Customer Reviews

IMMC4900 New Balance X-Sole Men's Motion Control Insoles, Pair, Size: 09.0, Width: D

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Effectiveness: A+
I have very flat feet, so I've constantly been on a quest for great shoes or inserts that correct my stride. In my ignorance, I first tried to find inserts with the highest arch thinking that's where I needed support the most. Wrong move. Higher arches didn't correct the inward ankle roll that flat feet tend to do mid-stride. What I really needed were inserts that aligned my ankle to a more neutral position. These X-soles do the trick.
In layman's terms, these insoles have a wedge shape design that basically "tilts" your foot toward the outside (little toe) edge. This wedge aligns your foot and ankle better, making you less prone to injury and the dreaded ankle roll. These are the only inserts I've seen with this feature.
Packaging: A
Normally, I don't care how it's packaged as long as the product works, but the information provided with the X-soles is so thorough I had to comment on it's benefits. The back of the box gives a basic summary of the corrective nature of the X-soles, but the pamphlet insert written by Dr. Michael Pryce details the symptoms, injuries, and corrections for flat feet. Read this excellent pamphlet's tips before you buy your next pair of shoes.
Summary: A
I bought several and placed these in my running shoes as well as my walking shoes. I've used everything from $ Dr. Sch011's to $$$ custom orthopedic inserts and these are my favorites by far. But if you are not completely satisfied, there's a guarantee and a Consumer Relations toll-free number included in the package. Very important for skeptics like me.

I disagree entirely on this review, other than the insoles are only going to work for the foot that is identical to its shape. With flat feet, pronation, etc. the rigidity of these inserts is painful for me, and absolutely the wrong thing to wear in shoes. They are a poor substitute for "rollbar" technology made by New Balance in the shoe itself, which does not use rigid materials to "correct" the person's pronation. These insoles just use brute force to accomplish the positioning. They seem to have been discontinued because of the rigidity and New Balance cannot recommend a replacement to me that attempts to correct pronation, since the "sports" model is not the correct one. If they fit your feet perfectly and the shape is just like your foot, then maybe this works. Otherwise, go for a rollbar shoe instead which places the technology in the sole of the shoe while your foot rests on the normal insole inside the shoe. The "doctor" who addressed the subject of pronation on the product packaging should have made this clear.