16 FAQs About Custom Insoles for a Stress-Free Decision

"It sounds great to get custom foot relief from home, but how do I know if I'll get my money's worth?"

Justin* was working on his feet all day in construction in rigid work boots. But he started to get severe foot pain. His doctor found heel spurs—bony growths—that made standing for very long painful. 

He was starting to have trouble sleeping from the pain. His doctor gave him foot injections to reduce the swelling, but he still missed work. 

Finally, an orthotist created custom insoles for him. These had an open heel design, offering  comfortable padding to the heel spurs, which helped offload stress from his heels. Custom arches also spread his weight better across his feet. 

Justin then heard that ordering custom insoles online was even more convenient than going to a clinic—and offered much lower prices. 

But he still wondered, “How can I know if buying from an online company is going to lower my foot pain?” Also, “Will this company have good customer service?” And, “Will this be worth my money? Can I get my money back if I don’t like the results?”

Good questions! Just like Justin, you deserve answers before you make a decision. That’s why we’ve put together 16 frequently asked questions to help you make an informed, stress-free decision. Scroll down to whatever question interests you the most or just start in below.

* Name and details changed for privacy. 

1. What Are Custom Foot Orthotics?

Some online sources you read will talk about “custom foot orthotics” or “custom shoe inserts.” They might also mention “custom arch supports.” These are different names for “custom insoles.” 

These medical devices rest under the soles of your feet inside your shoes. If they’re made by professionals, they are designed to therapeutically move your feet into healthier positions that prevent pain and injury.

True custom orthotics are: 

• Manufactured for the specific shape of your feet. 
• Customized as needed for your specific foot condition.
• Designed using your foot impressions.

Plus, a good designer also includes your weight, shoe size, shoe style, and activities you expect to do (such as sports or work) while customizing your insoles.

2. Do You Have a Money-Back Guarantee?

Yes! We don’t like shopping online without protection from risk. So we offer our 3Rs Guarantee. We’ll Remake, Repair, or Refund your custom insoles within 90 days. That’s if you have a problem with the fit or function of them. You can just contact us and tell us what you need, and we’ll give you hassle-free help.

3. Can I Pay With My HSA or FSA?

Yes, almost always. Orthotic insoles are recognized medical devices. Rarely, some plans require that you submit a letter of medical necessity when you get reimbursed for medical devices.

You can verify this by checking your insurance plan, or ask your plan administrator about this. But customers have purchased custom insoles from us using only their HSA card.

4. Who Needs Custom Insoles?

Are custom insoles only useful for athletes or people with serious foot problems? Many different kinds of people can use them to lower their foot pain and realign their foot bones and muscles. This includes people who: 

• Feel foot pain from standing all day or walking a lot. 
• Want to jog or hike with less foot pain.
• Play sports casually or seriously. 
• Have common foot conditions like flat feet or plantar fasciitis. 
• Have age-related aches and pains.

Check our list of foot conditions we help. You can also use our custom insoles for general foot pain at work or at home or for athletic activity.

5. What If I Don’t Have a Foot Condition Diagnosis?

Our Comfort model helps to reduce foot discomfort, fatigue, and problems with standing and/or walking. Our founder designed it with the best features he used in his practice with patients, so it can help you if you have general foot pain but don’t know a specific condition. 

Plus, if you don’t have a specific diagnosis but have pain in certain areas, you can tell us the area of the foot that hurts. We’ll customize your insoles with therapeutic structures to relieve stress there. See different areas of the foot in this post.

6. Do Custom Insoles Pair Well With Sports?

Absolutely. A majority of professional athletes use orthotic insoles. Sport-focused comfort insoles can give you: 

• Better shock absorption, which leaves you with more energy after a run or other activity.
• Prevention against certain injuries, like rolled ankles.
• Better foot alignment by moving the bones and muscles into healthier positions.
• Improved performance by reducing fatigue and stress, helping you focus more on the game or goal.

Some issues, like repeatedly rolling an ankle, can be caused by instability in, for example, the tilt of the foot on each step. Custom arch supports are perfect for realigning feet and helping correct this and other issues.

7. Can I Wear My Custom Insoles in Any Shoe?

Custom insoles can fit in sneakers, casual shoes, cleats, dress shoes, and some other types. During checkout, you’ll pick your style of shoe, helping us create the right shape of insoles for your needs.

In general, custom insoles work best in shoes with these features: 

• Not too tight on your feet to begin with. 
• Removable insoles (although we can create custom insoles that fit in dress shoes that don’t have removable insoles).
• Closures, such as laces, buckle(s), or Velcro—not a slip-on shoe.

Custom insoles help your feet by moving them into better positions and relieving stress in problem areas. So, your shoes need to comfortably hold your feet in position on your insoles.

8. How Long Do Custom Insoles Last?

There are two parts to custom insoles with different time frames: 

• Solid Base: Designed to last 2–3 years (may need replacement sooner if you work on your feet all day or jog often)
• Padding: Soft, comfortable padding can wear down in about 1 year (and be refurbished at a low cost)

Importantly, we recommend adults get new foot impressions at least every five years, because feet change shape over time. That means a new insole design. For children, we recommend new foot impressions whenever their shoe size goes up by a whole number (say, from size 4 to 5). 

9. Should I Replace My Current Custom Insoles?

If you already have custom insoles or store-bought insoles, are they wearing out? Well, are your feet hurting or having problems? If not, your insoles are probably fine. 

But here’s a list of yes/no questions used for checking over your insoles: 

1. Is your foot pain gradually increasing? 
2. Did your foot condition seem better for awhile but now is getting worse again? 
3. Is the padding getting thin—not offering much cushioning—in certain areas, such as the heel, toes, or balls of the feet? 
4. Is the solid base (under the padding) cracking or wearing down in certain areas, such as the heel?
5. Have you worn your insoles for 1 year or longer? 

If you said “yes” to one or more of these questions, you might need new insoles. At least get your feet rechecked. Our feet change gradually as we age and as our activities change.

10. Aren’t Store-Bought Insoles Cheaper Than Custom?

The first price tag is lower, but the long-term cost of store-bought insoles can be much higher! Why? 

• Manufacturers recommend replacing them 2–4 times per year.
• At an average of $45 per pair, 3 pairs per year is $135. 
• That adds up to $270 for two years and $675 over five years.

It’s a lot of hassle to return to the store several times per year as insoles wear out. Plus, they’re not customized for your feet and so don’t actually realign your feet or help with specific conditions.

11. What If My Custom Insoles Are Uncomfortable After a Break-in Period?

As your feet adjust to new custom insoles, they can feel uncomfortable at first. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for a gradual break-in process when you first get them. 

Your feet should feel more comfortable after this break-in period. If not, here are a few steps to try: 

1. Make sure you don’t have an issue with your shoes (see FAQ #7 above about how to choose the right shoes).
2. Start a new break-in period, wearing them only a few hours per day and gradually increasing the time.
3. Check if specific pressure points in the insoles are hurting just one area of the foot.
4. Contact your manufacturer to discuss the issue and get help.

If point 3 is an issue, ask your manufacturer to remake your insoles to correct the problem areas. Stop using those insoles. Also, if points 1 and 2 don’t help, you could contact your manufacturer to discuss options. Never wear insoles that are causing severe pain.

12. Can I Clean My Custom Foot Orthotics?

Cleaning your custom insoles is an option. You don’t have to do it—just like you often will never clean your standard shoe insoles. But you might want to if they’re muddy or covered in dirt or other debris. Here are the steps:

1. Take the custom insoles out of your shoes.
2. Clean particles off with warm water and soap.
3. Make sure the soap is completely rinsed off.
4. Let the custom insoles air dry.

Don’t use custom insoles if they are wet. It can cause friction, skin irritation, and/or injuries.

13. What If I’m Getting Physical Therapy or Other Alternatives to Custom Insoles?

Many patients combine custom insoles with other types of healthcare. They’re excellent tools for your foot health tool box. For example: 

• Physical Therapy: After your PT exercises and stretches, custom insoles keep working on your feet between appointments. Many PTs recommend this to their patients!

• Foot Surgery: Surgery can temporarily remove a problem, like a heel spur, but custom insoles help improve poor foot mechanics that may have caused the foot condition in the first place.

• Pain Medication or Injections: Drugs relieve pain and tension, but custom insoles can reduce the foot movements that lead to pain.

After using custom insoles, some foot-pain patients have been able to delay or cancel surgery or stop taking pain medication. It’s all about trying different options to see what works for you. 

14. What Do I Get With an Online Custom Insoles Order?

With Sole Dynamix, you get the fastest home delivery of online custom insoles. They’re low-cost and clinical-quality, created exclusively for your feet using your foot impressions and 3D design software. Your order includes:

• 3D printed custom insole base.
• Clinical grade padding.
• Free shipping to your home.
• Fast, responsive custom service.
• 90-day, no-hassle, money-back guarantee.
• Therapeutic custom design made by orthotists.
• Customization for dress shoes, cleats, or casual shoes.
• Easy instructions to trim the padding to fit any shoe.
• No clinical visits needed.

These orthotic inserts are made in the USA at a veteran-founded company. We use the best 3D printed materials blend and durable, comfortable padding. 

15. How Do At-Home Impressions Work?

We have two easy, at-home ways to get your foot impressions, which let us design contoured insoles that work with your foot shape. Choose phone or foam impressions:

• Scanning App: If you have an iPhone X or later, you can scan your own feet with our free app, or a friend or family member can scan them for you. We believe in “No Stress Scans.” You can easily scan your feet again. It only takes a few seconds.

• Impression Kit: You get a free box in the mail, press your feet into the foam, and send it back to us for free. Simple instructions. Takes a few minutes.

These give us accurate maps of your feet, which we use to make the 3D design for your insoles in design software. This is reviewed by experienced orthotics professionals and sent to a top-of-the-line 3D printer.

16. What Results Can I Expect?

Everyone’s experience is different, so it’s impossible to predict your exact results. But in general, we design custom insoles to relieve pain. That’s because they: 

• Help reduce painful foot movements and positions. 
• Realign bones and muscles to work better together. 
• Take stress away from sensitive areas of your feet.

Plus, we customize your insoles for any specific conditions or problems areas, such as heel pain, plantar fasciitis, flat feet, and so on. Experienced orthotists add modifications to address each specific problem with clinical expertise. 

A Small Change Can Improve the Quality of Your Life

Have you been living with foot pain for too long? Imagine what it would be like to be able to stand for longer periods of time without pain, enjoy exercise and hobbies again, stop worrying about a foot condition coming back, sleep easier, avoid foot surgery, and more. 

With Sole Dynamix, you’ll get expert orthotic design to give you the best custom insoles you can get online and the best chance to help your feet. 

Combined with our fast customer service and a 90-day money-back guarantee, there’s very little risk to you. It’s time to take action to relieve your foot pain. Find out what’s possible for you.

Take Your Risk-Free Foot Assessment