Rarely do I run without some sort of aftermarket insoles in my shoes. This year, I’ve been running exclusively with Superfeet Blue insoles in my Brooks Cascadia 6 trail runners. After hundreds of miles, I’m ready to deliver the verdict.
Superfeet Blue Insoles Features:
- Deep heel cup cradles the foot for improved natural shock absorption
- Encapsulating Stabilizer System provides firm underfoot support
- High-density foam provides long-lasting comfort and support
- Built for tighter-fitting footwear
- Suitable for use in a variety of footwear (not recommended for GORE-TEX footwear)
- Great for low to medium arches
- MSRP: $39.95
Superfeet Blue Insoles Review
Trimmed and placed inside my Brooks Cascadia 6 trail runners, the size 11 Superfeet Blue insoles have been along for hundreds of trail miles this year. When it comes to aftermarket insoles, I’ve grown quite fond of both SOLE and Superfeet’s offerings. I’m a huge fan of the Superfeet REDhot insoles for ski boots and have enjoyed the visibile comfort of the Blue’s this year.
The process of selecting the proper size footbed did take a couple of tries. Because I do have fairly flat feet, my arches tend to extend beyond the width of the standard E size (9.5-11) size with certain shoes. Once I figured out that I needed to go with the size F (11.5-13) Blue’s, it has made all the difference. No longer do I feel the edge of the footbed at my arch, instead I feel cradled in comfort for miles-and-miles of trail.
I do wear size 11 in the Cascadia 6’s, but I’m typically a 10.5, so sizing up to the F’s isn’t that much of a stretch. Once trimmed and in place, I’ve been nothing but stoked on their performance. Just keep in mind that you may need to size up to get the complete support you need.
I’ve appreciated the extra cradled support on the trail. When wearing these insoles, I truly feel that I have less of a tendency to roll my ankles. With all the trail miles I run throughout the course of a year, turning an ankle is unavoidable. When I’ve worn other shoes with stock insoles, I’ve noticed the reduced support and with it an increased propensity to roll my ankles.
While I can appreciate minimalist footwear, I’ve yet to be able to go ultra-minimal with my trail running shoes. The combination of the Brooks Cascadia 6’s loaded with the Superfeet Blue insoles has been absolutely money this year. I’ve tried aftermarket insoles in posted or supportive shoes and I’ve never liked the super-supportive feel you get. The Blue’s work best with neutral footwear.
I just removed the insoles to inspect them and they show little sign of wear with no smell and only slight compression where the balls of my feet and toes have molded the foam.
The Good
- Excellent arch support
- Deep heel cup provides stability on the trail
- Very durable and long-lasting (I’ve had Superfeet last 3-4 years)
- Minimal weight addition is worth it
- Works best with neutral shoes
The Bad
- Foam could have a little more cushioning
- Sizing them up could require some in-store time
Bottom Line: Superfeet Blue Insoles
The deep heel cup of the Superfeet Blue insoles provide excellent support in trail running shoes. I honestly haven’t thought much about these all year and that alone is a great indicator of how comfortable they are.
Buy Now: Available at REI
1 Comment
I have a pair of the blues and love the comfort, the only issue I have had is the plastic heel cup on both insoles have unglued (is that a word). Not sure if you had any issues like this, I still use them, I just have to be a little more careful.