Have you ever spent time thinking about the insoles of your shoes and what they do? For example, can you wear shoes without insoles or should you always keep them in your footwear?
I know that I am forever switching out the insoles of my shoes to help with my foot problems to get a better level of comfort. I’m never wearing shoes without insoles but I might choose a different one to replace the original because it gives me a better level of support for my feet.
If you are thinking about what to do about the insoles that you have in your shoes and boots here’s what you need to consider before removing them completely.
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Is It Ok to Wear Shoes Without Insoles?
Let’s start by discussing whether it is ok to wear shoes or boots without insoles. Now whilst you may want a definitive answer I’m afraid there isn’t one because it will very much depend on your footwear any foot conditions you may have and what is at the bottom of your insole.
If you have a pair of shoes where the insole is easily removable and the base of your shoe is ok to walk on then you may not have any problems.
However, some shoes are totally unwearable without the insole because the base of the shoe is uneven, covered in glue, and incredibly hard. Wearing them without insoles would be a recipe for foot injuries and discomfort so it wouldn’t make any sense.
To illustrate this here are two pictures of my Vionic Mina Shoes. I’ve removed the super comfortable insole so that you can see what the shoe looks like without one.
If I wear the shoes with the insole in them they are a super comfortable fit. Take the insole out and you can see the base of the shoe is a little uneven and there are signs of two staples that must be attaching the heel to the shoe.
There is no way I would ever want to wear these without an insole because those staples are going to hurt my heel.
Some shoes come with removable insoles because the manufacturers give you a choice about what you want inside your shoe.
Cheaper shoes however are less likely to give you the option plus the materials they are made from are less likely to give you the comfort you need without insoles.
So what should you consider if you are thinking about how to wear your shoes with or without insoles?
Removing Insoles From Shoes May Impact Your Comfort Levels
When a manufacturer creates an insole to fit in your shoe they aren’t doing it for no reason. The insole serves an important purpose and one of the biggest reasons they exist is because they provide your feet with extra cushioning and support.
When you have extra cushioning because of insoles you are going to find that your shoes are in most cases significantly more comfortable to wear.
This is why shoes like Hey Dudes that have great insoles make people feel like they are walking on clouds. Take those foam insoles out however and the comfort of the shoe is just not the same. The insole is why part of the reason why Hey Dudes are so popular so it wouldn’t make sense not to keep it in the shoe.
Insoles Help to Protect Your Feet
As I touched on earlier an insole helps to create a barrier between your foot and the shoe you are wearing.
Cheap shoes in particular are not always put together perfectly and the insoles inside them can hide some of the rough workmanship.
Remove the insoles from these types of shoes and you are going to find that the base of your shoe is going to feel uncomfortable under your feet and will probably cause foot pain.
Air-cushioned insoles in those shoes however will disguise these hidden areas of the shoe and make your feet feel comfortable because of the cushioning.
Why You May Need Arch Support
The next reason you might want to think about keeping your shoe insoles is that you need the arch support that some provide.
I know I buy Vionic shoes because they have great arch support and their supportive insoles not only help my flat feet but lessen my other foot problems. As I have plantar fasciitis and tendonitis in my feet I need good insoles to make it easier to walk without pain.
If I were to remove the specialized insoles that these shoes provide it would make a big difference not only to my comfort levels but to my existing foot disorders.
Taking Insoles Out of Shoes Can Stop Shock Absorption
Certain shoes and sneakers such as ones that you may wear for running, walking, or standing all day at work have insoles that provide shock absorption as you move around.
That shock absorption stops your body weight from bearing down on your joints at full force. This means that those insoles can protect you from injuries and pain.
Take the insoles out of those sneakers and shoes and this extra support and shock absorption is removed meaning that you are more likely to injure yourself or find it hard to wear your footwear for long periods of time.
Moisture Wicking Insoles Help Sweaty Feet
Shoe insoles don’t just help with comfort and cushioning. They can also be used to help stop sweaty feet and prevent foot odor.
If you have sweaty feet some insoles can help to wick away that moisture which in turn can help prevent certain foot problems.
Blisters and shoe bite for example are common problems that people experience when their feet are sweaty and slide around in their shoes. Sweaty feet also made your shoes an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and foot fungus.
Keeping your insoles in your shoes can help with healthy feet and can make them smell fresher.
Insoles Can Keep Your Feet Warm
Can you wear shoes without insoles? Well yes of course you can but if you do take certain insoles out of your shoes recognize they may no longer help with keeping your feet warm.
Certain boots and shoes have insoles that help to keep your feet warm in cold weather or cool when the weather is hot. These temperature-regulating insoles have been designed to keep your feet feeling comfortable when you are walking around outside.
It would make no sense to take out these insoles as in the winter your feet are going to freeze and in the summer get too hot.
Does Taking The Insoles Out Of Shoes Make Them Bigger?
Another reason why I wear insoles in some of my shoes is to make them fit better. Do you need bigger shoes for insoles?
Certainly, some orthotics are quite chunky so you may need to size up if you want your shoes to fit properly.
I know the right insole can mean the difference between my shoes fitting properly or them falling off my feet as I walk. I deviate from using either a full insole for cushioning and size issues or a half insole at the front of my shoes.
If it were to take out the existing insoles in some of my current shoes I can guarantee you that they won’t fit properly anymore. Even thin inserts can make a difference.
So if you are going to take out the insoles of your shoes make sure you have thought about the fit of your shoe first.
Whilst insoles don’t make the shoe physically bigger they do change the room that you have inside your shoes which matters when it comes to fit.
Taking Insoles Out Of Shoes And Inserting Orthotics To Help Foot Problems
Shoe insoles, inserts, and orthotics are often recommended by doctors and podiatrists because they help with foot problems such as Achilles tendonitis or heel spurs. They also help with flat feet and fallen arches.
If you take these insoles out of your shoes then you can expect your foot problems to get worse.
Wearing shoes without insoles such as orthotics that are designed for a medical reason doesn’t make sense because they are there to prevent pain and to improve your foot health.
Positive Reasons Why You Can Wear Shoes Without Insoles
Ok so I’ve talked about all the reasons why you might want to wear shoes with insoles but what about the reasons why it makes sense to take them out of your shoes or boots?
As I said earlier sometimes there is no major rule when it comes to insole wearing because it will depend on the footwear that you are wearing and how your feet are.
Here are some of the reasons why it makes sense to take out your shoe insole or change them to some other form of an insert.
Removing Your Insoles For a Better Fit
I know I am forever switching out my insoles from my shoes for a better fit. Whilst I may never remove them completely because of my foot issues there are plenty of people out there who are going to find their shoes more comfortable without the insoles provided.
If your shoes are a little too tight for example taking out your insoles may help them fit better and stop the discomfort.
Yes I know you should have tried on your shoes and made sure they fit properly before you leave the store but sometimes you don’t get it right so taking out the insole is a way to salvage the problem.
Shoes Without Inserts Can be Cheaper
Not everyone can afford the latest top-of-the-range expensive cushioned shoes or sneakers that come with the best insoles to massage your feet.
The fact is that many people buy shoes without good insoles because it saves them money. Yes, they may give them blisters or cause discomfort as they are being broken in but for some people the price of a good shoe is simply too high.
In this case, it still makes sense to buy a cheap insole to insert into the shoe to increase comfort if you can but not everyone will do this.
Taking Out Inserts Leaves Room For Orthotics
Can you wear shoes without insoles if you plan on switching them for something else? Well of course you can and plenty of people do this when they buy a new pair of shoes.
Orthotics and inserts are designed to help with foot problems such as flat feet and plantar fasciitis and most regular shoes and boots don’t have the right insoles to help with these problems.
So many people will buy the standard shoe, remove the insole and then add the orthotic instead to help with support and comfort. The insole, therefore, has never gone completely just been replaced with something better to suit your feet.
Walking Without Insoles May Be More Comfortable For Some People
What may work for one person may have the opposite impact on someone else. I know I personally need ultra-comfortable insoles for cushioning. If I don’t have those insoles in my shoes I can barely walk.
However, I know plenty of people who are quite happy to walk on a harder surface in their shoes and they find it much more comfortable.
So whilst I am moaning about pressure points and calluses they are walking in shoes that I would consider hard and inflexible and loving it.
If you are one of these people it, therefore, makes perfect sense to remove the existing insoles in your footwear and wear shoes without them.
How Barefoot Shoes Have Become the Next Big Thing
Did you know that some people like shoes without insoles because they provide a better sense of connection to the ground?
Barefoot shoes for example don’t have all the cushioning and support that some footwear has because they have been designed to help people feel the ground rather than be cushioned by it. This connection to the earth can help with some activities where you need to feel the ground beneath your feet.
There is also a school of thought that thinks that barefoot shoes can help stop the feet from getting lazy. They are designed to help you build strength and stability in your feet naturally rather than relying on insoles and inserts to do it for you.
So can you wear shoes without insoles? Well whilst to people like myself insoles are an essential part of my shoes for many people they are a non-essential element and are going to be removed.
As with any foot product, it makes sense to experiment and decide what works best for you. If your feet hurt without them then it clearly makes no sense to try and stop wearing insoles but if the opposite is true then try removing them and see how you get on.
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