Shock Doctor Ultra Custom Footbed
Long Term Report - June 20, 2005
Tester Information:
Name: Jason Boyle
Age: 28
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 6"/ 1.68 m
Weight: 170 lb/ 77 kg
Email address: c4jc"at" hotmail "dot" com
City, State, Country: Waldorf, Maryland, U.S.
Backpacking Background
I have been camping and backpacking for about 16 years. My introduction to the outdoors started with the BSA and has continued as an adult. I have hiked mostly in the Southeastern and Northeastern United States. I currently live near Washington D.C. and have made the mid-Atlantic mountains my playground. I used to carry everything and the kitchen sink, but I have become a lightweight hiker.
I have been wearing orthodic inserts for the past two plus years. I have a custom insert made for my work shoes and have been using Superfeet insoles in my running and casual shoes.
Product Information:
Manufacturer: Shock Doctor
Model: Ultra Custom Footbed
Size: Men's 8-9, they have multiple sizes listed on their website
Year of Manufacture: 2004
URL:www.shockdr.com
Listed weight: none provided
Measured weight: 5.5 oz (156 g) for the pair
MSRP: $49.95 US
Product Description:
This is the third in a series of reports. For a complete description of the insoles please see my inital report. For my opinion after two months of use please see my field report.
Summary:
Ah the dilemma, nothing can be perfect including these insoles. Let me say that I love the cushioning and feel of the insoles! But (there is always a "but") the durability of these insoles stinks. I have destroyed four pairs in the last six months.
Long Term Test Conditions:
I have used these insoles for running, hiking, backpacking, exercising, and normal daily wear. My running distances have varied from just a few miles to 50 km (31.4 miles) consecutively. The terrain they have been used on varies greatly from running inside on a treadmill to hiking on the rocky, rough trails found on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia and in the mountains of the mid Atlantic area. I have used the insoles in all precipitation conditions; specifically: snow, rain, and mud. The initial pair of insoles was subjected to 33 miles (55 km) of abuse before they gave up the ghost. The second pair received a little over 100 miles (159 km) on them before they delaminated the same as the first pair. I noticed this after a 50 km (31.4 mile) race. Two days after the race, I set off on a week long, 50 mile (79.6 km) hike and continued to wear the second pair of insoles on the trip even though the bottom had issues. The third pair lasted all of 30 miles (47.8 km) before the top foam layer came unglued. The fourth pair received about 120 miles (200 km) on them before the they meet their end.
Long Term Test Results:
Where to begin… I really like the cushioning of these insoles. They fit my feet well and are definitely the most comfortable insoles I have ever worn. The conformed to my feet the second I put them on and helped with foot fatigue especially on my longest race to date this season.
As an ultra runner and a long distance hiker, I need an insole that will last. Unfortunately these insoles have not lasted very well at all. In almost 340 miles (567 km) I have destroyed four pairs. I consider this too much of a hassle and would not recommend these insoles until the lamination problem is fixed.
 
 
The insoles did do a good job of not trapping any excess smells. As I stated previously my shoes stink, but the insoles smelled significantly less once removed from the shoes. Additionally, I did not experience any moisture problems while wearing the insoles, so it seems that the foam top did a good job of moving moisture from my feet.
I did say earlier that I wore the second pair of insoles hiking even though they had delamination problems. Since the delamination was on the bottom pieces, the insoles still functioned ok. The memory foam provided good cushioning and the arch support was adequate. Not optimal, but I was able to make due. When the top memory foam delaminates they are totally unusable. This is more of a concern for me, because the fourth pair gave up on my during a 40 mile (66.7 km) race. The back of the memory foam slipped forward and caused me significant irritation in my heel.
Customer Service:
The customer service provided by Shock Doctor improved greatly since the field report. When I called to replace the second pair, I was put in touch with the VP of Sales and Marketing who immediately worked to try to pinpoint the problem. He mentioned that they had not had the delamination problem with these insoles before. They immediately sent me new insoles and asked only that I send pictures of the problems. Based on my most recent experience with the customer service department at Shock Doctor I think that my negative experience reported on my field report was an anomaly.
Pros:
Great Fit
Awesome Cushioning
Con:
DURABILITY
Thanks again to BackpackGearTest.org and Shock Doctor for the opportunity to participate in this test.
Read more reviews of Shock Doctor gear
Read more gear reviews by Jason Boyle
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