Pedag Holiday | 3/4 Length Sheepskin Orthotic Inserts | Handmade in Germany | Arch Support | Metatarsal Pad | Heel Cushion | Fits Low Profile Tight Shoes | Black | 1 Pair | US Women 9 / EU 39 Men 6

Great Fit , Just the Right Amount of Arch

I like that they are leather with metatarsal pad to spread out my toes and 3/4 length to leave plenty of room for my toes. I have a bunion on my big toe joint and these supports help to alleviate that discomfort.

I have average-height arches, but I over-pronate, have bunions, and a history of plantar faciitis - and these are vastly better than the expensive custom orthotics prescribed to me by podiatrists over the years! I'm able to walk my usual 4-7 miles a day in these without foot pain, and - along with choosing shoes with sufficient toe room - have had no worsening of my bunions in years because of these magical insoles! Because they're very stiff and very thin, they can be used to add support to both shoes with *no* arch support, *and* ones with *insufficient* arch support (too low, too squishy, etc.), making extended standing *much* more comfortable, while the metatarsal pad and 3/4 length allow your toes and forefoot to flex while walking (provided your shoes are flexible enough), which helps keep your foot muscles in shape and helps prevent faciitis. I like to switch mine out between different shoes throughout the week for foot health. These are a really high quality insole: my last pair lasted through 10+ years of daily use before the heel pads began to fall out and the leather began to fray. And I've never needed to deodorize or clean them - the leather and plastic naturally resist odors. They do have a couple of limitations, though: 1) Because they are stiff and flat, they won't work in high heels that put your heel on a "shelf" above the rest of your foot. That said, I've worn them regularly in shoes with 1-2" heels and they work fine. 2) While they *do* come with a small adhesive pad in the heel to adhere them to your shoe if you wish, be aware that choosing to use it will *drastically* shorten their lifespan. The adhesive pad is directly attached to a foam heel pad that is intended to protect the bone of your heel from pain and the development of bone spurs. In time, the adhesive (if used, particularly in an open shoe like a sandal or a slip-on) will pull this pad apart from the rest of the insole, making them much less comfortable... and also no longer adhered to your shoe.

The Pedag Holiday 3/4 orthotic insert is handmade in Germany of quality materials, the top being made of leather and the bottom of a hard plastic type of material. Stitching is neat. This orthotic is comfortable and fits well in my athletic walking shoes as well as in other pairs of shoes. It provides some arch support, has an additional circle of padding at the heel and (for Morton's neuroma) below the instep, and one side of each orthotic is designed to help with overpronation. I wear a woman's 7 to a 7 1/2 with no insert in my shoe. With an orthotic insert I usually wear a 7 1/2 or possibly size 8, depending on the shoe. As a couple of reviews indicated, for the Pedag you should size up to obtain a correct US fit. The Pedag in US size 9 fits my foot perfectly. Had I used the Euro/US sizing chart, the recommended size would have been too small for me. I would prefer the arch of the Pedag Holiday to be a little higher but am otherwise satisfied. If it had been a little higher, I would have rated it with 5 stars. I do have several of a different orthotic (firm, but without a plastic bottom) which is a little higher, and thus probably provides the height of arch support that is best for me. With the higher orthotic though, it tends to raise my foot a little too high in the shoe, sometimes making my foot feel as if it's slipping. I plan to alternate between the two types of inserts, continue use supportive shoes (for firmer sides) and continue to do exercises (such as rolling a tennis ball from toes to heel end and back, and scrunching toes as if trying to pick up a pen or towel with them. Additionally, I have ceased walking in my home barefooted or in socks without shoes. Long term (as in many years of) walking without shoes at home can risk or exacerbate foot problems such as flat feet, overpronation, Morton's neuroma, etc. which can result in or worsen foot pain. Flat bottom shoes are OK for occasional or short-term use, but otherwise, it's best to wear shoes designed with arch support. This reduces the likelihood of future foot problems.

All of the below , comfort , durability, support

Didn't work for me. The arch support is not appropriate for high arches, it cut into my arch because its top curve was lower than my own. Bummer, cause it seems well made.

If you need arch support, these Pedag might work well for you. I find them very comfortable.

I really like the leather because I do not like to wear socks very often so in some of my shoes I just put the insert right on top of the foot bed the shoe came with.