Reviews > Footwear > Footbeds and Insoles > Superfeet Green Synergizers > Owner Review by Sam Johnson

Owner Review - Superfeet Synergizer Green Capsule Footbeds, February 8, 2006

Superfeet Synergizer Green Capsule
Footbeds

I started backpacking in 2001, but I have car camped all over the western US. My longest backpacking trip was 14 days with the Colorado Outward Bound School (now Outward Bound West), but most of my adventures are weekend trips. Most of these trips have been in the the chaparral of Santa Barbara County or in Plumas National Forest.

Also relevant to this review is my bi-lateral patella squint. This condition means that my kneecaps turn slightly inwards and can cause me pain on days which are rough on my knees. Good insoles/footbeds are helpful in preventing this pain.

Descriptions of Product

Footbed consists of 1/8 in (3 mm) closed cell foam in front third and heel. Thicker foam creates heel cup, and arch support. The foam is dense and not very compressible – this is closed cell foam, not foam rubber. Rear two-thirds of the footbed is supported with a rigid plastic. This creates a stiffer heel cup and stronger arch support. A tightly woven top covers the footbed, reduces friction (Superfeet calls it Holofiber® technology) and increases durability. This thing is not cushy, but it keeps the foot where it is supposed to be.

Maintenance

At the time of purchase Superfeet had no prescribed maintenance but the box mentioned that with everyday use, the footbeds should last around 12 months for an average adult. The website now recommends cleaning with an old brush, mild soap and warm water.

Personal History with the Product

I purchased these footbeds with my Merrell Grand Traverse Boots. From my running experience, I knew I needed arch support and proper foot placement to reduce wear on my knees. I use Spenco arch support insoles in my running shoes but they have too much compression for hiking. With the compression of the Spenco insoles, I would risk stressing my Achilles tendon or calf. The Vibram soles of my boots would offer modest shock absorption, if my foot repeatedly landed in the correct place. These Superfeet footbeds are intended to do just this.

I wore the product around town and on minor day hikes while breaking in my boots. My first major trip was 14 days of backpacking in Colorado. I carried a pack weighing roughly 45 lb / 20 kg and the footbeds worked very well. When my boots were properly laced, my food did not move about much. My heel could not land out of place – always solidly in the center of the boot. This made for a very solid base when kicking steps into snow, hiking down scree and talus slopes for over an hour at a time, and prolonged general downhill travel. When traveling uphill the effects were less obvious, but I could still feel the solid base when I needed it.

I also used these footbeds while cruising timber for eight weeks during the summer of 2005. The footbeds performed outstandingly here, as well. My work involved a lot of off trail tromping and running across heavily littered forest floors on a variety of inclines. I would leap and run down these slopes with my toes up so my heel would break through the layer of forest debris to insure a that I would not slip. This maneuver would not work if my heel had been slipping around in my boot.

Other than these two experiences, I have taken these same boots and footbeds on a number of backpacking trips and day hikes. Nothing as strenuous as my Colorado trip, but they have continued to perform well. I also wear these boots on extremely rainy days. The Superfeet footbeds ensure I land squarely in the boot, and I feel very secure even when walking downhill on slippery bricks. I think my boots are mostly responsible for the grip, but the footbeds help proper weight placement so the grip holds.

Remarks

Even after all these years, my footbeds are in great shape. I think my boots are breathing their last gasps after the beating they took cruising timber but the footbeds seem just as functional as ever. The foam seems to be solid and supportive as ever, the heel cup is uncracked and only cosmetically marred, the fabric has not lifted on ANY edge, and the footbeds carry very little odor (impressive considering I've never washed them).

These are tough. The Superfeet footbeds are not cushy, but they fit my feet well. I feel very solid in my boots when wearing them. These footbeds make a great connection between my feet and the sole of my boot. I don't even really notice my footbeds – they take up almost exactly as much space as the original liners and dry faster than the rest of my boot after a rainy or sweaty day. These things are tough little supports with no true weakness. For me, Superfeet footbeds are like replacing the bottom of my boot with a hard mould of my foot. They don't smell, they don't get wet, they don't break – my foot is the weakest part of the system.

Improvements? Perhaps some foam rubber on the front of the footbed, providing some cushioning for the forefoot as the balls of my feet get sore on long days. What else can I say, they do what I want them to do – couple my feet to my boots and ensure good foot form.

Reviews > Footwear > Footbeds and Insoles > Superfeet Green Synergizers > Owner Review by Sam Johnson