These Dr. Scholl’s active series insoles are really nifty. The packaging claims to reduce shock by 40 %, helping folks with shin splints, runner’s knee and plantar fasciitis, and to relieve and prevent pain. Fortunately I don’t have those conditions, but I can definitely feel the difference. And while I have no reliable way to measure amount of impact, 40 % sounds reasonable.

The directions tell you to tear out your insole, then put it on top of the Dr. Scholl’s insole, trace along the toe area of your original insole and trim the excess. Well, I’m not much for reading directions so I didn’t until just now. And I would balk at tearing out the insoles of my favorite Nikes, anyway, to try out an unknown quantity.  Instead, I crammed the Dr. Scholl’s insoles on top. At first my feet felt kind of cramped with the double insole. But running a few miles, a little jumping rope, a Bombay Jam and Zumba class later and the new insoles were thoroughly tamped down. I am enjoying the extra arch support and padding along the soles and have already recommended the insoles to my Bombay Jam classes several times.

They retail for around $30, but I’ve found them online for closer to $20. The box advises swapping them out every six months. I’ve only used mine for a couple of weeks now so am not yet sure how long they’ll really last.