If you have high arches, read this
High arches? That's why your heel and the ball of your foot take all the pain.
A high arch carries nothing, so two small points carry everything. And every "arch support" you've bought sits under your arch with a gap above it. Here's why they're all built that way, and the one number to check before you buy another.
Sound familiar?
The high-arch routine
See if this is yours.
- The box says "arch support"You stand on it. It touches your heel and the ball of your foot. Under the arch, nothing.
- The "high arch" versionSlightly less nothing. Flat within a month anyway.
- The shoe searchYou buy shoes for the footbed, not the shoe. Half of them still don't fit over your instep.
- The painOutside edge of the foot. The heel. The ball of the foot, because that's where all the weight lands when the arch takes none of it. Sore feet after any long day.
- The conclusion"Only custom works for feet like mine." Another $500 to $1,400, or live with it.
If you've given up and started saying "I just have weird feet", keep reading. Your feet aren't the problem. The insoles are built for someone else.
What's actually happening
Insoles are built for the average arch. Yours isn't average.
A high arch does two things a normal arch doesn't. It sits higher off the ground, so a standard arch bump never touches it. And it's stiffer, so it doesn't spread and absorb shock the way a flexible arch does. All your weight goes to two points: the heel and the ball of the foot.
That's the whole problem, in order:
- The insole is too lowMost arch supports rise about half an inch to an inch. A high arch needs more. So there's a gap, and the arch carries nothing.
- The heel and ball take everythingTwo small points, all of your weight, every step. That's the heel pain and the burning under the ball of the foot.
- The foot rolls outwardWith nothing under the arch, a high foot tips to its outside edge. Ankles feel unstable, the outside of the foot aches.
- Soft ones make it worseEven when the arch does touch, soft padding compresses under a stiff, high arch faster than under a flat one.
You don't need a softer insole, a wider one, or a "high arch" sticker on the box. You need one number: how high the arch actually rises. Most brands don't print it. Ask before you buy another.
Why what you've tried didn't work
Everything on the shelf is built low and soft. You need high and firm.
You've probably bought most of these. Here's why each one never reached.
Drugstore "arch supports" · $15 to $40
A bump for an average foot.
Built to sell to everyone, so the arch is low enough for anyone. Under a high arch, it's a bump you can't feel.
Helps for: nothing, from day one.
"High arch" insoles · $30 to $70
Slightly higher. Still soft.
The arch might touch on day one. Then a stiff, high foot compresses the foam, and by week three it's the same gap as before.
Helps for: a couple of weeks.
Cushioned shoes · $120 to $200
Softer landing on the heel and ball. Nothing under the arch.
They pad the two points that hurt. They don't change the fact that those two points are carrying everything. And the footbed is still built for an average arch.
Helps for: the first hour of a long day.
Custom orthotics · over $1,000
These reach. That's why you think only custom works.
Molded to your arch height and firm enough to hold it. But you wait weeks, pay over $1,000, and get one pair for every shoe you own.
Helps for: years. In one pair of shoes.
"I struggle with shoes. Have a very high arch and even the 'brand names' that advertise arch support aren't nearly enough. These are the best inserts I have found!"
Bena T., US
The fix
1.38 inches. That's the number.
OrthoFlexx® Max Arch Support Insoles have an arch elevation of 1.38" / 3.5 cm, higher than most off-the-shelf arch supports, on a base firm enough that a stiff, high arch can't press it flat. Built for the feet the shelf ignores.
Arch Support that Doesn't Collapse.
- Arch elevation 1.38" / 3.5 cm. High enough to close the gap for most high arches. Measure yours against it.
- Extra-firm arch base. Holds up to 330 lbs / 150 kg without flattening. A stiff arch won't press it down.
- Deep heel cup. Keeps the heel centered, so the foot stops tipping to its outside edge.
- Full length, trim-to-fit. The arch stays where your arch is, not where a half-insole slides to.
- Cushioned top, firm underneath. Padding under the ball of the foot, structure under the arch.
Most high-arch owners say it finally reaches. A few with very high arches say they'd want it higher still. The 30 days is for finding out which you are.
See the Max Arch Support Insoles30-day money-back guarantee · Free shipping & returns
Free shipping & returns
30-day money-back guarantee
Rated 4.8/5 by 1,200+ customers
Podiatrist-approved
What a board-certified podiatrist says
"As an experienced podiatrist who also suffers from Plantar Fasciitis, I confidently recommend OrthoFlexx® Max Arch Support insoles. They provide excellent support, comfort, and meet all the qualities I seek when suggesting insoles to my patients."
Dr. Elizabeth DaughtryDPM, DABFAS, FACFAS · Forbes Health Advisory Board Member
She recommends them to her patients and wears them herself.
From people with high arches
What "finally reaches" feels like
"My ortho devices used to cost me $500 for one pair custom made. I had to go that route because you couldn't and still can't buy over the counter inserts with really high arches. I was skeptical but have been wearing for more than 2 months with no issues. I just bought another pair for another pair of shoes."
Dirk, US"These insoles maintain their shape and therefore their support of your foot and especially the arch. I have very high arches. Most insoles were just cushion, not architectural support."
Michelly, US"These high arch insoles have alleviated the side foot and heel pain I have been experiencing. Noticed a big difference the 2nd day, there was no foot pain the second I got out of bed to walk, which hasn't happened in years."
Renee, Canada"I have tried every orthotic including very expensive custom insoles from the podiatrist and nothing ever worked. This is the first ones that actually worked for me. I would highly recommend for people with high arch plantar fasciitis."
Thomas L., US"I have high arches and this is an orthotic that has a firm arch support while having comfort at the same time. Does not take up too much room in shoe even with this high arch support!"
John P., US"Having higher arches, I always had sore feet after a long day at work. After wearing them for about two months, I realized that my feet didn't hurt. I committed to buying a couple of pairs to have in my different footwear."
Thomas M., Canada"I have high arches and struggle to find an insole that provides stability and comfort. OrthoFlexx insoles provide that level of support and stability."
Joe W., US"I like the fact that the arches do not collapse even when weight is applied. I also like the fact that they are higher arches."
Sheldon S., US"I like the greater arch support. Only gave it 4 stars because I would have liked a higher arch support."
Frank, USStraight answer
What the first weeks actually feel like
For the first time, something will be touching your arch. That's new, and it's the point. Here's what high-arch owners report.
Days 1 to 3
You'll feel the arch. Firm pressure where there used to be a gap. Start with 2 to 4 hours a day. If you feel it too much, that's normal for a foot that's never been supported.
Week 1 to 2
The heel and the ball of the foot are usually the first to feel different, because they've stopped carrying everything.
If it still doesn't reach
A few very high arches need more than 1.38". If that's you, it isn't a break-in problem, and custom may still be the answer. Send them back for a full refund.
"It took a minute to get used to them because the arch is higher than the insole that was in my shoe. However, I did have immediate relief. Definitely recommend!"
Val G., USTwo minutes
Getting them into your shoes
STEP 1
Pull out the factory insole
Most shoes have a removable insole on top. Lift it out and keep it. With a high instep, this makes the room you need.
STEP 2
Drop in OrthoFlexx®
Trim to fit if needed, using the old one as a template.
STEP 3
Stand on it
Feel for the arch. If it's touching, that's the first time in a while. Ease in over a few days.
What you get
OrthoFlexx® Max Arch Support Insoles
One job: reach a high arch, and hold it there all day.
- Arch elevation 1.38" / 3.5 cm on an extra-firm base, holds up to 330 lbs / 150 kg
- Free shipping & free returns
- 30-day money-back guarantee, wear them every day
- HSA / FSA accepted
See the Max Arch Support Insoles
In stock. Ready to ship.
Wear them for 30 days. If the arch doesn't reach, or doesn't hold, send them back.
Worn, every day, in your own shoes. If there's still a gap under your arch, or the arch flattens, full refund. No awkward questions.
Your feet aren't weird. The insoles were built low.
1.38 inches, on a base that doesn't give. See if it reaches.
See the Max Arch Support Insoles
Free shipping & returns · 30-day money-back guarantee · HSA/FSA accepted