For most people over 60 dealing with plantar fasciitis, the right insert is a semi-rigid orthotic with a firm arch and a deep heel cup — not a soft gel cushion. The Powerstep Pinnacle is the sensible default: it has real arch structure, a cradled heel, and just enough top-layer cushioning to wear all day without your feet feeling like they’re standing on a plank. If your arches are on the higher side or you need something even more supportive for long walks, Superfeet Green is the step up.
That’s the short answer. The longer answer — why firm beats squishy, which insert fits which shoe, and who should skip orthotics entirely and see a podiatrist first — is below.
Why Firm Support Usually Beats Soft Cushioning
The instinct with sore feet is to reach for the softest, gel-iest insert on the shelf. It feels right in the store. Then you walk in them for an hour and the heel pain comes back.
Plantar fasciitis is, roughly, an irritation of the thick band of tissue running along the bottom of your foot from heel to toes. (If your soreness sits under the ball of the foot rather than the heel or arch, that’s a different problem with a different fix — an insert with a metatarsal pad for ball-of-foot pain over 60 is the one to look at instead.) What tends to help isn’t more padding under the sore spot — it’s support under the arch that keeps the fascia from being stretched and reloaded with every step. Firm arch support is designed to share the workload with that tissue instead of leaving it to do all the shock absorption on its own.
Soft gel inserts can feel good for short stretches — a trip to the mailbox, standing at the kitchen counter. But for morning walks, all-day errands, or travel days on your feet, they tend to compress flat and stop supporting anything. That’s when the heel pain creeps back by mid-afternoon.
This is the same principle that makes supportive walking shoes over 60 matter so much: structure under the arch, cushion under the heel, not the other way around.
What to Look For in an Insert After 60
A few features do most of the work:
- Arch height matched to your foot. Medium-to-high arch support is the sweet spot for most plantar fasciitis. If you have very flat feet, a slightly lower profile may feel less intrusive at first while you adjust.
- Deep heel cup. This cradles the fat pad under your heel — which naturally thins with age — and keeps it centered under the bone instead of squishing out sideways.
- Semi-rigid shell. You should be able to flex the insert with effort but not fold it in half. Full-soft = no support. Full-rigid = uncomfortable for casual wear.
- A thin top layer of foam. Enough to take the edge off, not so much that it kills the structure underneath.
- Trim-to-fit design. Most quality inserts come slightly oversized and are trimmed with scissors to match your shoe’s original insole.
One thing to know: a firm orthotic often feels worse for the first few days. Your feet are used to compensating. Give it about a week of gradual wear — an hour or two at a time — before deciding.
The Inserts Worth Considering
Powerstep Pinnacle Insoles
The best default for most people. Semi-rigid shell with a genuinely supportive arch, deep heel cup, and a dual-layer foam top that keeps them comfortable for full days. They fit into most walking shoes, sneakers, and roomier casual shoes without much fuss.
Best for: Anyone new to orthotic inserts, medium-arch feet, all-day wear on errands and walks.
Skip if: You need something for very tight dress shoes (the profile is a bit thick) or you have very high arches and need maximum structure.
Superfeet Green Insoles
Firmer and more structured than the Powerstep, with a taller heel cup and a rigid stabilizer under the arch. Devoted fans wear these for years. First-time users sometimes find them too much, too fast.
Best for: Higher arches, longer walks, people who’ve tried softer inserts and found them lacking. Also good if you’re on your feet a lot — similar reasoning to picking cushioned insoles for standing all day, but with more arch structure.
Skip if: You have flat feet and haven’t worn arch support before — the ramp-up can be rough. Consider Powerstep first.
Spenco Polysorb Cushioning Insoles
These are the honest middle ground. Moderate arch support, more cushion than the two above, and a lighter, more flexible feel overall. They’re not the answer for severe plantar fasciitis, but for mild cases — or as a comfort upgrade in a shoe that already has decent structure — they work well.
Best for: Mild symptoms, walking shoes that already have a built-in arch, people who find rigid orthotics uncomfortable.
Skip if: Your heel pain is sharp in the morning or persistent through the day. You need more structure than these provide.
Scholl’s Plantar Fasciitis Insoles
Widely available, budget-friendly, and a reasonable starting point if you’re not ready to invest in a firmer orthotic. The arch support is moderate and the cushioning is generous. For some people, that’s enough. For others, they compress too quickly to hold up over months of daily walking.
Best for: Trying an insert for the first time without spending much, casual shoes worn a few hours a day.
Skip if: You’re on your feet all day or you’ve already tried drugstore inserts and they haven’t cut it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long before I notice a difference? Most people who benefit from a firm insert notice something within a week or two of consistent wear. If a full month goes by with no change, the insert probably isn’t the right match — or the pain has another cause worth checking with a podiatrist.
Can I move the same insert between shoes? Yes, and most people do. Just make sure the receiving shoe has a removable factory insole — otherwise the fit gets tight and your toes end up cramped.
Do I wear them all day, right away? Better not to. Firm arch support asks your feet to work differently, and jumping to twelve hours on day one often causes new soreness. Start with an hour or two and build up over a week.
What about custom orthotics from a podiatrist? For most mild-to-moderate plantar fasciitis, a good over-the-counter insert like Powerstep or Superfeet handles the job. Custom orthotics are worth the cost if you have significant foot deformity, diabetes-related concerns, or you’ve genuinely tried quality OTC inserts and gotten nowhere.
Should I still stretch? Yes. Inserts do part of the work; calf and foot stretching does the other part. Tight calves and hips pull on the whole chain — the same reason hip flexor stretches matter after long sitting. A minute or two of calf stretching before you get out of bed helps a lot of people with that first-step morning pain.
Bottom Line
Start with the Powerstep Pinnacle if you’re new to orthotic inserts — it’s structured enough to matter, cushioned enough to live with. Move up to Superfeet Green if you have higher arches or need more for long days on your feet. Skip the soft gel inserts; they feel good for ten minutes and quit on you by the afternoon. And give any new insert a week of gradual wear before you decide whether it’s working.