At this point I feel that footbeds are a necessary part of all my footwear.  Forgetting to switch my footbeds into the shoes I am going to wear leads to foot pain that is very unpleasant.  For me, footbeds are way of life. 

Website Impressions:
Overall, this site was easy to navigate and fun to visit.  The only issue that I have is that the available sizes for the footbeds was only available once I went to the online store to shop.  Once there, I was able to find all the available sizes.  I just wish this had been accessible on the main information page for this product.

Initial impressions:
I pulled the Shock Doctor Ultra Custom footbeds out of the envelope that they arrived in and before I could even get them out of the zip closure bag they came in, I saw that they were colorful.  Purple, grey, red, and black were all present somewhere on the insoles.  Wow!!!! What a great piece of gear.  I was more than a little glad that they go inside of my boots.

Just from holding them and smashing them between my fingers, I am very intrigued by these footbeds.  They seem soft enough, and sturdy enough to hold up to extreme usage.   Of course, I haven't put them in shoes yet or worn them, but that is coming and I have high hopes for these darling footbeds.

Besides being colorful, the are very 'smooshy".  The material is soft and springs back into shape quickly, which makes me wonder if they will actually form to my foot or just provide a springy insole that doesn't' shape to my feet.

I also wonder how trimable the Ultra Custom footbeds are. My previous experience has been to trim the footbed material in the toe area if a footbed didn't fit into a shoe/boot.   The material in the front these footbeds seems much thicker than I am used to and it will take a very sharp pair of shears to get the job done. Hopefully though, trimming will not be an issue.  I have big feet, big shoes and a nice new pair of footbeds to put in them. 

Test plan:

Footwear: 
The Shock Doctor Ultra Custom Footbeds will be used in a variety of shoes during the test period.  These include Hi-Tek hiking boots, Sketchers Athletic shoes, Nunn and Bush Dress shoes (church clothes) and my Sketchers Loafers that I wear to work everyday. 

Testing Location/Conditions:
These footbeds will be tested in South East and Central Texas during the winter months.  This means temperatures between 40 F and 75 F (7 C to 24 C) as well as varied levels of precipitation.  This will range from rain all the way to dense fog and everything in between.

The terrain will mainly be flat with a few hilly sections in central Texas.

In School on carpet and tile floors

Humidity – This will range from nearly 20% to at least 100% in Southeast Texas.

Rain – Fall in Texas should be wet, cool, and generally a great time to test this item.

Wind – Dead calm to breezy.

Testing Activities:
Day hikes and weekend hiking/camping trips
Daily biking
Jogging
Daily wear at work (teaching)

Test Strategy:

1. Will the footbeds fit in my hiking boots along with my liner socks and hiking socks?

2. How do the footbeds fit into a variety of shoes? Are there any wear or rubbing issues with any type of shoe?

3. Will the footbeds provide enough support to keep my feet from hurting after hiking or working?

4. How easy/quick is it to switch footbeds between shoes?

5. After prolonged hiking (2+ days) will the footbeds develop unwanted odors?

6. Will any odors be permanent or will they wash out of the footbeds?

7. Can the footbeds be washed/cleaned?

8. How long does it take the footbeds to dry after cleaning or getting wet on the trail?

9. The Ultra Custom footbeds are described as “self-forming” to the wearer’s feet without any special process needed. How quickly does the footbed mold to my feet?  Will it hold this shape permanently?

10. Do different types of socks (synthetic, cotton, padded, non-padded) work well with the footbeds?

Reviews > Footwear > Footbeds and Insoles > Shock Doctor Ultra Custom Insoles > Thomas Vickers > Initial Report