The choice of insoles has hugely improved over the past decade. This is welcome, because one of the most frustrating things about many modern soccer cleats is that the insole tends to be an afterthought.
Many of the pros have custom insoles and it is about time the rest of us had good options as well. Fortunately, this has become possible over the past few years as a lot of brands are finally making their offerings more available globally, as opposed to just being limited to one market.
The quick list
It's striking how many people swear by these insoles, which can't be a bad sign. With gel heels and extra cushioning, they are very comfortable and feel fairly premium for the price you pay.
This is one of the most interesting - and weirdest - products on the market. A small bump in the insole makes the rest of your foot 'sit' in a better position, which is rare - but ensures these insoles are a top choice for foot health.
These insoles pack plenty of performance into such a lightweight package. They boast varying arch heights and soak up less moisture than their rivals on the market, although they could use a slightly longer midfoot piece for more stability.
View more models
These insoles are a better option than those that come with standard soccer cleats, despite being less supportive and high-tech than others on this list. There's a reason they remain so popular, though: they just work.
Superfeet ticks the boxes of availability, comfort and support, with these insoles offering the best balance of adequate cushioning without being overly squishy. The stability also stands up well against the more expensive carbon fibre insoles.
Best overall
While Sidas is a French company, it actually has a huge market in Japan, where it is common to use different insoles to the standard ones that come with cleats.
What is more impressive is the amount of people who seem to swear by these insoles when it comes to comfort. This is interesting, because the one major downside is that there is not much in the way of arch support, yet there are still a lot of people who will not use any other brand. This is understandable, because the insoles are very comfortable.
I personally appreciate the gel heels, as that tends to be the part of my foot that experiences the most strain. I also like the extra cushioning on the ball of the foot, as that also experiences a lot of strain during play. Another part that is really nice is the TPU (thermal polyurethane) midfoot as it gives extra stability. The insoles also feel fairly premium for the price you pay, so they are an easy recommendation.
Personal favourite
The BMZ Sport Insole is probably one of the most interesting - and weirdest - products on the market.
BMZ, a Japanese company, has patented its theory of how to support and stabilise the foot. Basically, there is a small bump on the insoles that push up into the cuboid bone in your foot. In doing so, it makes the rest of your foot 'sit' in a better position when it comes to performance and stability.
It is pretty wild, but maybe even more wild is that it does work, although it takes some getting used to. It also isn't for everyone, as the initial feeling is a bit odd. There is also the fact that the insoles do not have much cushioning, or shock absorption.
On top of that, there isn't the extra stability that you find in other insoles. However, I find the insoles do a great job with your foot function, meaning that it helps strengthen your foot and toes. I do wish that more of BMZ’s productions were available overseas, especially as foot health has become such a hot topic in recent years. Still, I am glad that more people get a chance to try these insoles.
Currex Cleatpro
Currex has exploded in popularity over the past decade, especially in the USA, where a lot of pros and non-pros alike have made them their go-to insoles.
They are pretty easy to recommend, as they are light and comfortable. I especially appreciate that they do not tend to soak up as much moisture as other insoles on the market.
It is also nice that they have various arch heights, especially for those of us who need that extra bit of support, rather than a bunch of cushioning. This is noticeable when compared to a standard cleat insole, however this is more because of the extra support they provide. If we are being overly harsh, they could use a slightly longer midfoot piece for more stability. However, this should not take away from the fact that they pack a lot of performance into such a lightweight package.
Best availability
Dr. Scholl’s is the standard insole when you just need something to help your feet stay comfortable. While not as supportive or as high-tech as other options on this list, they are a better option than the standard insoles that come with most soccer cleats.
This is especially true due to a lot of the larger brands focusing on delivering performance, rather than comfort. In this sense, performance refers to the fact that many brands will have grippy top surfaces on their insoles but there will not be much cushioning or support.
In this case, it is better to grab something basic like Dr. Scholl’s than use the regular insoles that come with your cleats. Now, these insoles can be a little too soft, but they are still a comfortable and supportive option. There is a reason why Dr. Scholl’s is still so popular - they just work.
Best for structure
Superfeet is a good brand in terms of availability, general comfort and support. Add that to the fact that its products are widely available almost everywhere in the world and they are easy to recommend.
While the insoles are not as stiff as some full carbon fibre alternatives, they are more balanced as they still offer some flexibility. While other Superfeet options have more cushioning, I personally think the Active Support has the best balance between offering good cushioning and comfort, and without feeling overly squishy.
They are fairly expensive and somewhat feature-poor, however they are a solid option, especially if you need that extra stiffness for support. Their stability does stand up well against far more expensive full carbon fibre insoles, so these are a more affordable option. One last thing that I like about these particular insoles is the amount of cushioning for comfort - even though the cushioning for this model errs on the firmer side.
How we test soccer cleat insoles
Our expert tester wears a variety of different insoles over a number of training sessions and soccer games to try and ascertain the true performance level of each individual insole.
There can be great variance in how each insole performs, especially considering the different price points some are at on this guide. What our expert does, though, is use their own expertise in the different technologies to see if a brand is offering what they're claiming to offer.
How to choose the right soccer cleat insoles
Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. There are a range of options covered in this guide, each of which has their own positives and negatives. Some provide better arch support, some focus on protecting the heel and forefoot, while some aim to give a better energy return when sprinting.
It's truly up to the individual, as well as how much they're willing to spend.
Best Soccer Cleat Insoles: FAQs
What are the best insoles for soccer cleats?
All soccer cleats come with insoles, but they're often removable, and you can get better ones than what's included in the cleat to begin with. While we can't say for sure, exactly what insole each soccer player wears, the BMZ Sport Insole, Sidas Football 3D Insole, CurrexSole CleatPro Insole, Superfeet Active Support Insole, and Dr. Scholl's Active All Purpose Insole all feature among the best soccer cleat insoles on the market.
Should I put insoles in my soccer cleats?
That decision is down to personal preference. If you're buying soccer cleats and you're happy with how they feel and perform, then you could argue that you shouldn't fix what isn't broken. However, if you're looking to gain every advantage possible, or you're not happy with the feel of your cleats, putting insoles in your soccer cleats can add grip to your feet and can add comfort too. Both will be a benefit when playing. People with flat feet might experience recovery benefits if they play with an insole that supports their arch.
Do pro soccer players use insoles?
In short, yes. Soccer cleats come with insoles, so even if soccer players don't use specialist insoles like the ones featured in our guide above, they will use insoles. However, using specialist insoles in your soccer cleats can enhance your performance by adding grip to your foot, making it feel more secure in the cleat, and comfort too, so your feet aren't sore or aching before or after activity.
Are insoles legal in soccer?
Insoles are legal in soccer, as they are across all sports. It's not against the laws of soccer, or even bad etiquette, to remove the insoles of your soccer cleat and replace them with specialist ones, like the insoles listed above. We wouldn't recommend them, and they wouldn't sit at the top of our guide if they weren't allowed in soccer.
