What brand of heel cups/insoles?

[Windsor]

I've searched and read many a shoe thread so if I'm repeating something...sorry and point to the right thread please...but if not,

the insoles of my Post fencing shoes are getting ripped apart because they're too large for my feet and the back foot slides back and forth so i'm looking for some good inserts, and my front heel takes a lot of punishment and i'm looking for some heel cups. i have some but they're pretty flimsy and weak rubber/styrofoam so i don't know how much help they are.

so i'm looking for a good brand or specific model of insoles and heel cups to use, i guess i only need one for the front foot, but i have no idea if the ones they sell at department stores are good for fencing, anyone help here? thanks

[Inquartata]

Hmmm...I'll check the heel cups and get back to you on brand...insole-wise I use one of the cheap, thin, flat foam rubber ones ( probably Dr. Scholl's ) and one of the more expensive 3/4 length Dr. Scholl's sport inserts with arch support on top of that. With the heel cups on top of both.

I used to get wicked heel pain. Now I don't.

[Tireur]

I have always just used the cheap hard plastic one from any vendor. I had a bruised heel years ago that I could hardly walk on. I slipped one of those in my shoe and could fence all weekend and from then on with zero pain.

[sabreur]

I also use the hard plastic ones--since the purpose of a heel cup is to stabilize the fatty pad under the heel bone and keep it from spreading out, the hard plastic ones actually work better.

And they are way cheaper--last time, I bought a dozen from a sports medicine web site, and handed them out to anyone who wanted one at the club--cost about $1 a piece, I think.

MR

[Inquartata]

I've had the very devil of a time finding the hard plastic ones...just kept supergluing the ones I had back together every time they cracked until they became unsalvageable. Then all I could rummage up were soft rubber ones, which don't work nearly as well.

In brief---where do you get the poxy things?

[Tireur]

Just about any fencing equipment vendor carries them. I usually picked them up at circuit events, but, I've never had one be out of stock when including them in an order. They almost never wore out for me either, I would just lose them. I fenced everyday and competed every weekend and only wore one out........

[achilleus]

For me, the gel heel cups work the best. Lots of cushion, and sine they are gel, they don't slide around. I've never liked the hard plastic ones.

As for the insole, it depends on your foot. I used to really like the Spenco Cross Trainer insole when I was using fencing shoes, it's made of sorbathane and great for hard floors. But ever since I started using volleyball shoes, I don't need as much cushion from an insole. I've got this great set of insoles that I cooked in the oven, and they molded to my feet. Great arch support and fit, with a thin layer of cushion.

I think they were called Super Sole. I got them at a running store which carried a much wider variety of insoles than your standard sporting goods store.

[dunastor]

Achilles' heels, right?

[DangerMouse]

Some of the nicest (but most expensive) insoles are Superfeet. They have a plastic heel cup built into a full length insole that can be trimmed to 3/4 length. I have 4 pairs of them in casual shoes, hiking boots, cleats, and fencing shoes. They've really helped with my pronation, but at around $20/pair they ain't cheap.

[mifencer]

I used to wear 2 heel cups, the plastic on top of the rubber one. You can buy the plastic one from a vendor and the rubber one from a drug store. The plastic heel cup is good on itself, but after a while it wasn't enough. The rubber one by itself wasn't enough either, PLUS it rips apart my soxs.

Since I switched to the Asymetric shoes, I haven't had the need for a heel cup.

[yamashk]

I too am a fan of the Superfeet. They are a bit pricey but I'm fortunate enough to have the connections necessary to get them at a significant discount. I have a pair in all my shoes...from casuals to ski boots. I really like the arch support they provide but they also do a great job of keeping the heel in place.

[Windsor]

so pretty much out of luck for the hard heel cups locally?

[sabreur]

Originally Posted by Inquartata

I've had the very devil of a time finding the hard plastic ones...just kept supergluing the ones I had back together every time they cracked until they became unsalvageable. Then all I could rummage up were soft rubber ones, which don't work nearly as well.

In brief---where do you get the poxy things?

Try here: http://wolverinesports.com/track37.html

[Inquartata]

Thanks! Those look just the ticket.

I've only seen them once in recent memory at a vendor's table, and at a way inflated price. In catalogs they are seldom described well enough to tell if they're plastic or rubber.

And I cannot permit dunastor's execrable pun to pass unremarked. So gaaaah!

[dunastor]

Why thank you Inq....

[MyraTrue]

had massive problems with heel bruises for a year or so, wearing my post shoes. Its the way I fence, and I know that. Picked up a pair of $8 Dr. Scholl's gel heel inserts, and have never had a problem in the year since. For me, it was just the fact that I was bringing my heel down so hard and on a fairly unyielding surface.

[gojujay]

Originally Posted by dunastor

Achilles' heels, right?

OFF WITH HIS HEAD!

[klauver]

If anyone is having severe foot problems look in the yellow pages for a shoe store that fits shoes for podiatrists. They can form fit insoles that actually fit!