These insoles felt like a rock under my left foot when I first started using them, but I think that is because of the plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. Now that my foot is finally on the mend and I have been using them for a while, they are starting to feel better and I like the fact that they have inserts for different arches and that you can wash them with soap and water. This is my second pair of WalkFit Platinum insoles. I bought some years ago but never used them much.

UPDATE: My Platinum versions have arrived and I have been wearing them for the last week. As I expected, they are every bit as good as the Phase4s. In fact, better. I like the little bit of rubberized shock absorption they have added (I wasn't sure at first) and the ability to tailor them for height. As I described below, these orthotics have really helped my knee, hip, and back pain.

To be clear, my "Platinum" Walkfits have not arrived yet. I have two pairs on order. I am basing this review on my experience with the Walkfit's predecessors, Phase4 orthotics. I expect that the Platinums will be every bit as good.

I have been wearing another popular "over the counter" orthotic for some time. The one's I'm wearing, you stand on a machine and it gives you a recommendation for the orthotic to buy. The machine said that I have a normal foot, which surprises me because I have been to two foot doctors who have told me I have a really high arch. Nonetheless, the orthotics I purchased were immediately very comfortable, and I own three pairs. The problem is that I have been having lower back and hip problems for the past couple of years, and in the past 6 months or so, my knees have been getting progressively sore. After just a short walk, flexing my leg by lifting my foot towards my buttocks was VERY painful, and crouching and then getting back up was difficult.

I found the Phase4 othotics in my mom and dad's garage and thought I would give them a try. My dad had worn them for one day and gave up on them. HERE IS WHERE THE WARNING COMES!!! Take very seriously the directions of the Phase4 (Walkfits) to wear the othotics for only an hour or so each day until you get used to them. My dad gave up on them because they were so painful to wear, but he wore them to play golf in on the very first day! DON'T DO THAT! I made a similar mistake, wearing them slippers around the house for about 3 hours the first couple of days. Like my dad, I was in big time pain! But rather than giving up on them, I slowly broke them in.

I have been wearing mine for about 5 weeks now, both in my slippers and increasingly in my walking shoes. As of this week, I walked the golf course successfully, even though my feet were getting a bit sore by the 16th hole. I had to take a break from the orthotics for the evening and a bit of the next day. But the sensation is getting better all the time. They're actually beginning to feel quite comfortable. I hiked for 2 hours today with NO discomfort in my feet.

Here's the big thing -- the pain in my knees and hips is gone. Completely. After my golf game and after my hike today, I could flex my leg with no sense of discomfort. Even the tightness in my lower back has been reduced significantly. As I was telling my wife today,when I put my fore fingers on my hips as I walk, the hips move solidly with no lateral movement. When I did this before wearing the Phase4s, there was a feeling of lateral movement in the hip almost as if the hip was "popping in and out" alignment. Another thing that surprises me is that even when I'm not wearing the orthotic and I'm in my socks, I seem to walk differently now -- more on the outside of my feet rather than collapsing inward (pronating), which is my general tendency.

As I say, I have two pairs of Walkfit Platinums on the way because they are going in all my shoes so I don't have to keep switching these in and out. But I say it again, break them in slowly or you're in for some pain.

Update: I've been playing around with these and other inserts for a while and these are great! They are my new favorite! The best thing, besides pain relief, is that they are adjustable for the type of shoe. I use the low arch support in sneakers that already have an arch and max arch support for boots and shoes with a flat- no arch support. My foot size is a mens 11, but I tried a 10, 11 and 12 to see what I like best. So my favorite size is the 11 suggested for my foot size, duh"¦ Tip- if you have heel pain and walk heel heavy like me, try flat shoes with no heel (low or zero drop shoes). It helps take the strike point away from the backside of the heel and creates more of a flat heel strike.

Original review:
I had mild heel pain for years. Finally, when the pain got much worse, I went to the podiatrist and was diagnosed with "Achilles tendinitis". The pain was around the outside bottom area of both my heels. Just above where my heels meet the floor. The podiatrist told me the tendons wrap around the bottom of the heel... I tried every heel stretch, exercise, yoga pose, leg stretch, massages, pulsating massage machine, night splint, stretching machine, heel lifts, every Achilles tendinitis treatment I could find for over 3 years! Nothing worked... I came to the conclusion it wasn't Achilles tendinitis and started trying orthopedic inserts. So far I've tried over 30 brands of insole inserts and these are 2nd best for my heel pain. They are awesome! They change the way my heel strikes the ground. It moves the strike point forward toward the arch and away from the backside of my heel. And when standing it puts more weight forward towards the arch and off the heel. Although I still have minor irritation, the improvement is tremendous.
Also if you have a similar issue, be sure to order the correct size. The larger size moves the arch support forward where it's less effective for reducing heel weight. I'm thinking of trying a size smaller and see if it works even better.
Tips: put the Walkfits under the inserts the shoes come with (much more comfortable and moves heel weight forward more effectively). Do not put thick inserts with thick heel cushion over the Walkfit, thin ones work much better. Smaller sizes work better, I purchased 3 sizes and want to try an even smaller one. They are uncomfortable at first, but quickly became very very comfortable, I don't like regular shoes anymore. They sit differently in different types of shoes, shoes with built in high arch support (sneakers) work better than flat type.
Keep the weight off the back of your heel! If you're like me, you probably need to change the way you walk. And give your heel time to heal. I walked very heel heavy and now walk more smoothly.
I hope this helps someone out there. Good luck! And purchase these inserts.

these in your shoes you need to. Its that simple. Crawled from bed, to the floor, down the hall thru the living room in 2007 to the front door to get the mail. laid there, opened the mail, these were there, put them in my sneaks, grabbed the doorknob and couch, pulled myself up and walked back to bed holding the walls.

My back went out, i'm a USAF DAV who gets zero from the VA and was laid up for over a week in my shoebox rowhome watching anything and happened along stuart prakin, the woman and this doctor. Bought two sets because shipping was cheaper, and i figured if the people in the infomercial were only HALF lying, i would need two anyway. They are lifetime returnable for replacements, but too many hoops to jump thru so i just buy new. Cheaper here too versus their site, just on shipping alone.

Your feet deserve these, and the rest of your body does too. and not for nothing, i could sprain my ankle stepping on a big ant!! Embellishing a bit, but i have actually rolled my ankle with these and man it is not the same pain or sprain. Plus i ice and elevate asap! Peace!

I have wide fore foot and narrow heal, considering that it fits well. I'm a small built guy sprinter by nature. While in the army we had to go long distances and strain our feet whilst carrying heavy packs(80-140lbs depending). Caused my arches to become flat since my feet had no strength to maintain arch after the first 15-20 miles(every other day), they just give out and you duck walk to the finish, bad for your feet. I like them in my boots the most, however they do feel good when i go for a run. I work out with them so that i develop muscles to support my corrected arch, not develop them while in a dysfunctional state. Seems to be working as expected. I use highest arch setting, I notice after a work out with them and then an additional 6 -8 hours on my feet i feel soreness. It's to be expected i suppose as it is pressing the tendons into a corrected position. I do wonder if it is causing them to stretch however, To counter the "idea" that may be the case, when bare foot or sandals i consciously pay attention to my posture, slight bend to knees usually forces my knees into alignment with hips(removing the natural lean a person has) and also the ankles and in turn feet. I do notice in long mirror the symmetry that is coming back. Of course newly used muscles are not tired, they just give out since they have not been trained. I find myself when losing endurance on my feet naturally standing with locked knees and then my feet in turn begin to roll inward towards arch with my weight, then my feet shimmy outwards to rest the weight on the arch of foot and not balls of my foot. Point being these inserts work well as a guide. It presses up against your tendons to form arch and naturally your body adapts by tightening area and "flexing" the arch to help strengthen it. Does take time. Again you will "feel" it out. You will notice from soreness if you wear them to long off the bat. I wore 14 hours first day and hurt pretty bad. but objectively i noticed it was causing me to improve posture even when not wearing them. So play around with it a bit, the different sizes, maybe a few hours at a time, then off and wait to see if there is soreness to access your tolerance. There are three elevation pads with this purchase. They work great. I enjoy them.

@@on a side note i noticed i now seem to want to stand on the side of my feet when in bare foot. looking in full length mirror i realized if i just force myself from that position to press the pad of my big toe down, that is where my feet used to be and what my arch used to look like. Plus everything is aligned perfectly, so i guess these are reminding my body how it should stand and where it appears im on the sides of my feet, that is really just how many degrees of twist and deformation to my forefoot that has occurred since i started becoming flatfooted. Good to know that it causing my body to realign itself even when not using them. Just a conscious effort to retrain muscles and tendons that have grown and stretched wrong for years. Just something i noticed. Maybe it helps someone. These insoles are a Great buy for the price, good quality, and are helping me correct issues for sure!@@