Where Can I Buy Inserts for Shoes for Plantar Fasciitis?

That searing heel pain with your first steps in the morning. Plantar fasciitis can stop you in your tracks. But what if the right support could change everything?

You can buy shoe inserts for plantar fasciitis at specialty foot care stores, sporting goods stores, or online from brands like our own, Footcool. For severe cases, a podiatrist can provide custom orthotics. The key is finding an insert with firm, semi-rigid arch support, not just soft cushioning.

Finding the right place to buy them is just the beginning. You also need to know what to look for. In this post, I’ll walk you through everything I’ve learned about choosing the perfect inserts to help you get back on your feet, completely pain-free. I’ve been through it myself, and I want to share how I finally found relief.

What shoe insert is best for plantar fasciitis?

Are you confused by all the insoles on the shelf? Choosing the wrong one—like a soft, gel-filled cushion—can actually make your plantar fasciitis pain much worse. You need real, structured support.

The best shoe insert for plantar fasciitis is not the softest one. It’s a semi-rigid orthotic with a firm arch support and a deep heel cup. This design supports your collapsed arch and stabilizes your foot, addressing the root cause of the pain instead of just temporarily cushioning it.

Why Support Beats Softness

When I first got plantar fasciitis, my first instinct was to buy the squishiest, most cushioned gel insoles I could find. It makes sense, right? My heel hurts, so I should put a pillow under it. But my pain just got worse. The problem is that plantar fasciitis is a strain on the plantar fascia ligament, which runs along the bottom of your foot. This strain happens because the arch of the foot is collapsing. A soft, mushy insole does nothing to stop that collapse. It feels good for a moment, but it doesn’t solve the underlying structural problem. What your foot actually needs is firm support to hold the arch up and prevent it from collapsing. This takes the strain off the ligament, allowing it to heal.

What “Semi-Rigid” Really Means

A semi-rigid insole is the perfect middle ground. It has a core of firm material, often a type of plastic, that provides the necessary support for your arch. But it is usually topped with a layer of comfortable cushioning for shock absorption and comfort. This combination gives you the best of both worlds: medical-grade support with a comfortable feel for everyday wear. Our Footcool insoles are built on this exact principle, featuring Dynamic Arch Support technology within a comfortable, moisture-wicking package.

How do I choose insoles for plantar fasciitis?

Do you ever stand in the store aisle, completely overwhelmed by the wall of insoles, and just end up guessing? This gamble can cost you money and, more importantly, keep you in pain. But there’s a much better way to choose.

To choose the right insoles, you must first ignore the flimsy, purely soft options. You need to physically test them. A good insole should not bend easily at the arch, and it must have a deep, structured heel cup to provide stability. Your specific arch type also matters.

The All-Important Bend Test

Here is a simple test I use to see if an insole is worth my money. Pick it up and try to bend it in half, right at the arch. If it folds easily, put it back. An insole that can’t hold its shape against your hand won’t be able to support your body weight. A proper supportive insole will have a rigid or semi-rigid arch that resists bending. All our Footcool insoles are designed to pass this test, ensuring they provide the solid foundation your feet need. It should only flex where your foot naturally flexes – at the ball of the foot.

Check for a Deep Heel Cup

Next, look at the heel. A flat insole won’t cut it. You need one with a deep, structured heel cup. This feature is critical because it cradles the fatty pad of your heel and provides stability. This stability prevents your foot from rolling inward or outward (pronation or supination), which reduces stress on your plantar fascia with every single step. When your heel is stable, your entire foot is better aligned, which is a key part of long-term healing and comfort. I make sure all my designs at Footcool have a full heel wrap design for this exact reason.

Are hard or soft insoles better for plantar fasciitis?

Your instinct tells you to cushion your sharp heel pain with something soft and pillowy. But this very common mistake can actually prolong your recovery from plantar fasciitis. So why does that intuitive choice fail?

Hard, or more accurately, semi-rigid insoles are far better for plantar fasciitis than soft ones. The pain is caused by the stretching of the plantar fascia ligament due to a collapsing arch. Soft insoles don’t fix this, while a firm structure provides the necessary support to relieve the strain.

An Analogy: A Bridge vs. a Pillow

Think of your foot’s arch as a small bridge. When that bridge is weak, it sags in the middle. This sagging puts a huge amount of strain on the support cables underneath, which in this case, is your plantar fascia ligament. Putting a soft, gel pillow under the sagging bridge does nothing to fix the structural problem. What you need are strong support columns to hold the bridge up. That’s exactly what a firm, semi-rigid insole does. It acts as a support column for your arch, holding it in a healthy, neutral position and immediately relieving the tension on that painful ligament. It might feel strange at first to use a harder insert, but it’s what actually allows the tissue to heal properly.

Comparing the Functional Difference

The difference in how these two types of insoles function is night and day. A soft insole is passive; it just compresses under your weight. A supportive insole is active; it applies upward force to your arch, fundamentally changing the mechanics of your foot as you walk. This is why our designs incorporate what we call “dynamic arch support” – it’s an active, not passive, solution.

Does Medicare pay for shoe inserts for plantar fasciitis?

Are you hoping your insurance plan will help cover the cost of your shoe inserts? It’s incredibly frustrating when a medically necessary item isn’t covered. Navigating the rules of insurance can be a real headache.

Generally, Medicare and many other insurance plans do not pay for over-the-counter shoe inserts you buy yourself at a store or online. However, custom-molded orthotics prescribed by a doctor as medically necessary might be covered under certain specific plans and conditions.

Over-the-Counter vs. Prescription Orthotics

It’s important to understand the distinction insurance companies make. The insoles you can buy off the shelf, like those from our company Footcool or others at a pharmacy, are considered “over-the-counter” (OTC). These are typically not covered. On the other hand, “custom orthotics” are different. These are medical devices a podiatrist prescribes after a full examination, often involving casting a mold of your feet. Because these are prescribed for a specific medical diagnosis (which could be severe plantar fasciitis or another complicating foot condition), there’s a better chance insurance will cover a portion of the cost. However, custom orthotics are significantly more expensive than OTC options.

How to Check Your Coverage

Never assume. The only way to know for sure is to do the work. Call your insurance provider directly. When you call, don’t just ask if they “cover insoles.” Use specific language. Ask, “What is the coverage for prefabricated orthotics versus custom-molded orthotics?” Also ask what specific conditions must be met for them to be considered medically necessary. Get the details about your deductible and what your co-payment would be. This will help you make an informed financial decision with your doctor.

What name brand shoes are good for plantar fasciitis?

You finally bought a great pair of supportive insoles, but your feet are still hurting at the end of the day. The problem might not be the insert at all, but the flimsy shoes you’re putting them in. Don’t let a bad shoe ruin your investment in good insoles.

An insole is only as good as the shoe you put it in. Brands that create shoes with excellent built-in structure are ideal. Look for a shoe that has a firm heel, doesn’t twist easily, and bends at the ball of the foot. Our Footcool shoes are designed with this philosophy in mind.

A Shoe is the Foundation

I learned this the hard way. I put a fantastic, expensive insole into an old, soft, flexible sneaker. It felt a little better, but the pain came right back. It’s because the shoe itself was collapsing, taking the insole with it. An insole needs a stable foundation to work properly. Here are the three simple tests I use now for any shoe I consider buying, whether it’s from my own brand or another.

1. The Heel Counter Test: Grab the shoe and squeeze the heel. It should be firm and not collapse easily. This stability is crucial for controlling motion and supporting the insole.
2. The Twist Test: Hold the shoe by the heel and the toe and try to twist it like you’re wringing out a towel. A good, supportive shoe will resist this twisting motion. A shoe that twists easily offers no support.
3. The Bend Test: A good shoe should only bend where your foot bends, at the ball of the foot. If it bends in the middle of the arch, it’s going to fail you.

I ensure our Footcool shoes pass all three of these tests, which is why I can confidently recommend them as a solid base for anyone dealing with plantar fasciitis. You can of course use our insoles in other shoe brands, just make sure they pass these tests first!

How do I know what shoe inserts to buy?

Are you feeling ready to make a purchase but still a little worried you’ll forget what to look for in the store? Making the right choice feels empowering. Let’s build a simple, final checklist you can take with you on your shopping trip.

You’ll know which inserts to buy by using a simple checklist. First, know your arch type. Second, perform the physical tests in the store: make sure the arch is semi-rigid and the heel cup is deep. Finally, choose where you buy them based on your specific needs and severity.

Your Final Buying Checklist

This is it. This is the mental checklist I run through, whether I’m evaluating a competitor’s product or signing off on a new design for Footcool. It simplifies the entire process down to a few key decisions. Before you spend any money, go through these steps. This ensures you get something that will actually help you heal, rather than just waste your money on a temporary fix.

Step 1: Understand Your Arch Type
Do you have a low, medium, or high arch? Many quality insole brands, including ours, offer models tailored to different arch heights. Testing your arch type at home is the first step toward getting a perfect fit.

Step 2: Perform the In-Store Physical Tests

• The Bend Test: Pick up the insole. Does it fold in the middle? If yes, put it down. It must be firm at the arch.
• The Heel Cup Test: Look at the heel. Is it a deep, cup-like shape, or is it mostly flat? Choose the deep cup for stability.

Step 3: Choose Your Point of Purchase

Conclusion

In short, beating plantar fasciitis means choosing firm support an insole provides over a soft cushion. Find a semi-rigid insole, put it in a good shoe, and you are on the path to recovery.