How Often Should I Replace My Insoles?
A good set of insoles can make a world of difference to your foot health and the comfort of your shoes – the right pair can eradicate foot and lower body pain, provide protection against injury and even enhance your sports performance. However, a once-superb insole that is now old and worn out is no longer going to do you any good. While it seems obvious that you need to throw away your insoles when they start to disintegrate before your eyes, this may in fact already be too late. So, how do you know when to replace your insoles?
Determining Factors
With normal wear and tear, a pair of high-quality, store-bought insoles should last between six and nine months. With heavy use, they should last three to six months before they need to be replaced. However, there are a number of factors that can lengthen or shorten this amount of time. These include:
Insole Quality
It's no surprise that a good-quality, well-made insole will last longer than a cheap one. If you want your insoles to be effective and last for a good amount of time, you need to view them as an investment and be willing to spend a bit more for a better pair. This WILL pay off in the long run.
Style and Material
Insoles manufactured from a combination of foam and plastic typically hold their shape better than pure foam insoles, and orthotics made from plastic or carbon fibre weather better than gel insoles. In addition, insole with a foam, gel or fabric upper tend to last longer than those with a wool, cotton or terry fabric top layer.
Your Body Weight
Unfortunately, the heavier you are, the sooner your insoles are likely to wear out. Again, this can be helped by choosing high-quality insoles, and choosing plastic insoles over gel and foam. Orthotic insoles tend to be more resilient than your everyday comfort insole, so opt for an orthotic that is designed for your specific condition or ailments.
Nature of Use
Obviously, if you use your insoles all day, every day, they will wear out more quickly than if you were to only use them a couple of times a week. In addition, certain activities are harder on insoles than others. If you participate in high-impact sports, such as running, tennis or football, you are likely to find that your insoles don't last as long as insoles for everyday, casual wear.
How to Tell When It's Time
Asking how long an insole will last is kind of like asking how long is a piece of string – there's no simple, standard answer. The easiest way to tell when it's time to part with your insoles is to assess the way that they look and feel. If they don't feel as supportive as they used to, they aren't holding their shape anymore, or they're showing signs of wear, such as cracks and tears, you probably shouldn't be using them anymore. If you're using insoles to correct a specific condition or foot deformity and the problem or pain returns, it's definitely time to toss your insoles in the trash!
Out with the Old...
If you're looking for a new pair of durable, hard-wearing insoles – whether for everyday comfort, support during sports, or to remedy a pesky foot problem – check out our broad range of high-quality insoles here!
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