Reviews > Footwear > Footbeds and Insoles > Archmolds Maximum Shoe Inserts > Bob Sanders > Initial Report

Initial Report: Archmolds Maximum Custom Insoles

Date: 7-24-06

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Bob Sanders
Age: 48
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 190 lb (81.6 kg)
Email: sherpabob(at)mac(dot)com
City: Boulder, Colorado USA

Backpacking Background: I went on my first backpacking trip as a Boy Scout at the age of 16. Over the years I have hiked the Wonderland Trail in Washington and section hiked parts of the Florida Trail and the Appalachian Trail. In 2003 during a seven week period I hiked 740 mi (1191 km) of the Pacific Crest Trail. Best vacation I ever took. I continue to backpack and hike year round in the Colorado mountains. I have evolved from a heavyweight backpacker to a lightweight backpacker. My three day summer solo adventures (using a hammock) have me hovering around a 12 lb (6.8 kg) base weight.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Manufacturer: Archmolds, LLC
Year of Manufacture: 2006
Manufacturer Website: www.archmolds.com
Size: Men's 11-11.5 US
Listed Weight: N/A
Measured Weight: 5 oz. per pair (141 g)
Color: Blue
MSRP: US $37.95

The Archmolds Maximum insoles arrived in a simple Ziplock type plastic bag with an illustrated instruction insert.

From the Archmolds website:
Designed for footwear with removable insoles. Archmolds Maximum comes with 3mm of Polyurethane cushioning for maximum shock absorption.
• Elimination of foot, leg, hip and back pain through proper body alignment
• Prevent injuries as people age, become more active, or change their lifestyle.
• Experience comfort while standing, walking, or running.
• Personalization, yet still offering support in the lateral, medial, and heel arch areas.
• Improve balance by evenly distributing weight.
• Deep supportive heal cup
• Anatomically correct arch
• Heat moldable sub layer
• 120 day warranty
• Antibacterial Nano Silver in top layer kills bacteria that causes odor

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

First I tested the fit inside the shoes I was going to test with. Since it is summer time and hot I chose my pair of New Balance 1022 running shoes. I chose these because they are well ventilated and I wear these walking, running, hiking and backpacking. As long as the trails are not too rocky I will stick with these. I removed the original insoles. The new inserts slid right in and seem to fit perfectly with no trimming. I followed the instruction sheet for heat molding which is as follows. Preheat oven to 225° F (104° C). Place one insole at a time in the oven and heat until the white temperature tab on the back turns black. Check tab after 1 minute 30 seconds and every 15 seconds after that until the tab turns black. First insole took 1 minute 45 seconds. I removed the insole and quickly placed it in my shoe. I expected it to be hot to the touch but it was really just very warm. I slipped the shoe on and stood on it with all my weight for one minute. I then just repeated the process with the second insole and shoe.

The instructions indicate the heat molding process can be done up to 5 times. I did notice that the heat tab indicator on the bottom of the insole (which turns from white to black when the correct temperature is reached) has remained black even after cooling for several hours. So future heat remolding will have to be done only on a time basis.

The insoles are bulkier and thicker than standard manufactures insoles. So I had to loosen the laces and retie to add more interior room. I can definitely feel their presence inside my shoes. My first impression is they feel very supportive with lots of cushioning.

Test Locations:

The Archmold Maximum Insoles will be tested in a variety of locations throughout the Colorado Front Range and central Rocky Mountains. Summer and fall weather conditions during the testing period can range from 100° F (37° C) to 60° F (15° C) during the day and from 65° F (18° C) to 40° F (4° C) at night. Summer time in Colorado can be quite hot and the humidity is almost always low. Except when it's raining.

I am outside quite a bit during this time of year. I take fitness walks almost every day before work and hike in the foothills between 4-8 miles almost every weekend.

I have 4 (3 day) trips planned to the Rocky Mountain National Park, and the Indian Peaks Wilderness area. My plan is to go backpacking once a month during the testing period. With the addition of some spontaneous overnighters. Elevations will be approx. 6000 - 9000 ft (1829 - 2743 m).

Test Criteria:

1. Comfort/Support - This will probably be the main criteria. Just how comfortable are they? Does the extra cushioning really make a difference? Do they take up more room in my shoes (then factory insoles) causing less volume and a cramped foot. Do they stay put inside the shoe without sliding around? How much lateral support do they give? And the real test is how well do my feet feel at the end of the day after a solid 15 miles carrying a full pack? Will the extra cushioning and support help my knees any?

2. Durability - Will they hold up after many miles and lots of pounding? I'm a big guy and some of the trails above treeline are quite rough.

3. Smell Factor - Website says they have a nano silver antibacterial layer. How well does that work? How easy are they to remove and clean? Can they be cleaned in a washing machine? How quickly do they dry?

I would like to thank both BackpackerGearTest and Archmolds for the opportunity to test these insoles.

Reviews > Footwear > Footbeds and Insoles > Archmolds Maximum Shoe Inserts > Bob Sanders > Initial Report