How to Make Insoles for Flat Feet

As a person with flat feet, you may be a bit familiar with foot aches and pains, especially after long walks and runs. While insoles are one way to address this problem, only choose those that can provide the right arch support for your feet. The sad truth, however, is that off the counter insoles may not always be the best fit and could do a little about your foot pain. In this article, we will show you how to make insoles for flat feet, customized for your own foot.

Things You’ll Need

• A pair of scissors
• ¼ inch adhesive felt
• A piece 5mm yoga mat
• Mark pen

Steps for Making DIY Insoles for Flat Feet

• Trace your foot on the yoga mat using the marker pen.
• Cut the trace out using your scissors to make your insoles.
• Mark the position of the arches on the insoles you have made.
• Cut a semi-circle on the adhesive felt, with a diameter equivalent to that of your foot arch.
• Peel the adhesive felt back off and stick it to the marked arches on the insoles.
• If you have high arches, you may need to cut another smaller semi-circle of the adhesive felt and stick it on top of the first one, ensuring smooth edges.

When you are done, try your insoles out to check if they are comfortable. Make the adjustment where you feel the need to do so.

Check this too: Best insoles for flat feet

Things to consider when choosing insoles for flat feet

Type of material

There are four main types of materials used for making Insoles. There are gel, foam, leather, and cork. All of these have their own advantages, and the one you settle for depends on preferences. With that said, however, gel works well for shock absorption; foam for support, cushioning and pressure relief; leather for cushion and feel when worn with thin socks; and cork for slight cushion and support.

Rigid and semi-rigid footbed

The decision between a rigid or semi-rigid footbed depends on your condition or pain you are experiencing. For foot arch pain, arch support with good cushioning does the trick. Foam insoles with semi-rigid or rigid footbed work best in such a situation. If it’s your first time go for a semi-rigid, but for more aggressive arch support, go for rigid.

Insole sizing

Make sure your insole fits well in your shoe. Trim off any extra length from the insole end when placing it into the footwear.

Foot arch type

For the right arch support for flat feet, it helps to first establish your foot arch type. Do you have low, neutral or high arches?  Sometimes people fail to differentiate the conditions, leading to even more foot aches.

For runners, since they need good heel and forefoot padding, insoles for flat feet running shoes should help provide foot support to help a runner with their gait movement.

Check this too: Best Golf Shoes for Flat Feet

Insoles are essential components of your shoes, especially if you have flat feet. To help get rid of the pain one experiences after standing, running or walking for long, you need to choose the right fitting insole for your foot and shoe. It is also advisable to seek the professional advice of a podiatrist.

If you have bunions, you can check these insoles out as making insoles for bunions is harder.