Can You Put Two Insoles in Shoes? (Several Facts You Should Know)

Different types of insoles prevent fatigue in the feet and provide all-day comfort. Due to that reason, people are usually concerned about using two insoles in shoes.

So, can you put two insoles in shoes? Yes, you can put two insoles in your shoes if you’re having some foot problems like Morton’s Neuroma or ball of foot pain, and you need some extra cushioning and padding underneath your feet for long hours standing. Make sure that the size of the custom orthotic insole does not slip and perfectly overlaps on the footbed of your shoe. You might also need two insoles if there is an extra room in a toe box or a big gap between your foot instep and the shoes upper. If there’s no extra space in your shoes, buy a shoe size bigger, having a deep and wide toe box, and then put two insoles.

Before wearing shoes with two insoles, make sure that they’re not tight enough. You may have to buy a bigger size of shoes for using two insoles.

Can I Use Superfeet Insole with Factory Insole?

Yes, you can use Superfeet orthotic insole without removing the factory insole, provided that the built-in insole should not be orthotic. Superfeet arch support insoles provide absolute comfort for high arches, assure biomechanical alignment for your feet and offer shock absorbency for your foot joints. So, if the existing insole is flat, you can place your Superfeet orthotics on top of them.

Why People Use Two Insoles in Shoes?

Sometimes people would need a combination of both arch support and padding underneath their feet, due to which they have to use two insoles in shoes. For instance, Dr Scholl insoles are too soft and lack arch support. On the other hand, Superfeet insoles provide excellent arch support, but they are a bit stiffer. In that way, the stacking of Superfeet and Dr Scholl insoles provide a great blend of arch support and padding underneath your feet.

This is what a real user reviews on amazon about using two insoles in shoes.

These insoles also help to prevent overpronation if you put them in the dress shoes.

Furthermore, when you walk a long distance, it causes foot fatigue, and the pressure from your feet travels up your leg to cause pain in the back, hip, and knee. This may be caused by various factors, including wrong shoes or an improper walking technique.

Shoes with worn heels or soles that are too slick on the bottom will cause more stress and increase this pain.  In these cases, you would need a custom supportive insole that needs to be placed on the existing insole to relieve some of the weight off of certain parts of your foot while still protecting the other side of the shoe against wear and tear.

It might also be a good idea for people with foot pain to insert an extra orthotic insole in their shoes. Also, pregnant women with arthritis and where increased support is necessary for extra comfort would need additional foam insoles inside their footwear.

One more reason for using two quality insoles in the shoes is if the existing insole is not removable, as it mostly happens in dress shoes and some casual sneakers like Vans. In dress, shoe glue is stitched, and in sneakers like Vans, the insole is glued. Those are kind of average insole made of soft fabric material. So, if people need more support and can’t remove the original insole, they would need a cushioned insole to place over the factory insoles of the shoes.

Factors to Consider for Stacking Up Two Insoles in the Shoes

When you use two insoles, there are a few things that need to be in place. First, you should consider that your custom orthotic insole needs to be correctly streamlined and overlapped over the original sole inside the shoes. This will create a level plane so that your feet will be evenly supported. If they are not on even footing, you may experience joint discomfort as well as increased pressure on certain parts of your body.

The second thing to consider is whether or not they are made for your particular shoe. Most insoles are made to fit specifically with a specific brand and variety of shoes. So, using two from different sources can lead to problems down the road when they wear out or break down. For instance, if you buy an extra insole that were specifically made for the dress shoes, and you would like to insert them in your sneakers or running shoes, it would amplify your foot problems.

You should first determine what kind of foot you have. There are insoles made to accommodate the heel, midfoot, and forefoot. Each one comes with different styles and sizes of the foot that they can fit into, so it is best to research your type of foot to find the right insole for you.

If none of the method works for you, and you’ve tried combinations of different insoles to relieve your foot pain such as plantar fasciitis, the best way to go about this is to take off your old ones and use the money saved towards buying a new pair with better support for your foot.

Do I Need Bigger Shoes for Two Insoles?

Yes, you need shoes with bigger widths if you’ve to use two insoles for extra comfort and padding underneath your foot. The length of the shoe should not be bigger. For instance, if you wear US7 in standard width, you might have to go for US7 in a wide or extra wide width, depending on the thickness of the insole.

Make sure that while putting one insole on the top of the existing insole, there is plenty of room inside your footwear. It doesn’t matter whether there is the heel, flat, boot, sneaker or a dress shoe; the availability of space in the toe box would decide the feasibility of using two insoles in the shoes.

However, certain brands of footwear don’t make shoes in wide widths. In such cases, you have to go for a bigger shoe size. But in such cases, the length of your shoe will be longer, and your heel might slip. In such cases, the insole you want to insert should have a deep heel cup to provide necessary support and prevent heel slippage. The flat leather padded insole wouldn’t work in that case.

You can also use heel grips or ask your cobbler to stitch heel grip if you wish to use a flat sole without a deep heel cup to prevent heel slipping.

Is It Ok To Wear Two Different Insoles in Running Shoes?

Yes, it’s absolutely fine to use two insoles in running shoes, provided that you still feel comfortable and putting two insoles doesn’t distort your running gait.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that different insoles can affect how the rest of your body interacts with your feet whilst on the run. Each runner has a unique running posture. So, if two different insoles offer you more comfort, arch support and stability, go with that.

Do Insoles Hurt at First?

Many people are scared to try insoles because they think it will be too painful. One case in which the insole can hurt is combining firm support insoles with high-density midsoles of the shoes. In such cases, insoles will hurt your feet.

So, you need to take care of a combination while using insoles. If your shoes have very strong support, you would likely need a soft and padded insole, such as Dr Scholl gel inserts. They’re light, easy to use, and effective, and have the added benefit of making you feel better. They effectively treat many common foot problems such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, calluses and corns.