Shock Doctor

Ultra 2 Footbeds

Long Term Report

Biographical Information:

Name: Chuck Carnes

Age: 34

Gender: Male

Height: 6’0” (1.83 m)

Weight: 175 lbs (79 kg)

Email address: ctcarnes1(at)yahoo(dot)com

City, State, Country: Taylors, South Carolina, United States

Date: December 2, 2004

Backpacking Background:

I love the outdoors – I’ve spent time camping in the outdoors since I was born, and have been actively hiking and backpacking for the past ten years. I consider myself a lightweight hiker, usually carrying 20 – 30 pounds (11-13 kg) for hikes up to a week in length. I hike at an easy pace, averaging 2 mph (3 kph). I am a one man tent camper for now until something I like better comes along. I like to carry a single trekking pole when I hike to help relieve stress to my legs and knees. I like to get out on the trail as often as I can.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Shock Doctor, Inc.

Size: 9.5 – 10.5 (Men’s US)

Year of Manufacture: 2004

URL: www.shockdoc.com

MSRP: not listed by manufacturer

Listed weight: no weight listed by manufacturer

Weight as delivered: 5 oz (142 g) (pair)

Features of Shock Doctor Ultra 2 Footbeds:

• CONTROL BAR stabilizes the heel and controls pronation.
• ADAPTIVE ARCH supports high, medium and low arches.
• Metatarsal support relaxes the foot and helps relieve Plantar Fasciitis pain.
• Composite foams absorb shock under heel, arch, midfoot and ball of foot.
• Anti-Microbial Air/FX top cover reduces friction and controls odor.
• COMFORTEMP microspheres maintain a temperature balanced environment; cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cool.

Initial Report

Field Report

Comments from the manufacturer to the particular tester

“Our footbeds size out about 1/2 size longer than marked. A 9.5 shoe should usually use a 8-9 footbed. A 11 shoe should usually use a 9.5-10.5 footbed. We have also observed, depending upon the last and listed sizes on shoes and boots that most shoes and boots run shorter than listed size. Our footbeds are based on a true size scale, but shoes vary so much. We have seen, for instance, a 11.5 in one brand equal a 10.5 in length of another. My point is we find that it's best that when on the edge of the size scale use the smaller size.”

“Despite Chuck Carnes positive results Chuck is using a 9.5-10.5 Ultra2 footbed in a 8.5 hiking boot. This is too big a footbed to be cut down this much, as well as the heel cup of this footbed will likely be too wide for the boot and the heel of the foot will not be cradled very well.”

”In Chuck's 9.5 trail shoes the fit should be better, but I think Chuck would be better off with a 8-9 Ultra2 which measures out best for a 8.5 and a 9.5. I would expect a better fit all the way around, as well as a better match of the biomechanical shape of the footbed to the foot's anatomic shape.”

Long Term Report

            Since my Field Report I have experienced much colder and rainier weather. I have experienced temperatures as low as 27 F (-2 C) in the mountains of Pisgah National Forest at an elevation of 6300 ft (1920 m). I note this particular experience because on this trip I had a chance to see how well the footbeds performed under cold, wet and rainy conditions. I realize that the footbed is in the boot and really not exposed to the outside but water usually finds its way into my boot somehow or another. The trails on this trip were like small creeks so the whole time that I am trying to get to my campsite my feet are tromping in ankle deep flowing water. As I finally reached the campsite and removed my boots I noticed that the footbeds were dry. I removed the footbeds to dry my boots out and noticed a little bit of water that was between the footbed and the sole of the boot. I was wearing gaiters on this hike so I couldn’t figure out where the water had come from. Then it dawned on me, the tongue of the boot. The tongue had allowed water to seep in. The footbed was wet on the bottom obviously but the top of the footbed was dry. I was very impressed at the comfort of the footbed throughout the trip through the ankle deep, foot soaking trails. My feet never felt like they were wet or that my feet were being robbed of support from the wetness.

            After the footbeds dried on the bottom and my boots dried out inside, I placed them back in the boots for preparation of a cold night. The temperatures dropped to a low 27 F (-2 C) with a cold wet ground to stand on. With the temperatures that cold I can usually feel the coldness of the ground through the soles of my boots. Not in this case. The footbeds insulated my feet from the cold ground and prevented my feet from being cold.

            The boots that I am referring to are my Asolo full grain leather boots size 8 ½ USA. As mentioned from the manufacturer comments, it seems that the size footbed that I have is not for this size of boot. I did do some trimming of the footbed and made it fit in my boots. I have found great comfort in these footbeds and all the sections of my feet seem to hit in all the right places on the footbed. These may not be the right size for this boot but I have enjoyed the comfort each time that I wear them.

            For the record, the footbeds have performed great and I have worn these footbeds in all of my shoes and have basically worn them everyday since I have started this test. I have keep a pretty close track of how many miles I have put on these footbeds and the total comes to about 350 to 360 miles (564 to 580 km) in a 6 month period. All of the observations that were concluded in my Field Report continue to stand true to this point in the test. Aside from the logos wearing off of the top of the footbed, the comfort and support is still there.

Thank you Shock Doctor and BGT for giving me the opportunity to test these wonderful footbeds. It was a pleasure to test this great product and I hope that the reports that I have filed will be helpful towards future design.