An insole is the chunk of material located right under the foot, providing it with an extra degree of comfort and cushioning. While many types of footwear already come with a stock insole, typically, it is not quite enough to cover the needs of workers. This fact becomes even more obvious if your job or activity (gardening, for example) requires you to be constantly on your feet. As a result, you will need an additional layer of material to protect you from any potential injuries and keep your feet warm.

Since there are many types of insoles on the market, the purpose of this article is to inform construction workers, day laborers and gardeners what specific perks and features they should seek before buying a pair of insoles. Here is what you should know.

Why are Insoles Important?

Insoles can influence the health and state of your feet as much as a pair of boots. Apart from providing comfort and safety, a pair of top quality insoles will make your overall work experience much more pleasant.

Gardening, while being a relaxing and fulfilling activity, can be very taxing to the body, especially the feet. This is why many online sources, like this article about best insoles, are stressing the importance of insoles and how they can reduce the risk of injuries and developing feet specific conditions.

Here are a few brief reasons why gardeners should equip their work boots with insoles:

As a gardener, besides being constantly exposed to the elements of nature, you will be working in hot, humid conditions. Insoles can counteract their effects (feet fungus, swollen feet, etc.) by providing an extra layer of material between your feet and shoes.
Constantly bending over, digging, hoeing, sowing and weeding puts high amounts of pressure on the feet and ankles. Fortunately, insoles will correct the foot and overall body posture and alleviate most of the negative effects.
Insoles make the process of finding the perfect gardening shoes much more easier. Because finding a perfect fit is hard for many people, they usually compromise and buy shoes that are either slightly bigger or slightly smaller, exposing themselves to blisters, calluses, and other gardening-related inconveniences. Insoles have the potential of solving these issues by providing an additional layer between your feet and the shoes. Furthermore, since most insoles are quite thick, you will never have to worry about getting water in your shoes!
General Types of Insoles

If you are in the market for a pair of insoles but can’t decide what exactly to buy, you can give these general types a trial run before switching to specialized insoles:

Support insoles are made from a sturdier material and offer an extra degree of comfort and stability. The best starter insoles for gardeners of all skill levels.
Comfort insoles are designed to provide adequate cushioning. While they are not great for doing heavy work on the construction site, they are more than capable of handling gardening work.
Height Increasing Insoles

As you might have surely guessed from the name, the purpose of these insoles is to increase the height of the feet. While they are usually recommended and prescribed by doctors to people with chronic foot injuries, they can also be used to prevent a variety of conditions.

By decreasing the pressure on the Achilles heel – a perk that gardeners who stay on their feet for the entirety of the day will surely appreciate – height increasing insoles can cut down the risk of developing pains in the knees, back and pelvis area. Here are a few additional perks:

Great shock absorption Some gardening tools (like rakes, forks and the like) can be quite heavy, and a good pair of insoles will protect you from any serious injuries caused by them.
Height increasing insoles are especially advantageous for people with flat feet or high, low and collapsed arches, who are typically more predisposed to fatigue and sores after spending a whole day standing on uneven terrain. These types of insoles will prevent the load from affecting a single area and spread it equally throughout the foot.
Foot wounds and ulcers are less likely to occur.
Height increasing insoles provide the gardener with a greater dynamical freedom and increased flexibility.

Memory Foam Insoles

Besides height increasing insoles, passionate and dedicated gardeners who are concerned about their feet should also consider insoles with memory foam. This technology, first developed in 1966 by NASA, will provide adequate protection against gardening related injuries and conditions. Here are a few benefits:

Insoles with memory foam have great moisture absorption capabilities because they are made out of a material that captures humidity and dissolves it in a timely fashion. As a result, your feet will feel dry and comfortable even after an entire day of watering plants.
Because you will be spending a lot of time in hot, humid conditions, your feet need to be properly ventilated. This is another area in which foam insoles excel, as they allow to breathe, preventing various foot infections from occurring.
Walking on uneven terrain, a hallmark of gardening can be very taxing to the feet, and foam insoles can counteract any potential negative effects associated with this activity.
Conclusion

Every single person who does physically intensive work on a daily basis should equip their work boots or shoes with a pair of quality insoles. They will not only make your job more enjoyable, but you will not have to worry about calluses, blisters, and other feet related injuries. If you are in the market for this product but can’t decide what to choose, make sure to read through this article, and you will get all the information that you need.