Man, I love summer.
I’m thinking about lacing up my hiking boots right now and jetting off into the mountains. But first, I wanted to cover my experiences with the Superfeet GREEN insole.
I was struggling with foot fatigue in my hiking boots after doing a few longer hikes, and I wanted to find the best possible insole, because if I have that problem, I know you do, too.
Superfeet sent me some of their best-selling insoles, and I started with the big kahuna: GREEN.
After miles of hiking with it, here are my thoughts.
Superfeet GREEN Overview
The Superfeet GREEN insole is the brand’s flagship product. They’ve been around since 1977, and this is one of the original designs they found to help folks with Plantar Fasciitis and foot pain.
Superfeet’s insoles are a bit different from other orthotics and brands: it’s a two-part system.
GREEN features a stabilizer cap, and glued on top is a high density foam footbed. It’s not gel, and it’s not entirely foam. I prefer these kinds of insoles because they’re a lot more firm.
And that solid base also helps keep your heel secure so your ankle doesn’t roll when you’re trudging up a mountain.
Things to Consider Before Buying
I’ll discuss this more at length a little later, but the boots/shoes you plan on wearing with these should have a removable footbed.
The Superfeet GREEN insole has quite a high profile, so it won’t fit on top of the standard insole your boots were shipped with (unless you ordered a full size too large, but even then, it’s not a great idea).
Also, GREEN has a decent amount of foam in the footbed and through the toe. I love this for my bulkier hiking boots, but with dress shoes and athletic shoes, it’s a different story. If you wear a lot of “low-profile” footwear (like dress shoes), you’ll want an insole with either a half-footbed, or a thin piece of high density foam that leaves room for your toes.
The Superfeet GREEN insole is the brand’s flagship and original product. With its extra high arch support, it’s an excellent all-rounder insole and worth considering if you have foot pain or Plantar Fasciitis, especially if you have flat feet.
My Hands-On Review
What’s In the Box?
Superfeet offers a huge range of sizes, from kids all the way up to a men’s 17. That’s not quite Shaq size, but it’s getting close.
I’m not Shaq (yet) so I ordered their size E for men’s 9.5-11 shoes.
Because the size range is variable, it may take some trimming to get your insoles to fit perfectly into your boots. So if you’re a size 9.5, you’ll likely need to trim the excess off because the insoles fit into a size 11 shoe.
This is an easy task and can be done with a pair of scissors. I didn’t have to, but if you do, always err on the side of caution. It’s better to “sneak up” on the right size and trim off a little at a time.
Once you cut too much, you’re not getting that length back.
As promised, the box comes with two insoles made of two parts: a stabilizer cap and foam footbed.
The GREEN has a high arch and the foam footbed is 3mm thick, which may not seem like a lot, but if you don’t have much room in your boots, that difference could cause blisters (that’s why I don’t recommend these with dress shoes).
Comfort
I popped these in my new Vasque Clarion ‘88 hiking boots and hit several trails in them. Like you, my feet start to get tired after putting in a few miles.
I do a lot of walking: to work, to the gym, etc. When I go on a long hike, I feel like I’m setting myself up for a week’s worth of sore feet because I never get the chance to rest my barkin’ puppies. So a quick recovery is my biggest concern when getting insoles.
The Superfeet GREEN is comfortable right away, and a huge improvement over the standard sock liner that comes in my hiking boots.
My first hike was a five miler, and where I’d normally start feeling a bit of foot fatigue around mile three or four, my feet never got that dull ache.
The following weekend, I hit a seven mile hike. My feet did start getting a little tired toward the end, but after a good night’s sleep, my feet were back to 100%.
From a comfort perspective, I found the Superfeet GREEN to add a few more miles of smooth sailing, but the biggest difference was in how quickly my feet recovered from the hike.
Pain Relief
I don’t struggle with Plantar Fasciitis, so I can’t really speak to how effective these are for that. As I mentioned above, I found the Superfeet GREEN to help a ton with comfort and recovery.
Superfeet offers some insoles specifically for pain relief and Plantar Fasciitis, and after reading through reviews to get more insight, I think a pain-relief specific insole is a better choice if you’re suffering from more than just fatigue.
Depending on the severity of your foot pain, I would try something like the Superfeet Everyday Pain Relief insole.
GREEN is more of a solid all-round insole. It works for flat-footed folks (over-pronated), and high arched folks (supinated) alike.
Durability
Durability is my biggest concern with Superfeet. They do guarantee their insoles for 500 miles or a year, whichever comes first.
This really applies to the foam footbed, as the polymer stabilizer cap will retain its shape as long as you need it (and probably for another 10,000 years after that).
Other brands like Tread Labs ship with a separate footbed and polymer support, which means that when the footbed wears down over time, you can just buy that component for a lower cost than replacing the entire insole (a ~$15 replacement rather than $50).
That said, the Superfeet GREEN is a durable insole. Most insoles like Dr. Scholl’s and other big brands last about six to eight months, which is pretty dismal.
Reading through reviews, I noticed that many people had their insoles for much longer than a year, though the 12 month guideline seems to be spot on for people who work on their feet all day.
The Superfeet GREEN insole is the brand’s flagship and original product. With its extra high arch support, it’s an excellent all-rounder insole and worth considering if you have foot pain or Plantar Fasciitis, especially if you have flat feet.
What Do Other Reviewers Say?
At the time of writing, the Superfeet GREEN has a 4.5 star average with over 450 reviews on the brand’s site.
Many people mentioned relief for their joints and like me, quick recovery after a long day on their feet.
Some reviewers noted that the green dye tends to stain your white socks. I’ve tried a few insole brands and that’s true across the board, but worth noting if you’re OCD about your socks.
My Thoughts Overall
What I Like
The deep, wide heel cup and high arches offer a ton of support, which is excellent for hiking.
The polymer stabilizer cap is quite firm, which makes this a great fit for people looking for pain relief and comfort.
A 3mm high density foam footbed adds extra cushion for the ball of your foot.
Free shipping and a 500-mile or one year guarantee make shopping with Superfeet easy.
What I Don’t Like
The foam footbed will likely wear down in under two years. When that happens, you’ll need to buy a new insole, even though the polymer stabilizer cap is still fully functional.
Who is Superfeet GREEN for?
As an all-rounder, the Superfeet GREEN insole is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for an insert that balances comfort, pain relief, and stability. If you’re on your feet all day and want some relief, GREEN is the way to go.
The Verdict
The Superfeet GREEN has helped me a ton on my hikes.
I love the deep and wide heel cup, as it gives my ankles a lot of support (crucial on the scraggy declines coming down the mountain).
I have average arches, and the extra high arch support here takes a lot of pressure off my feet. I’ve noticed a much quicker recovery time and more comfort in general when I’m hiking.
The only negatives I can think of for the GREEN are that they don’t fit very well into dress shoes, and that you can’t independently replace the footbed. After a year or so, you’ll likely need to swap out for an entirely new insole.
Otherwise, the Superfeet GREEN is a terrific all-rounder insole. If you’re on your feet all day and are tired of tired feet, GREEN will get you where you want to be.
The Superfeet GREEN insole is the brand’s flagship and original product. With its extra high arch support, it’s an excellent all-rounder insole and worth considering if you have foot pain or Plantar Fasciitis, especially if you have flat feet.
FAQs
Does Superfeet really work?
Yes, Superfeet insoles work very well for pain relief and added comfort. They can also help a lot by relieving knee and back pain, depending on if you have pronation or supination.
Is Superfeet GREEN good for flat feet?
Yes, because of the high arch support, Superfeet GREEN helps folks with flat feet a lot in relieving pain and adding comfort to their day. That said, Superfeet ORANGE has a slightly lower arch, which may be a better fit for people with completely flat feet.
Do you put Superfeet on top of insoles?
No, Superfeet insoles should be used in place of the removable sock liner in your shoes and boots. If your shoes don’t have a removable sock liner, or insole, you’ll need to find an alternative to use Superfeet.