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Now that I have started getting used to my new Meindl Island Active, I’ve also begun looking for suitable replacement insoles / footbeds. And not just for the Island but my other shoes as well. The insoles that comes with most Meindl boots have virtually no cushioning to speak of, certainly no arch support and seem mostly focused on moisture control. And now I want new footbeds that can excel across the board at a reasonable cost. Yeah I know, it’s asking the impossible.
The first thing I did was to check out orthopedic footbeds that are moulded after your foot by a professional. A perfect match with reasonable cushioning but unfortunately made out of some icky black rubbery material that will turn your boot into a swimming pool. Also, prices are hilarious. 1100 SEK for the first pair (and the mould), 600 SEK for subsequent footbeds on the same mould. Given that insoles have to be replaced every other year or so, and that you might need at least two different insoles with different height, price is definitely a deciding factor.
Moving on to commercial insoles, I found a number of manufacturers like Sof Sole, Sole, Superfeet and AFS. Sof Sole seems to be the most affordable, and at least a limited assortment is sold by a local Swedish chain of sporting goods stores. I did try one of their footbeds, probably "Athlete", with the old Meindl Island Pro briefly and it felt … less awkward. Found this video review of the Sof Sole "Custom" which seems somewhat promising.
Addendum: I ordered a pair of AFS Orange Medium since AFS insoles were 30% off at Addnature this week and with free shipping. That made them as "affordable" as Sof Sole so lets give it a whirl.
