Reviews > Footwear > Footbeds and Insoles > Archmolds Maximum Shoe Inserts > Chari Daignault > Long Term Report

Product: Maximum Heat Moldable Custom Insoles
Year manufactured: 2006
Advertised weight: N/A
Verified weight:  3.5 oz. per pair (99 g)
Thickness: 3 mm [0.12 in]
Size tested: Women's 8.5 - 9. [Also fits Men's 7 - 7.5]
Available sizes: Women's 4.5 - 12.5, Men's 6 - 16.5
Retail Price: $37.95

Initial Impressions

Please see my Initial Report on the Archmolds Maximum Insoles for a thorough product description and an explanation of the customization instructions and use.

In The Field

Please see my Field Report on the Archmolds Maximum Insoles for my experiences with this product during the first two months of testing and out in the field.

Summary

In continued daily use of the Archmolds Maximum Insoles in my trail running shoes, I have experienced no discomfort or degradation of support. The first weekend of November, I participated in a 5K [3.1 Miles] on asphalt roads. The run was comfortable, with no pain in my toes, heels or knees. My back had no issues as well. About the only thing bruised was my ego [5th place in a field of five 40-49ers].

Out on the trails, the Archmolds held up very well. They hug my feet and hold them steady on the footbed, even on sandy surfaces with unsure footing. This keeps my knees and ankles more stable and allows for much less risk of them turning the wrong way. I've also worn my trail running shoes with the Archmolds insoles to work a few times and out around town, to see how they are just walking around and carrying items -- very comfortable, with no issues [I didn't get "Mall Back"].

The Archmolds Maximum insoles I've been testing have over 200 miles [322 km] of pounding road use on them since July 2006. There is no discernable wear or tear on the insoles, other than a bit of fraying of the blue material along the outer edges along the toes and heels. They do not feel compacted or compressed; they actually feel better than when they were first inserted into my shoes.


Although machine washing instructions were not provided, I decided to try washing my Archmolds on the delicate cycle and then hung them out to dry in my laundry room inside the house. They washed up with no visible wear [attributable to the washing machine] and dried out overnight on the laundry rack. There was no perceptible foot odor prior to washing, and afterward they smelled clean and rubbery.

Conclusion

I have been very pleased with the performance of the Archmold Maximum Insoles in my trail running shoes. For this type of application, I would highly recommend their use. The only downside is that now when I hike with footwear that does not have the Archmold insoles, my back aches. I will definitely be purchasing a pair for my boots.


Testing note : I had originally intended to test these insoles in three different pairs of shoes. Due to the limit on the number of times these insoles can be heated and re-heated, I am testing in only one pair for the entire testing period. I chose my North Face Cutback trail running shoes.

Many thanks to Archmolds, LLC and BackpackGearTest.org for the opportunity to test this product.

Reviews > Footwear > Footbeds and Insoles > Archmolds Maximum Shoe Inserts > Chari Daignault > Long Term Report