With the best insoles for high arches, you don’t have to change the shoes you have and love because of a foot issue. Nowadays, having feet issues is common, and above all – manageable. People from all around the world experience foot pain and discomfort daily, but you do not have to be one of them anymore. There are a lot of options on the table if you have arch problems, and when it comes to high arches, changing your habits is key. But all the lifestyle changes are futile if you do not adapt your footwear to the problem at hand, or rather at the foot.
In the following sections, we would like to address the issue of high arches, as well as how to approach it, and finally what to look for in an insole designed to help you with high arches.
See The Quick Comparison Chart
Who Should Consider Wearing Insoles for High Arches?
Considering that high arches as a condition can cause a lot of trouble if left unchecked, insoles for high arches could help out anyone that suffers from pes cavus. Before you start looking for the ideal pair of insoles for high arches, you should make an appointment with your physician (or a podiatrist) and ask for a professional opinion. They will tell you how to use apply the insoles to accommodate your feet because remember – everyone’s feet are different due to different lifestyles and unique anatomy.
So, if we would go out to find the people who need the help of an insole for high arches the most, we could say that there are two major groups that should reap the benefits of the insoles right away.
1. Preventative Measure
Most people, unfortunately, start asking around for a solution only after the consequences settle in. We often do not know we have issues with our feet until the unpleasant experiences occur. But, you can prevent all those issues we talked about, or at least most of them, by adjusting your shoes as soon as possible.
Feet are unique, but making a shoe that can fit any foot is virtually impossible. Now, keep in mind that insoles for high arches cannot cure the condition, but they can help you prevent other issues we talked about. If you are an active person that enjoys jogging or running, consider getting a pair of top-rated running shoes for high arches to follow you in your adventures, and a pair or two of insoles for high arches that you can put in your dress shoes or work boots.
2. Recovery
If you had bad luck with the prevention, or you had a really uncomfortable pair of shoes that caused more harm than they helped, you should consider investing in a pair of insoles right away. People take their feet for granted and wait for the storm to pass, but that is far from what you should actually do. If neglected, plantar fasciitis or metatarsalgia can leave some permanent ligament damage, and in worse cases change the way you walk entirely. This can, later on, affect your knees, hips, and back, so we urge you to take the situation seriously.
Having the goal of recovery in mind, you can get a pair of insoles for high arches that focus on alleviating the pain of ligament conditions. These insoles have targeted critical zones that accommodate feet with inflammation. By helping the foot settle in its natural position, you speed up the recovery, and most importantly – alleviate the pain. A large number of these insoles will help with calluses and bunions as well.
Once again – insoles and shoes made for feet with high arches will not change the arches’ position, but they will adjust your feet to minimize the anatomical issues that follow.
Best Insoles For High Arches Comparison Chart
| PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Superfeet GREEN Insoles Professional-Grade High Arch Support |
| View On Amazon |
 | Powerstep Full Length Orthotic Shoe Insoles with Arch Support |
| View On Amazon |
 | Spenco Polysorb Cross Trainer Arch Support Shoe Insoles |
| View On Amazon |
 | Sof Sole Low Arch Unisex FIT Support Insoles |
| View On Amazon |
 | Stride Semi-Custom Insoles for Men and Women |
| View On Amazon |
 | Powerstep Pinnacle Maxx High Arch Support |
| View On Amazon |
 | Vionic Slimfit Orthotic Inserts |
| View On Amazon |
Best Insoles for High Arches Reviews
1. Superfeet GREEN Insoles Professional-Grade High Arch Support
If you are looking for a supreme insole for high arches, you should definitely check out this pair from Superfeet. It is a professionally done orthotic insole that will match your cushioning needs and help you get back on your feet comfier than before. These orthotic insoles come in a single design with two colors included in the build, green and gray.
At first glance, you will notice that the insole is made of two parts – a stabilizing back of the foot, and a whole-foot cushioning insole. The underpart is held by four notches, so it never separates from the main body of the insole. The cushioning is achieved through the high-density foam that can absorb a large portion of the shock produced by daily activities. This pair of insoles works great in battling supination as well, thanks to its cupped heel, your gait will tend to correct itself while you walk.
Pros
- The stabilizer cap on these insoles for high arches will provide all the support that the back of your foot needs
- The foam part delivers both cushioning and stabilization
- High-density foam prioritizes critical spots – the heel and the ball of the foot, thus alleviating the pain caused by high arches
Cons
- In the world of insoles, this particular pair is considered a bit pricier, but it does make up for it with performance
2. Powerstep Full Length Orthotic Shoe Insoles with Arch Support
The Powerstep insoles are a great way to enhance your regular shoes and adapt them to accommodate your high arches in no time. This particular pair comes in the color blue, and the technologies implemented will help reduce the pain caused by high arches pretty quickly. The whole insole is made out of a single piece with multiple layers of cushioning.
If you are having problems with feet sweating, you will be happy to hear that this particular pair of insoles for high arches has an anti-microbial polyester surface. By lowering the chances of fungus development, you get to enjoy sports as well. Going from back to front, you can see that the back foot part of the insole is cradled around the heel to prevent over-supination. The middle part has extra cushioning inside, with the focus on the arches, of course. And the forefoot has the metatarsal cushioning with a thin cushion zone at the forefoot.
Pros
- This model of insoles for high arches is made out of a single piece, which makes cleaning the insoles convenient
- The heel cradling will help you correct supination and correct your gait
- The surface materials used are anti-microbial, meaning that they prevent the development of foot fungus and bacteria
Cons
- If you have bigger issues with the forefoot, you should be aware that these insoles have the least amount of cushioning on the ball of the foot.
3. Spenco Polysorb Cross Trainer Arch Support Shoe Insoles
These modern-looking Spenco insoles for high arch support are one of the most affordable out there. But do not underestimate their performance judging solely on the price, because they certainly have a lot to offer. Firstly, you can notice that the whole build is designed out of four pieces, meaning that the cushioning is targeted, and the stabilization aspect focuses on the critical spots.
The top is made of comfortable, trademarked Spancore material. Combined with the nylon and EVA, you get to enjoy both cushioning and stability in every spot. The focus, of course, is on the heel and the ball of the foot. The heel and the middle of the foot (arch) are supported by an additional layer of polysorb (also a trademarked material) which has the properties of EVA and spongy materials. Lastly, the ball of the foot is supported and cushioned as well, so you get to diminish the effects of high arches and feel the results after a few hours of wearing your shoes with these insoles inside.
Pros
- A modern approach to insoles with a total of 4 different pieces used in the build
- EVA, spancore and polysorb are used to achieve the stability and the cushioning necessary to absorb the shock and correct supination caused by high arches
- The nylon keeps the insoles’ integrity intact and firm for a long time
Cons
- Because these insoles are made of four parts each, it would be best to not move them from shoe to shoe often, because they might start falling apart sooner.
4. Sof Sole Low Arch Unisex FIT Support Insoles
This Sof Sole comes in various shapes and sizes that can accommodate all sorts of different arch conditions, but their high arch mode caught our attention. It has a modern design that follows the modern technologies used to create stability and cushioning zones. It has a shape that allows you to use it in multiple pairs of shoes, and the reinforced nylon plate will make sure that the integrity of the build is preserved.
The main cushioning material used in the making of these insoles for high arches is the popular EVA, aka ethyl vinyl acetate. Thanks to the position of the cushioning zones (primarily front and back of the foot) these insoles can support the feet of people who spend a larger portion of the day with their shoes on. Hikers can also benefit from a pair like this, because the insoles gravitate more towards a rigid structure that gives enough cushioning to accommodate high arches, with a higher focus on stability.
Pros
- A modern-looking insole with a practical approach to alleviating discomfort made by high arches
- The cushioning zones are made of EVA, with the focus on the back and front of the foot
- The nylon plate keeps the integrity of the insole intact for a long time
Cons
- Because the insoles lack a deep heel cup, they are not suitable to accommodate severe cases of supination
5. Stride Semi-Custom Insoles for Men and Women
If you are looking for a simple insole to help you with the high arches issues, this pair from Tread Labs might pique your interest. They look like a single-piece, but as a matter of fact, they have a second, less visible cushioning piece underneath the heel. The overall design is red, with a Tread Labs logo on top.
When it comes to pain relief, these insoles for high arches are recommended to people recovering from plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia as well. Their strong point is the stability heel, formed into a cup. This heel is designed to primarily focus on preventing supination, as well as to help with heel recovery. Additionally, when it comes to arch support, you get to choose between four different arch heights. That way, you can get a better fit not only when it comes to shoe size, but arch elevation as well. A somewhat unique thing regarding these insoles is that the top layer can be swapped for a new one, meaning that this pair of insoles can last for a long, long time.
Pros
- A simple design that can fit any shoe. You can even use the same pair of insoles in several couples of shoes, with four different arch heights to choose from
- Underneath the heel, there is an additional layer of cushioning and stability
- The top of the insole (contact surface) can be swapped once it gets worn out
Cons
- These insoles for high arches come with a heftier price, but it is worth if we take their performance into consideration
6. Powerstep Pinnacle Maxx High Arch Support
Some people need extra cushioning in their shoes. This Powerstep Pinnacle insole for high arches provide that, and they can be a good ally of yours if you need to endure those long days on your feet. The visual design of the insole is pretty minimalistic, with a bronze color finish and a visible cushion. Also, the contact surface is made of anti-microbial polyester, so you don’t have to worry about bacteria and fungi too much.
The extra cushioning comes from a dedicated EVA zone under the heel, ranging to the middle of the foot. Speaking of the heel, these insoles for high arches have an angled exterior heel that prevents supination and promotes a healthier gait. The ball of the foot and the forefoot are supported with EVA as well, but not with too much cushioning. A lot of soft EVA can harm your feet, after all. When it comes to the practical side of these insoles, you can freely use them with more than one pair of shoes – they will adapt to the footwear you put them in, no matter if they’re dress shoes or sports shoes.
Pros
- An affordable pair of insoles for high arches that can be used in more than one pair of shoes
- The insoles have special dedicated cushioning zones, ranging from the heel to the middle of the foot
- The angled exterior heel promotes a better, more stable gait, with focus on supination prevention
Cons
- If you are a heavier individual (or you work with heavy weights), the insoles might wear off sooner than average
7. Vionic Slimfit Orthotic Inserts
Here we have a pair of partial inserts designed to heal some medical conditions, as well as help you out with the unpleasant experiences that high arches cause. These inserts, however, have a unique approach to the matter at hand – they do not have any added cushioning. The insoles are rigid and their main focus is to correct your walking gait by promoting a healthier foot position. A 2-piece build is designed to fit casual and dress shoes nicely.
The heel and the back of the foot are angled in such a way that it doesn’t allow your foot to supinate a lot. When it comes to the fitting, the bottom is covered with an adhesive surface, so the insert stays in place the whole time. This insole is recommended to people who suffer from metatarsalgia, Morton’s neuroma, and all sorts of bunions and calluses.
Pros
- Great anatomical support in the form of a rigid insert that promotes a healthier gait
- The pad underneath is covered in an adhesive material that prevents slipping
- These orthotic inserts promote faster healing of feet riddled with various conditions like bunions, Metatarsalgia, calluses, and corns.
Cons
- Bear in mind that these inserts come with no additional cushioning. They are rigid for the purpose of primarily correcting the way you walk
Most Common Issues and Effects of High Arches
Believe it or not, pes cavus, aka high arches, is a condition that develops slowly, but once it settles, the chances are – it is there for good. High arches cause a lot of pain, discomfort, and other unpleasant sensations to your feet, and there are several ways you can fight these experiences. Sportspeople often go for the best tennis shoes for high arches to help them out with the high-impact movements this sport exerts on the feet. However, not everyone is into dynamic sports, and having the option to adapt your dress shoes (or casual footwear) to be able to accommodate your high-arch riddled feet is a blessing.
So, what kind of issues will you be fighting? Surely, if you have developed high arches in any degree, you know that the level of discomfort varies every time. Here’s a quick recap on the most common issues caused by high arches.
1. Inflammations and Acute Issues
Small-scale issues caused by the high arches condition are often the most annoying if we look at it through the short-term lens. These issues are causing a lot of discomforts, and even pain in more developed cases. In contrast to flat feet, high arches are spotted more easily and there is no chance that you can live and not notice the problems. As you might know, the main problem of high arches is the deviation of the longitudinal lateral arch of the foot, also known as the outer arch. With both longitudinal arches raised high, the pressure of walking, running, and even standing are put on the heel and the ball of the foot. These imbalances can lead to:
- Plantar Fasciitis – An inflammation of the plantar fascia, one of the key ligaments that are in charge of absorbing all the shock coming from activities.
- Hammer toes and claw toes – a deformity of the toe, or rather of the direction that toes point to. With these conditions the toe box of a shoe becomes uncomfortable, and the toes start hurting more.
- Metatarsalgia – This is the damage of the ball of the foot that starts developing due to all the unbalances when it comes to pressure spread. Metatarsalgia causes all sorts of sensations, ranging from pins and needles all the way to pulsating pain.
Acute issues and inflammations should be dealt with as soon as possible. The thing is – the pain and discomfort won’t go away on their own, so you have to actively fight them with exercises and better footwear.
2. Anatomical Issues of the Foot
Our feet are complex when it comes to their anatomy. There is a large number of small bones, tendons, and ligaments that must work in harmony to enable us to walk normally and effortlessly. However, when you suffer from high arches, this harmony starts tearing apart. Several issues may occur:
- Calluses – this type of skin thickening happens when a lot of pressure is put on the skin. In the case of high arches, the heel and the ball of the foot get all the pressure that a foot should handle as a whole. Calluses from high arches are bigger and harder than regular ones. This goes on to the point of making your shoes unfit. So, besides dealing with them the usual way, insoles for high arches can help you prevent them in the future.
- Extreme supination – Because the center of mass is shifted to the outer rim of the foot, the ankles will try to compensate for it by supinating. This happens subconsciously, and it can cause all sorts of biomechanical problems down the line.
3. Biomechanical Problems and Deviations
Neglecting high arches and the issues they bring can lead to more severe forms of anatomical issues. People who suffer from a severe form of this disease have their gait changed, and have increased risk of developing more serious deviations:
- Knee issues – because the ankles start supinating more and more, the knees follow up and compensate by rotating inward or outward (this varies from person to person). If this happens and goes unchecked, the rest of the leg will follow.
- Hip deviations – our walking system is quite complex, and our legs always try to keep the balance in check to help us walk safely. But, with high arches that lead to ankle and knee problems, hips stand as the last line of balance-keeping. Naturally, if all other issues are neglected, hip deviations can also lead to back pain, and all sorts of other, more complex issues.
Keep in mind that these biomechanical issues from high arches do not develop overnight, nor are they solely a consequence of just the high arch condition. That is good news because – you can prevent all of this or at least a good portion of it. Stay in touch with your physician, or a podiatrist, and actively work on these solvable issues.
Types of Insoles for High Arches
Based on the needs of people with high arches, we can see that there are two major groups of insoles out there. It is important to determine which type would fit the current condition of the foot in the most comfortable way.
1. Full Profile Insoles for High Arches
The full-profile insoles for high arches are designed for a wider range of use. They can go into any boot or shoe out there, and their strong suit is the cushioning. The term full profile means that they cover the whole surface of the sole – from the back of your heel to the tip of your toes. This also means that a full-profile insole for high arches needs to match the shoe size. Sometimes you get to choose the size and sometimes you need to crop the insole to match it.
Full-profile insoles are more common because they can help with more things, it’s as simple as that. On top of that, a full-profile insole for high arches will help you recover faster due to all the installed cushioning.
2. Inserts for High Arches
Inserts that do not cover the whole sole surface are rarer, and they usually target a specific anatomical problem. They have less cushioning than full-profile insoles. Some models do come with no cushioning at all. These insoles are used to fix supination or similar biomechanical problems that are caused by the irregular gait that people with high arches have. So, you can’t expect them to be super cozy, but they are super helpful.
Another great thing about these inserts is that they can fit into most shoes, and picking an insole size is easier. So, no matter the anatomy of the shoes you have, you shouldn’t experience any issues with the size or the fit.
Insoles for High Arches Buying Guide
So far we have covered the general info on insoles for high arches. The issues you might stumble upon are not serious at first, but if left unchecked problems with bones and muscles may develop as well. Now it is time to get into the finer details. Feel free to use our guide to make your own list of features and things you’d like to get before making the final decision.
1. Pick a Type
If you already consulted a physician or a podiatrist, you probably found out that you need a certain type of orthotic support. The more severe the high arches progressed, the stricter will the insole be. Essentially, if you are looking for a way to reduce the pain and the swelling caused by unbalanced pressure on your feet, you probably need a full-profile cushioned insole for high arches.
On the other hand, if your physician is insisting that you need to drastically change the way you walk, maybe getting more rigid inserts is the key. Rigid inserts come with less cushioning, but they do fix bigger issues. People who spend a large portion of the day on their feet should spend an extra moment on deciding upon the type of insole they get.
2. Comfy Cushioning
Getting around the painful experiences caused by high arches is what everyone should prioritize. Usually, feet with high arches will have painful spots on the ball of the foot, so it would be the safest bet to go with a pair of insoles that have EVA or other foam-like materials under the forefoot. The comfy cushioning is especially useful to people who developed hard calluses over time because the cushioned zones reduce the shock by absorbing it.
3. Heel Stabilization
One of the main unbalances caused by high arches is the tendency to overly supinate the foot while standing, walking, or running. Supination is not an acute problem, but down the line, it causes biomechanical issues of the leg. So, if supination is an issue on your list, make sure to get a pair of insoles for high arches that has cupped heel. The heel endures a lot of pressure transmission because it is the connection between the foot and the rest of your body.
If supination has extremely developed, it would maybe be a good idea to get a pair of insoles with rigid, solid parts under the heel. This way, you sacrifice a bit of comfort for a lot of anatomical gains. Either way, anyone can benefit from additional heel stabilization, with or without the cushioning.
4. Solid Parts
And, if you are aiming for gaining that extra stability from your insoles for high arches, you should aim for a model that has solid parts. These rigid pieces of synthetic materials (typically nylon) are designed to keep the integrity of the insoles for a prolonged period. However, more solid parts roughly translate to less cushioning, unless the manufacturer doubled down on it.
Insoles for high arches that have more than average solid parts inside are known to last longer. This feature is important to people who are spending a significant portion of their day wearing shoes.
5. Flexibility/Rigidity
The flexibility of an insole comes from the materials used, as well as from the shape of the insole itself. High arches bring stiffness along, and you can combat that with a more flexible insole. And, if you are an active person that plays sports a few times a week, or goes to the gym, flexible insoles for high arches are key to staying comfy.
The other side of the coin are the rigid insoles that consist of larger amounts of solid materials. As we mentioned above, solid parts are used for anatomical issues, but they lack the cushioning – you have to weigh both options and consider your lifestyle before making the final decision.
6. Shock Absorption
People with plantar fasciitis and metatarsalgia know what it’s like when there is not enough shock absorption underneath their feet. Active people and people who generally walk a lot know that, as soon as the one-hour mark passes, the painful sensations start creeping in.
Whether or not an insole will have a good shock-absorbing rating depends on two main factors:
- The materials – by incorporating soft materials like EVA, the insoles get to spread that pressure across the whole foot. Out of all foot conditions out there, high arches benefit from larger amounts of cushioning materials the most.
- The shape – the way the bottom of the insole is shaped will determine the rate of shock-absorption as well. If the insole fits tightly and snuggly into the shoe, thus maximizing the contact surface, more shock and pressure will be absorbed.
7. Anti-Microbial Materials
Feet sweating is not to be undermined. We talked about all the mechanical aspects of high arches, and how the insoles can help, but that doesn’t mean that people with this condition are immune to foot fungus. Anti-microbial materials are designed to dry faster and to promote better humidity circulation. Additionally, these materials are not suitable for the development of fungi, or at least not until the amount becomes too much.
No matter if you suffer from excessive feet sweating or not, getting a pair of insoles for high arches that have this feature is a good thing to consider.
FAQ About Insoles for High Arches
1. How do you know if you have high arches in your feet?
If you are not sure where the discomfort is coming from, an acute state, or from high arches, it would be best to do a self-test. All you need is some tap water and a blank surface you can stand on. Here’s how to test your feet for high arches.
- Take off your shoes and socks. Wait for five to ten minutes for the blood flow in your feet to normalize. It would be best to just rest for five minutes with your feet elevated.
- Pour some water on the floor and step on it with your feet. It’s important to get your soles completely wet.
- Step on the dry part of the floor and step off after you have touched the floor with both of your wet feet.
- Take a look at the wet print. If the print of the longitudinal lateral arch (the outer rim of the foot) is thin, you have high arches. In some cases, there is no rim on the print at all. That is considered an extreme case of high arches.
There are other medical methods you can undergo to check whether the arches of your feet have deviated. However, tests like these should be approved by your physician. The most popular tests are:
- X-ray scanning
- Electromyography (EMG)
- Nerve Conduction Velocity Test (NCV)
2. Do people with high arches need arch support?
The short answer is – of course they do! Arch support is not reserved for people with arch deviations only. People who run and jog will tell you that they use arch support, even if they have normal feet. Now, people with high arches need support, but not always for the same reasons.
Some people experience pain caused by the unbalances of the foot pressure and the shock coming from moving around. If this is the case, people opt for a pair of insoles for high arches that offers additional cushioning for the high-impact zones.
Others have problems with the anatomy of the foot, supination, and posture. These people benefit from cushioning, yes, but the main focus should be put on more rigid insoles that prevent supination.
3. Are orthotics good for high arches?
If we could single out a condition that needs orthotics the most, it would be high arches. The orthotics are not only optional but a must for some people to help them manage the pain. As you could see in our guide and other sections, high arches cause a lot of strain on your foot, or even legs, hips, and back.
We would once again like to emphasize that you should consult a physician or a podiatrist before taking any radical measures. Unchecked high arches can influence the development of other anatomical deviations. So, to put things shortly – yes, orthotics are good for high arches!
Wrap Up
As you can see, there are many paths and solutions you can consider when it comes to dealing with pes cavus. By learning how to get the best insoles for high arches for your feet, you get to choose how you deal with this issue. High arches can often be painful, but the situation is not hopeless. Do yourself a favor and adapt your shoes, making them comfortable once again. We are aware that this condition is hard to deal with, so why not start right away – you will feel the difference in the first couple of hours.
We hope that our guide comes in handy and that you find what you were looking for. There are plenty of choices out there, and all you need to do is go through our guide and learn how to choose for yourself. Give your feet the comfort they deserve. Stay comfy!
