Gear West Insole Challenge

Nordic Skiing with Custom Insoles

Or, how to improve comfort and balance and extend glide on your skis.

If you’ve ever hit the ski trails and felt a little wobbly, or worse, struggled with arch pain in your ski boots, or shin pain, or developed those dreaded blisters, you’re not alone. The good news? Custom insoles could be your secret weapon for improving foot comfort, reducing arch pain and improving performance in Nordic skiing.

The job of an insole is to control the alignment and function of your foot. By redistributing the pressure on the bottom of your feet, you will reduce discomfort, pain, calluses and blisters. Orthotics provide foot support in the right places and thereby improve balance. Your toes are not clutching at the tips of your cross-country ski boots for stability. Your foot arch is not collapsing into thin air as you transfer weight onto one leg as you ski.

Balance improves with skeletal alignment. Comfort and relaxation occur when muscles are not cramping from undue tension. Whether skiing or cycling, your power increases when energy is not lost through foot or hip collapse, or excessive muscle tightness. And let’s face it—you just feel more confident and comfortable practicing your sport.

Ski boot manufacturers leave the insole issue up to the user. Pull out the insole found in your cross country ski boots (or cycling shoes!). They are cheap, flat, felt-like inserts and offer zero arch support. High-end carbon shelled ski boots are practically begging for custom orthotics. If you’re using combi boots, understand that they are less supportive than skate boots and skate performance will improve given a more stable foot foundation. That’s where a good insole steps in. The foot support they provide will prevent most common foot issues.

If you are thinking about insoles, Gear West offers a couple of options. Simple over-the-counter insoles start at around $60 for a trim-to-fit option. For many athletes with healthy feet, OTC insoles improve alignment through basic arch and heal support to make a noticeable difference.

If your foot issues are unique enough to demand more attention, our custom-built footbeds can address most any lower body injuries and pain management. Years of experience building custom foot beds for Alpine skiers make up the profile of those working for Gear West. Building custom footbeds correctly involves a challenging mix of art and science. It takes years of experience to learn the subtleties of making footbeds to meet the functional, athletic, and comfort needs of the customer. Gear West is so confident that you will find success with our custom footbeds that we offer you an unconditional guarantee of improved performance and comfort or we will refund your investment of $250.00. Whether you’re dealing with arch pain, hot spots, or just want to boost your performance, the right insole makes all the difference.

To summarize, footbeds may offer more relief than you think. This includes:

• Support for flat feet or high arches
• Relief from heel pain and plantar fasciitis, or the prevention of such pain
• Relief from pain caused by bunions, hammertoes, corns and calluses
• Custom orthotic foot management translates into improved balance, improved transmission of power or pain management, all which equals better sports performance.

So, if you’re ready to take your Nordic skiing to the next level, what’s inside your boots is as important as your skis and poles. Your feet will thank you!

TAKE THE GEAR WEST INSOLE CHALLENGE. Any insole (which is properly fitted to your boot and foot), Over the Counter (OTC) or Custom, will improve your foot comfort and increase your balance when skiing. Book your custom insole appointment now!

If you are NOT completely satisfied, your money will be fully refunded.

If you ARE happy with your insoles and you submit a review to Gear West, we will provide you with a $20.00 gift certificate.

Offer good thru December 25, 2024