Got High Arches? Here’s What to Look For in Shoes and Insoles, According to Experts

“High arch feet have increased pressure points localized to the heel and the ball of the foot,” explains Dr. Adenike Sonaike, DPM, and medical director at Baker Street Health in Motion. “Arch support is key if you have a history of a high arch but notice over time that it’s beginning to collapse.”

Based on Dr. Sonaike’s suggestion to choose an insole that cushions enough to absorb shock and minimize pain at pressure points, we chose PowerStep Pinnacle High insoles as our best for high arches overall because it combines one foam layer of cushioning with a rubber-like EVA cushioning layer. These layers work together with an arch and heel cup made from a semirigid material, stabilizing the arch and heel.

Our research found that the Pinnacle High insoles work well with most shoes that can accommodate a removable insole, including athletic and dress shoes.

Some people with high arches may require custom orthotics, according to Sonaike. That said, we think PowerStep Pinnacle High insoles are the best over-the-counter option for people who find custom orthotics cost-prohibitive or who need a temporary option while they wait for a lab to produce their orthotics.

We chose Dr. Scholl’s Heel & Arch All-Day Pain Relief Orthotics as the best budget-friendly insole for high arches because the foot care company prices them affordably at $15.99 for a pair and says they are clinically proven to relieve pain. These insoles feature Dr. Scholl’s Shock Guard^® technology, which provides extra cushioning in the heel. It combines a cupping design in the heel with added arch support to help reduce aggravation of tendons and ligaments.

We think this specific product is a great option for someone with mild symptoms related to high arches, especially if they find more expensive insoles or custom orthotics to be cost-prohibitive. These insoles can specifically help people who struggle with oversupination, according to one expert.

“People with high-arch feet are oversupinators, meaning that their feet roll to the outside,” says Dr. Brad Schaeffer, DPM, board-certified foot surgeon, and Dr. Scholl’s partner. “Sometimes you can have high arches without oversupination, but that is more uncommon.”

According to Dr. Schaeffer, a person experiencing oversupination due to high arches can benefit from supportive footwear stabilizing the arch and heel. He recommends pairing supportive shoes with Dr. Scholl’s Heel & Arch All-Day Pain Relief Orthotics.

People with high arches benefit from an insole with arch support and a deep heel cup along with cushioning from an added metatarsal pad, according to Dr. Tulpule. This helps to evenly distribute weight and prevent pain at common pressure points in the feet. This is why we chose Superfeet All-Purpose Support High Arch insoles as the best trim-to-fit insoles for high arches.

These insoles are designed with maximum thickness using a responsive high-density  foam. A structured high arch and sculpted heel help to stabilize the foot, providing the support needed for high-arched feet. While they are trim-to-fit insoles, they also come in eight different sizes, so it is easy to get a great fit. We love the moisture-wicking top layer, which helps to control odor during all-day wear or long workouts.

Superfeet insoles are backed by the American Podiatric Medical Association and a 60-day guarantee. They last for up to 12 months or 500 miles before needing to be replaced.

According to Dr. Tulpule, people with high arches may experience a variety of symptoms, but the most common problems include heel pain due to plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, and pain in the ball of the foot.

“These conditions are due to the pressure distribution related to a high-arched foot type,” she says, which can also lead to calluses and corns. High arches also come with the risk of ankle sprains due to increased supination or Achilles tendinitis.

The Superfeet All-Purpose Women’s High Impact Support is designed with similar supportive and cushioning features as Superfeet’s all-purpose insole, with the added benefit of having a slimmer heel and elongated arch more typical of a woman’s foot shape, making it our top choice for the best insole for women with high arches.

Individuals with high arches benefit from a supportive arch and heel because their feet tend to move from side to side as they walk. According to Sonaike, this puts them at risk of ankle sprains. We found that Superfeet’s All-Purpose High Impact Support insoles for women are highly structured and specifically designed to support the foot from all directions to provide extra stability. They also have full-foot foam cushioning, which can help evenly distribute weight in the foot to prevent pressure and pain.

We chose the Superfeet Casual Men’s Easyfit insoles as the best for men with high arches because these thin insoles fit most shoes for comfortable, everyday wear. While sports and exercise may call for specialized insoles to replace the entire inner lining of a tennis shoe, this drop-in option is best suited for slim, casual work or house shoes. These insoles are specifically designed for men’s shoes, including flat shoes and boots with a heel of 1 inch or less. On the bottom side of the insoles, ridges help to prevent slipping during wear. The top layer is a brushed microsuede that wicks moisture away from the feet and helps control odor throughout the day.

We love that these insoles don’t require any trimming. Thanks to their ¾-length design and the wide range of sizes available, it’s easy to find the right size for your feet. The contoured shape of these Superfeet insoles provides stability to help prevent supination.

Runners may prefer smaller insoles “to make it easier to fit into their running shoes,” says Sonaike. ”If they opt for this style, they should wear a thicker-soled sneaker for forefoot shock absorption.”

Based on this recommendation, we chose the Tread Labs Ramble Short Insoles as the best insole for runners with high arches. These are ¾-length insoles that will fit well in snug running shoes to avoid overcrowding in the toe box. We found these insoles balance firm support of the heel and arch with cushion and flexibility, providing stabilization to high arches while preventing uneven pressure. We love the longevity of these insoles. When the top layer starts to wear out, it can be removed and affordably swapped out while the molded, supportive foundation — which is covered by a million-mile guarantee — is kept.

While many individuals with very high arches will need custom orthotic support, Tread Labs insoles are an over-the-counter option that gets closer to a custom orthotic. Customers can choose from four different arch heights as well as a wide size range that spans from a men’s 4 to 14.5 and a women’s 5 to 12.5.