Do you think much about the insoles in your running shoes? I was sent two pairs of OrthoLite insoles to try out and I wanted to let my readers know what I thought of them. Chances are if you have a running shoe, you already have an OrthoLite insole. Most major running shoe manufacturers use OrthoLite insoles in their shoes, so there’s a good chance you’ve already tried out an OrthoLite product. My OrthoLite insole review is focused on the two insoles I was provided, the Fusion and X-40.

Fusion Insole

Of the two insoles I was provided, the Fusion insole was more of a basic insole. It felt slightly more cushioned than the sockliner that came in my shoe, but the overall softness was similar. I didn’t notice it when I ran in it, which is a good thing. Although I didn’t try it on any really long runs, I’m confident that the insole wouldn’t bother my foot if I did some serious mileage in it. The Fusion insole struck me as a good, basic insole that would be great if something happened to the sockliner of your shoe and you needed a basic replacement.

X-40 Insole

The X-40 is OrthoLite’s “high rebound” insole that they designed for high impact activities. The overall fit of the insole was practically identical to the Fusion insole—relatively flat to accommodate all arch types. I thought this insole felt much more cushioned and comfortable than the Fusion insole and out of the two, I think I prefer the feel of the X-40 insole. I used the X-40 for some speedwork and really liked the feel of the extra bounce compared to the Fusion insole.

Overall Thoughts

Pros:

• Inexpensive. You can pick up a set of the Fusion insoles on Amazon for $20.
• Decent cushion, especially in the X-40.
• These insoles will fit just about any foot.
• The insoles are washable according to OrthoLite, which is nice if they get a little grimy.

Cons:

• Almost no arch support. If you have flat feet this would be okay, but I have high arches and prefer a high arch in my insoles to support the arch of my foot.
• No solid heel cup to help align the heel properly, which would help with proper foot landing.

Do you replace the sockliners of your running shoes with a different insole?
Do you have high arches?