FlashBazbo

I recently started having foot problems (metatarsalgia) and the most likely cause appears to be my 20,000+ mile SiDI cycling shoes. I pulled out the insoles and they are flat -- but they probably started out pretty flat. I ordered a set of SiDI Comfort Fit Insoles to perhaps rehabilitate and keep using the shoes, but the new insoles don't appear to provide any more padding / support than the original insoles. They have a white section where the added support would help, but the white section is only a different color. It doesn't appear to be any thicker.

Before I unpack these (making it impossible to return them) . . . has anyone tried the SiDI Comfort Fit Insoles? Did they seem to make a difference?

Silver Steve

In my opinion, Sidi insoles are a waste of money.
I've had great luck with all the following options (newest tried to oldest)

Sole heat moldable insoles
https://www.amazon.com/Active-Footbe...ole+insoles%22

Specialized Body Geometry
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/bo...otbeds/p/49152

Pearl Izumi Tunable Insoles
https://www.amazon.com/Pearl-iZUMi-I...+izumi+insoles

FlashBazbo

Thanks, SS. I've had less than positive experiences with tunable/moldable insoles. I'm at least as likely to mess them up as I am to get it right. If I don't go with the SiDI's (and I'm leaning against them), I will probably just go with a new pair of shoes. Fizik R1's have excellent insoles from the factory.

Silver Steve

New shoes is the best option

Funny I was in a similar situation with a pair of sidis that were falling apart last year. I ended up getting a great deal on a pair of Specialized S Works 6s. I did try on some Fiziks and they were pretty damn comfy too.

JohnJ80

I've looked at the Fizik shoes and their insoles are somewhat better but not all that much better than the Sidis. Sidis are junk, Fizik is "junk plus" from what I tried.

Getting a new pair of shoes is no guarantee of getting a decent insole. Your Sidi ones, for example, were junk when they were new. I have sort of come around to the notion that the shoe manufacturers just put something in there to have something in there. But you really need to go out and get an insole that fits you and it would be impossible for them to guess right.

There are a number of insoles that don't need to be molded. Superfeet, Icebug etc... You can go over to REI and try them in your cycling shoes.

The SOLE insoles are heat moldable, but you don't have to mold them. They come preformed and they may fit just fine. Worth a try. I like them because I can use my heat gun on them and create a bump for metatarsal support by working them with my hands when they are hot but that's not for everyone.

I have Icebug insoles in my Giro Terraduro mtb shoes that have a nice arch and metatarsal support. They are worth a look. I like them.

Specialized has a nice set of insoles that are not moldable. You can take your shoes over to a Spec dealer and they have a tool for you to stand on to see what fits the best. Take that as that start and try going one size higher arch to see if they work for you. I've found them to work pretty well.

Giro does make an insole where you can adjust the arch by sticking one of three (I think) arch supports underneath. This gets you a lot of what the moldable version does but without having to mold them. This might be your best bet.

All of these aftermarket insoles come in a variety of arch support heights and all of them are better than virtually any insoles you get right in the shoe out of the box.

J.

CadenceCrazy

I have a similar issue and found a less expensive solution that worked for me. I started using Pedag metatarsal pads in all of my shoes and, while the issue isn't 100% resolved, the discomfort has dramatically lessened. Other brands will probably work as well.

Initially, I only used the pads in my hiking boots but still had problems until I put pads in all of my shoes. Several years ago, I spent about $200 on custom orthotics but I've had better results with the significantly cheaper pads. In any case, my left foot no longer feels like it might catch fire!

FlashBazbo

Which Pedag pads do you use in cycling shoes? How thick are they?