Best midsole inserts for high arches

Running Shoes/Running Gear

15 years ago 11/09/2008 12:30pm EST

I have extremely high arches and rigid feet; my footstrike is neutral-supinator; and I run in neutral performance-trainer-type shoes.

I've noticed that most of the midsoles in the shoes I run in are pretty flat. Is there a particular brand of midsole insert anyone can recommend for high arches? I don't want any extra cushioning -- the next worst thing for me besides motion control devices is cushioning that is too spongy or pillowy -- but just a little something more in the arch area that is lacking in most shoes.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

15 years ago 11/09/2008 1:54pm EST

re: higharches

15 years ago 11/09/2008 3:00pm EST

re: higharches

If you have high arches then you probably are the owner of rigid feet. Meaning, you have very little pronation. So, I would say, you don't need arch supports. There may be some podiatrists on the board that would correct me but that is my understanding of it. High arches are problematic because your body doesn't do a great job at dispersing shock. Mizuno Creations seem to the best shoe for rigid feet.

15 years ago 11/09/2008 3:06pm EST

re: higharches

I've had high aches all my life, and never wear shoes with arches as that's a guaranteed way to have problems with your feet.

I get only shoes with flat insoles and no arch supports.

The first thing I check is to see if the insoles are flat, and if any arch supports are removable.

Running with something poking into the bottom of your feet is a sure cause of injury, a podiatrist's dream and a marketing scheme.

15 years ago 11/09/2008 3:41pm EST

re: J.R.

J.R. wrote:
Running with something poking into the bottom of your feet is a sure cause of injury, a podiatrist's dream and a marketing scheme.

I have very low arches and run with a soft orthotic. Without the orthotic, my arches will hurt after 6-7 mi. With the orthotic, I never have any pain in my feet.

Podiatrists don't make a living off of orthotics. It isn't worth much more than an office visit to them as the orthotics (custom made ones) are made off site at a lab. If podiatrists are prescribing orthotics for those who don't need them (like people with high arches) it is because they just don't understand runners. But there really are very, very few doctors, chiros, PTs and massage therapists that really understand runners.

15 years ago 11/09/2008 3:55pm EST

re: J.R.

Yeah, I agree with you, J.R., but a slight rise in the arch area seems to feel better to me. It's the dramatically worse feel of the Asics Speedstar 3 compared to its wonderful predecessor that has made me wonder if a little bit of a rise in the arch area isn't a good thing. Maybe it's something else about the Speedstar 3 that makes it such an inferior shoe for me than its predecessor.

(I wonder if there are many complaints about the Speedstar 3. I hate the mushy and unresponsive effect of the forefoot, the upper, and the too-hard heel cup. I wish they return to the upper of the 2, soften the heel cup, and use Solyte instead of Speva.)

15 years ago 11/09/2008 6:20pm EST

re: higharches

I thought the new Speedstart were Solyte?

15 years ago 11/09/2008 6:32pm EST

re: Timmayy

Nope, they're still Speva -- and the added blown rubber outsole give the shoe a mushy feel. It also just feels to me generally less flexible than its predecessor.

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Best midsole inserts for high arches

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