7 Best Running Insoles of 2026 Take The Heat Off Your Heels

As runners, we love to debate the best running shoes , but we almost never discuss the best running insoles. And yet, over my more than 15 years writing about running, nearly every podiatrist I’ve interviewed has stressed the value of buying high-quality insoles to replace the flimsy foam inserts that come pre-loaded into our running shoes. “The insole that's in the shoe is just designed to be a little bit of cushion, but it doesn’t have any support in it,” says Milica McDowell, PT, MPT, DPT, associate vice president of education at U.S. Physical Therapy . When you consider that everybody’s feet are different and most running shoes are designed to be one-shape-fits-all, it’s kind of baffling that we don’t spend more time talking about how these unsung heroes can help us reduce pain , prevent injuries , and even run faster . “Three out of four people have some sort of a biomechanical imperfection in their feet,” Dr. McDowell says. “Maybe your big toe is a little shorter on your right foot than your left foot, which means it's harder to propel forward. Maybe your midfoot is a little bit more rigid than most, so it's harder for you to come in and out of pronation. Maybe you had an old injury that’s changed your running mechanics. And so, when you think about what an insole’s job is, it’s to improve your biomechanics.” Fortunately, while many of us have been out there stomping around in standard-issue inserts, blissfully ignorant to the potential benefits of performance insoles, the brands making them have been busy building a booming category filled with options to suit just about every kind of runner. No matter your arch height or foot shape, or whether you prefer road or trail running, here are the best insoles to help you maximize performance, reduce pain, and maybe even avoid an unnecessary injury. The Best Insoles for Running, According to GQ The Best Running Insoles Overall: Tread Labs Run Insoles When you’re pounding the pavement on the daily, the small things add up. To maintain their integrity over the long run, Tread Labs’ Run Insoles are built on a rigid polypropylene chassis-available in four arch heights-that’s made to last a million miles. (Literally. If they break or lose their shape before you become a mile-ionnaire, the brand will replace them.) Of course, your insoles aren’t all that’s susceptible to wear and tear. To protect your feet, joints, and tendons, the interchangeable (and trimmable) body of each insert is engineered with nitrogen-infused supercritical foam-the gold standard across today’s elite running shoes-with an added polyurethane pad under the heel to increase comfort and dampen impact. Material Supercritical foam, polypropylene arch support, polyurethane heel pad Size Range 4-14.5 The Best Running Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis: Aurorra All-Day Super Insoles The best running shoes for plantar fasciitis have a couple of things in common, and these insoles from Aurorra check all the boxes. First of all, whether you’re looking for shoes or...

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