Initial Report

Initial Report

Shock Doctor UltraCustom Footbeds

December 12, 2004

Manufacturer: Shock Doctor
URL: http://www.shockdoc.com/
MSRP: $49.95 US
year model: 2004
listed weight: n/a
measured weight (women's size 6.5-7.5): 6.1 ounces for the pair (3.2 ounces for the left, and 2.9 ounces for the right)
tester: Colleen Porter
tester shoe size: women's 8
tester background: I have never used any kind of insoles or inserts before, other than cheapo $2 foam cushions from the corner drugstore. But at the tender age of twenty-nine my feet have begun to show me less and less mercy, so I'm ready to see how much of a difference a good pair of insoles can make. I think my feet are very normal, but I do have high arches. I have broken both of my pinky toes in my lifetime - not recently, but they do occasionally ache and sometimes react strangely to some shoes. For a more complete biography of me & my backpacking style, see the end of the report.

product description: The UltraCustoms are insoles with at least eight different features. These features include: SR Foam, I-Shock pads in heel and forefoot, Control Bar to stabilize the heel and control pronation, Adaptive arch for all arch heights, metatarsal support, multi-layer composite foams, an anti-microbial Air/FX top cover to reduce friction & control odor, and Shockdome Technology to absorb impact. For some really nice photographs of the UltraCustoms, don't miss Jason Boyle's Initial Report.

Initial Impressions: The insoles look very high-end. They come in a zippered see-through pouch with a cardboard insert that describes the features. They are quite colorful, in grey, bright red, black & blue colors. I was surprised at how stiff the centers felt when I took them out - the part marked "control bar" is the stiffest part. My first thought was, "These will never be comfortable," but once I put them in a pair of shoes I was surprised at how un-stiff they felt under my feet. The foam on the top is very soft and comfortable, even against bare feet. So far, the UltraCustoms have fit into all the shoes I have tried them in, with no need for trimming. They do seem to be thicker than the manufacturer's insoles of my shoes.

Test Location and Conditions: I anticipate that I will be spending most of the next six months in California, in terrain ranging from deserts to mountains. Winter desert hiking will mostly be dry and consist of on-and-off-trail activity (think sand, dry riverbeds, ancient lava flows, and abandoned mines), with a fair bit of scrambling and non-technical climbing involved as well. The UltraCustoms might even get used with snowshoes, if I can work in a snow trip. Spring means the rainy season, when the mountains begin to thaw and the creeks run high. Elevations may range from below sea level to over 8000'/2400 m.

I will be using the UltraCustoms in the following shoes: New Balance 704's, Merrell Chameleon Ventilator Lows, Merrell Sonora Ventilators, Merrell Motovator Mid Gore-Tex's, Teva Wraptor 2's, and my trusty Converse low-tops. And yes, I'm very fond of Merrells.

Test Plan/Considerations: Basically, I'm going to use the UltraCustoms for 6 months and let you know exactly what I think of them. Remember that I have never used any kind of after-market insole before, so I'm starting this test as a blank slate. My main areas of concern are:

Comfort. By that, I don't just mean how cushy they feel. The heel cup is pretty stiff - could it possibly cause blisters if I'm walking for many hours at a time? After a long day, especially when I've been walking on concrete, my feet get tired and sore - will the UltraCustoms make a noticeable difference? My arches are higher than average, and the UltraCustoms do come closer to fitting them than my shoes do normally. Can the UltraCustoms alleviate - or even eliminate - the sharp pains I sometimes get in my arches?

Durability. Is the foam going to wear away and leave hard plastic to poke into my feet? I know the foam can't last forever, but hopefully six months isn't too much to expect. Will the shock-absorbing properties hold up over daily long-term use?

I will report on the other performance claims as well. I admit I am skeptical about the odor & moisture control claims. I have some shoes that claim to inhibit odor, but I have been able to stink up even those shoes. If I end up having to trim them, it will be included in my reports. I hope to give a glowing review six months from now, but if the UltraCustoms don't live up to their claims I'll do my best to detail what any problems are.

I would like to thank both Shock Doctor and BackpackGearTest for the opportunity to test the UltraCustoms. Thank you.

Tester Information

Name: Colleen Porter
Age: 29
Height: 5'8"/1.73 m
Weight: 140 lbs./64 kg.
Email address: tarbubble at yahoo dot com
Location: Orange County, CA
Backpacking Background: I have been hiking for over 15 years, backpacking for 8. I’ve only been serious about it for the last 2.5 years or so. I hike and backpack primarily in southern and central California, so environments run the gamut from coastal to desert to alpine. I love to hike in sandals, but am still searching for the perfect pair. Almost all of my trips are on established trails - I never intend to bushwack, but occasionally I end up on a disused trail and at least make an attempt at getting through the overgrowth. When I manage to get out on my own I pack quite lightly (about 13 pounds/6 kg base weight), but more often than not my husband and 2-year-old son are in tow.

Read more reviews of Shock Doctor gear
Read more gear reviews by Colleen Porter

Reviews > Footwear > Footbeds and Insoles > Shock Doctor Ultra Custom Insoles > Colleen Porter > Initial Report

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