Spenco PolySorb Heavy Duty Work Insole

Spenco has made insoles for more than 50 years, and its PolySorb Heavy Duty, now sold as the Spenco Heavy Duty Work Insole, is built for one job: absorbing the pounding of a long day on hard surfaces.

Most of the shock in walking hits two places: the heel when it strikes the ground, and the ball of the foot when you push off. Spenco puts extra material in both. A thick SpenCore heel pad sits right under the heel strike, and a SpenCore forefoot crash pad cushions the front of the foot. The rest of the insole is Spenco's lightweight PolySorb foam.

A deep heel cup keeps the foot centered, and a metatarsal arch support helps take pressure off the ball of the foot. A "first ray drop zone" under the big toe joint is designed to allow a more natural push-off. The top cover is low friction to cut down on hot spots and blisters.

The arch support is soft. Spenco designed it for people who want some support without a stiff feel. That makes it comfortable from the first day, with no break-in, but it won't correct flat feet or significant overpronation. For that, look at the PowerStep or Superfeet.

It's a great pick if you walk a lot on site: long walks between buildings, up and down stairs, or along slab and gravel all day. The heel and forefoot pads take the sting out of every step.

With nearly 7,000 Amazon ratings at around 4.4 stars, it's well proven. Note that some listings still use the older PolySorb Heavy Duty name.