch support area that supports the footpad and spreads out the foot bones in a more natural position.
I haven’t heat-molded these and suggest you refrain from doing so until you wear them a handful of times. They break in rather quickly. My size 10 insoles slipped right into every pair of shoes I own without trimming.
I’ve worn these in several shoes including: Keen Powerline, Avia Avi-Trail and La Sportiva Wildcat trail runners and Merrell Intercept hiking shoes.
Good PolySorb Total Support
- Excellent pricepoint
- Available at your local pharmacy
- Very supportive
- Excellent cushioning
- Metatarsal pad offers additional comfort
Bad PolySorb Total Support
- Some may not like the Metatarsal pad
- Add thickness, which may inhibit shoe fit
The Bottom Line: Spenco PolySorb Total Support Insoles
Available everywhere and an affordable $35 pricepoint, the Spenco PolySorb Total Support insoles are supportive and comfortable for those in need of more foot support.
Buy Now: Search for Spenco Insoles
A Seattle native, Jason developed a love for the outdoors and a thing for mountains. That infatuation continues as he founded
Thank you so much for the review. These look like the insoles I’ve been longing for. The Superfeet have been alright, but they don’t cut it for long distances. I walk everywhere, I average about 5 miles a day and run/walk around 20 miles over the weekend. I’ve been relegated to wearing my Asics everywhere because they’re the only things that don’t make my feet hurt, but they don’t look very good for the office. I’m going to run down and get these right away. Thanks again. -Jeremy
Awesome… give them a whirl. I like them, but I also like my SOLE footbeds. The Superfeet footbeds tend to be hit-and-miss depending on the shoe volume. If the shoes are higher volume, my instep tends to bleed over the arch support of the Superfeet resulting in chaffing. I don’t tend to have that with SOLE or the Spencos.
I have bought several pairs of the Spenco Polysorb Total support and do feel a major difference as compared to the usual insole that the shoes come with, however they DO NOT last long at all. I walk my dogs but only a couple miles 3 times a week I use them for work and I am not on my feet all day being a truck driver. I am not overweight so that is not a factor but I only get a few months out of these supports and for 35 bucks I should or any consumer should get more miles out of their dollar. Good but not worth the cost.
Thanks Thomas, for the long-term thoughts on these insoles. I used them successfully for a few months, but due to the nature of what I do, I haven’t used them for much longer than that. I’ve had great success with SOLE insoles as they have lasted me years without much breakdown at all:
SOLE Dean Karnazes Footbeds
I don’t mold them at all–just use them stock.
Nice, I also have flat feet and hate how expensive ortho’s are. I’ll try these Spenco’s out and stop blaming my shoes