I've Tested 52 Kids Insoles - Only 5 Are Worth Considering (And Only 1 Actually Fixes Sever's Disease)

Dr. Thomas Raynor, Pediatric Podiatrist

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Updated: October 2025

What Are Kids Insoles, Really?

After 18 years treating children with heel pain and testing dozens of insoles in my practice, I'm still frustrated by how many parents waste money on products that provide comfort without correction.

 

Here's the truth: Real orthotic insoles for kids contain specific biomechanical features that address the root cause of conditions like Sever's Disease. Think of them as supportive structures that realign your child's feet - reducing pain at the source, not just cushioning it.

 

But here's what most brands won't tell you: 90% of kids insoles are just soft foam with minimal support. They feel comfortable initially but can't address the biomechanical dysfunction causing your child's pain.

I've spent nearly two decades helping children stay active and pain-free, and I'm tired of seeing parents spend hundreds on products that don't address the real problem.

 

Dr. Carlos Martinez

What Makes a REAL Orthotic Insole for Kids?

Through my clinical experience, I've identified the essential features that separate therapeutic insoles from cushioned inserts:

1. Deep Heel Cup (20mm minimum)

Real orthotic insoles must have a deep heel cup that cradles and stabilizes the heel bone. This controls excessive motion and protects the growth plate - shallow cups can't do this.

2. Overpronation Control

Many children with heel pain have feet that roll inward excessively. Without medial support to control this pronation, rotational stress continues damaging the growth plate regardless of cushioning.

3. Age-Appropriate Arch Support

Growing feet need arch support that's firm enough to redistribute pressure away from the heel but not so rigid that children refuse to wear them. Adult orthotics scaled down don't work.

4. Targeted Heel Cushioning

The heel experiences 10 times more pressure in children with Sever's Disease. Strategic cushioning at impact zones absorbs these forces - generic soft foam throughout doesn't provide this targeted protection.

5. Athletic Shoe Compatibility

If the insole won't fit in soccer cleats or basketball shoes, it can't help during the activities causing pain. Thickness must be optimized for modern athletic footwear.

My Top 5 Kids Insoles (Ranked by Clinical Effectiveness)

After testing 52 different insoles with patients in my practice, here are the only 5 I recommend parents consider:

#1 Footstr™ Insole

 

★★★★★ (4.9/5)

 

"My son went from limping after practice to playing pain-free in one week" - Sarah M., verified buyer

After recommending Footstr to dozens of patients, I understand why over 50,000 families trust this insole.

 

Orthotic Profile:

  • Targeted heel cushioning (growth plate protection)
  • Overpronation control with medial support
  • Age-specific arch support (7-16 years)
  • Fits in soccer cleats and basketball shoes
  • Lasts 6-12 months regular use

Pros: 

✓ Only kids insole with overpronation control under $100 

✓ No break-in period (comfortable day one) 

✓ Developed with podiatrists ✓ Currently 60% OFF ($33 vs regular $55)

✓ 60-day money-back guarantee

 

Cons:

✗ May need trimming for perfect fit

 

My Clinical Experience:

 

OK, I need to be honest. After seeing "therapeutic" insoles fail for years, I was skeptical. Then three parents called to thank me in ONE WEEK.

 

One mother's daughter had been sitting out soccer for 2 months. After 5 days in Footstr, she played her first full game pain-free. The dad literally cried at pickup.

 

But here's what shocked me - kids actually WANTED to wear them. The massaging comfort zones made them feel good, not like medical devices. In pediatrics, if kids won't wear it, it doesn't matter how "correct" it is.

 

By week two, I'm watching these kids' gait patterns completely change. The overpronation control was actually working - ankles straightening, knees separating, no more duck walking.

 

One engineer dad examined them and said "This is smart - support where needed without the bulk that won't fit in cleats." That validated everything I was seeing.

 

Real Results:

  • Day 3: No more morning limping
  • Week 1: Back at practice
  • Week 2: Playing full games
  • Week 4: Parents asking "what did you do?"

Conclusion:

 

This is the ONLY retail insole with proper pediatric orthotic principles at this price. The combination of growth plate protection and overpronation control addresses everything Sever's disease throws at kids. At $33 on sale versus $600+ custom orthotics, this is where every parent should start.

Check Out Footstr™

#2 Dr. Scholl's Pain Relief Orthotics for Kids & Teens

 

★★☆☆☆ (2.0/5)

 

Specifications: Gel cushioning with minimal arch support

 

Pros:

 

✓ Recognizable brand name
✓ Available at drugstores ($14.99-$19.99)
✓ Soft gel feels comfortable initially

 

Cons:

 

✗ Designed for general comfort, not Sever's Disease
✗ Shallow heel cup (8-10mm vs 20mm needed)
✗ Gel compresses quickly under body weight
✗ No overpronation control
✗ One-size-fits-most doesn't accommodate growing feet

 

My Clinical Experience:

 

Parents ask about Dr. Scholl's constantly because it's a name they recognize. I understand the appeal - it's available everywhere and moderately priced.

But here's what I've observed: these are designed for general comfort, not biomechanical correction. The heel cup measures about 8-10mm - less than half what's needed to control excessive heel motion in kids with Sever's Disease.

The gel feels soft initially, which parents love. But after two to three weeks of soccer practice, it compresses flat. Multiple parents have told me they felt "worn out" within a month.

Most problematic? Zero overpronation control. Many kids with heel pain have feet that roll inward excessively. Dr. Scholl's provides cushioning but doesn't address this structural issue.

One parent described it perfectly: "It's like putting a soft pillow under a broken chair leg - feels nicer, but the chair still wobbles."

 

Conclusion:

 

Dr. Scholl's is a comfort product, not a therapeutic orthotic. The shallow heel cup, compressible gel, and absence of pronation control mean it cannot address the structural causes of Sever's Disease. Brand recognition doesn't equal biomechanical effectiveness.

Check Out Dr. Scholl's

#3 KidSole Memory Foam Sport Plus

 

★★☆☆☆ (2.3/5)

 

Specifications: Memory foam base with fabric top layer

 

Pros:

 

✓ Affordable ($12.99-$24.99)
✓ Soft, comfortable initially
✓ Fast Amazon shipping

 

Cons:

 

✗ Fabric top layer peels off within 1-2 weeks
✗ Shallow heel cup provides minimal stability
✗ Memory foam compresses under body weight
✗ No overpronation control
✗ Insufficient arch support

 

My Clinical Experience:

 

I see KidSole frequently because parents try it first due to the low price. Unfortunately, I also see these same parents back in my office weeks later because it either fell apart or didn't help.

 

The fabric top layer delaminates incredibly fast - parents report peeling after one to two weeks of regular use. One parent said, "It felt like walking on a pillow for three days, then just felt like walking on flat nothing."

 

Biomechanically, it provides comfort without correction. The shallow heel cup can't control excessive heel motion. The memory foam compresses quickly, eliminating whatever minimal arch support existed initially.

 

For kids with actual Sever's Disease or significant overpronation, this doesn't address the underlying problem. Pain might ease temporarily from cushioning, but it returns because the structural dysfunction persists.

 

Conclusion:

 

KidSole offers comfort that deteriorates in 1-2 weeks without biomechanical correction. The lack of heel cup depth, arch support, and pronation control means it cannot treat conditions requiring structural intervention. Even at the lower price, it's money wasted.

Check Out KidSole

#4 Footlogics Kids Orthotic

 

★★★☆☆ (3.0/5)

 

Specifications: TGA-approved semi-rigid orthotic with Podflex heel padding

 

Pros:

 

✓ Medical-grade construction
✓ Deep heel cup (20mm+) - biomechanically correct
✓ Real arch support
✓ Durable (12-18 months if tolerated)
✓ Podiatrist-developed

 

Cons:

 

✗ Too rigid for many children
✗ One-week painful adjustment period
✗ Thickness prevents fit in some athletic shoes
✗ Many kids refuse to wear consistently
✗ No graduated firmness options

 

My Clinical Experience:

 

Footlogics is an interesting case - biomechanically correct but practically challenging. From a design standpoint, it has the right features: deep heel cup, substantial arch support, semi-rigid construction.

 

But compliance is everything in pediatric practice. If a child won't wear it due to discomfort, the biomechanical correctness is irrelevant.

 

I've prescribed Footlogics with mixed results. Some children tolerate it well after adjustment and experience good relief. But I'd estimate 40-50% find it too rigid. Parents report kids complaining about discomfort, particularly the first week. Some children refuse to wear them after a few days - meaning zero therapeutic benefit.

 

The thickness also creates problems. Several parents told me they won't fit in soccer cleats or basketball shoes, limiting use during the activities causing heel pain.

 

One parent summarized it: "Probably great if you can get your kid to wear them, but mine said they hurt and refused."

 

Conclusion:

 

Footlogics demonstrates good orthotic principles but applies adult-level rigidity to pediatric patients. For children with severe biomechanical issues, this rigidity helps. For others, it creates a compliance barrier. The product needs graduated firmness options to accommodate individual tolerance levels.

Check Out Footlogics

#5 Bacophy Kids Orthotic

 

★★☆☆☆ (2.1/5)

 

Specifications: Multi-layer PU foam, gel inserts, velvet surface

 

Pros:

 

✓ Deep U-shaped heel cup
✓ Substantial arch support (3.5cm height)
✓ Affordable ($15-20)
✓ Multiple cushioning layers

 

Cons:

 

✗ Excessive thickness (3.5cm arch, 1.5cm heel)
✗ Only fits boots and high-top shoes
✗ Won't fit in soccer cleats, basketball shoes, running sneakers
✗ Creates forward-leaning sensation
✗ Unavailable during athletic activities causing pain

 

My Clinical Experience:

 

Bacophy frustrates me because it has correct features assembled into an impractical design. The deep heel cup, meaningful arch support, and cushioning zones look appropriate on examination.

 

Then parents try to use it. The thickness makes it compatible only with boots or shoes with very deep heel counters. For athletic shoes - where kids need it most for Sever's Disease - it doesn't fit.

 

One parent brought their son's soccer cleat to demonstrate. With Bacophy inside, his foot couldn't fit. We removed it, foot fit normally. That's the core problem - biomechanical support is unavailable exactly when and where the child needs it.

 

The manufacturer even admits this, noting shoes with "shallow mouths" won't accommodate it. Unfortunately, most athletic shoes fall into this category.

 

Some parents use Bacophy in winter boots for everyday wear with some benefit. But it doesn't help during soccer practice or basketball games - the high-impact activities triggering Sever's symptoms.

 

Conclusion:

 

Bacophy has biomechanically appropriate features but fails the practical test. Excessive thickness prioritizes maximum support over real-world usability. For an insole to work, it must be worn during activities causing pain. Design that prevents this use cannot deliver therapeutic benefit when needed most.

Check Out Bacophy

The Truth About Kids Insoles

After testing 52 products in practice, here's what I've learned:

 

90% Provide Comfort Without Correction

 

Most kids insoles are cushioned inserts - soft foam that feels good initially but compresses quickly with no biomechanical correction. Generic cushioning cannot treat conditions like Sever's Disease requiring structural intervention.

 

Thickness Must Match Function

 

An insole that won't fit in athletic shoes cannot help during soccer, basketball, or running - when children need support most. Excessive thickness limits real-world effectiveness.

 

Rigidity Requires Compliance

 

Medical-grade correction means nothing if children refuse to wear it due to discomfort. Pediatric orthotics must balance biomechanical correctness with age-appropriate comfort for consistent use.

 

My Professional Recommendation

 

Based on 18 years of pediatric podiatry, I recommend Footstr™ Insole as the first-line option for most children with heel pain, Sever's Disease, flat feet, or overpronation.

Check Out Footstr™

Why Footstr Works:

 

✓ Proper orthotic principles (deep heel cup, pronation control, arch support)
✓ Age-appropriate design for growing feet
✓ Fits in athletic shoes where kids need it most
✓ Comfort features ensure consistent compliance
✓ Professional development validates approach
✓ Accessible pricing ($38 sale / $65 regular)

 

Skip the Others:

 

Dr. Scholl's provides cushioning without structural features needed for Sever's Disease.

 

KidSole delivers temporary comfort that deteriorates in 1-2 weeks without correction.

 

Footlogics has correct features but rigidity causes compliance problems for many children.

 

Bacophy incorporates appropriate elements but thickness prevents athletic shoe compatibility.

 

The Treatment Approach:

 

Start with Footstr's 90-day guarantee. For most children with heel pain or Sever's Disease, properly designed retail orthotics provide effective relief. If symptoms persist after 6-8 weeks of consistent use, then consider custom orthotics for more precise intervention.

 

At $38 on sale, the cost is less than two movie tickets - but the impact on your child's ability to play pain-free is immeasurable.

 

Important: Results require consistent wear during all athletic activities. Removing insoles for games defeats the purpose - this is when your child needs support most.

Dr. Thomas Raynor, DPM
Pediatric Podiatrist, 18 years clinical experience
Specializing in children's foot and ankle conditions

 

 

Disclaimer: This article represents my professional opinion based on clinical experience. Individual results may vary. Consult your child's physician for specific medical advice regarding foot pain or injuries. I have no financial relationship with Footstr or competing brands - recommendations are based solely on outcomes observed in my practice.