Best insoles for seniors — the questions families ask most

Compare features you can check: thickness (Springsoles are 3/32 of an inch), whether they work with the shoes and liners you already wear, how installation and trimming work, what the material is (1,4-polybutadiene), and whether they lie flat in your own shoes. When comparing products marketed as balance insoles or stability insoles, distinguish standing-test evidence from claims about walking or fall prevention. The Weber State test measured standing resistance to displacement only.

Many families buy them for elderly parents and grandparents because they work in the shoes the person already wears — no new shoes to break in, and the pair is thin enough (3/32 of an inch) to move between walking shoes, house shoes and work shoes. Installation takes a minute, and the fitting guidance on this page walks through it step by step.

Force plate testing at Weber State University found it took more than twice the force to displace a person standing on Springsoles compared with standing without them. That is a standing resistance-to-displacement measurement. It did not directly measure walking stability, gait, fall prevention, fall risk, pain, fatigue, strength improvement, or performance during movement. Balance and stability are the two things seniors tell us about most — those are personal observations.

The 3/32-inch layer fits many walking shoes, sneakers, work shoes and boots — confirm the fit in your own pair. Try it untrimmed first. If the factory liner is removable, try the Springsole underneath it. If the liner is lightly glued, remove it only if it releases cleanly with gentle, steady pressure; if it tears, stretches, deforms or resists removal, stop and leave it in place, and put the Springsole on top. Confirm it lies completely flat.

Trim only if needed for a flat fit, removing very small amounts from the toe or forefoot and rechecking the fit after each trim. Never trim the heel, and do not unnecessarily narrow the sides. Most people find a pair fits untrimmed.

If you wear a prescribed orthotic, ask the clinician who prescribed it before adding any layer or changing its placement. Do not alter or remove a prescribed device without their guidance. Only once your clinician approves, follow the normal installation guide.

Springsoles are not a medical device and have not been shown on this page to treat arthritis, pain, or knee or hip conditions. They are a thin 3/32-inch resilient layer used in your everyday shoes. Some customers report a comfort difference — those are personal observations, not measured medical outcomes. For arthritis, persistent pain, prescribed orthotics or any specific medical condition, consult a qualified clinician.

Many people wear them for long days on their feet. Springsoles are a thin 3/32-inch layer of resilient material designed to compress and return toward its shape with each step — that energy return is the intended material function, not a measured fatigue result. Some customers report feeling less worn out by the end of the day; those are personal observations, and the force-plate test did not measure energy return or fatigue.

Choose the range that covers your shoe size. US men's: 6/7, 8/9, 10/11. US women's: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12. EU: 38/40, 41/42, 43/45. UK: 5/6, 7/8, 9/10. Try it untrimmed first. For the current price, use the View current price link or the size selector in the cart section below.

Pick a size range in the cart section below and it drops straight into your springbak.net cart, ready to check out. Springbak® Springsoles are made in the USA.