One size fits all: how insoles like these actually work
The question people ask in the aisle
Someone is standing in front of the footcare shelf at ICA or Kronans Apotek holding a pack that says “one size fits all”. They wear a 44. Their partner wears a 37. Both cannot be true, surely.
Both are true, and the reason is less mysterious than it sounds.
What “one size fits all” is really saying
The phrase is shorthand for two different things, depending on the product.
On a full-length insole it means the insole is made at the largest size in its range and is designed to be trimmed down. The pack includes a cutting guide. You cut it to your foot. That is the “cut to fit” or “trim to fit” line you will also see on the front.
On a heel insert, a gel toe protector or a corn cushion it means something else. These cover a small part of the foot and are made from materials that stretch, compress and conform. A heel cup sits in the heel of the shoe and the heel presses into it. A gel tube stretches over a toe. There is nothing to cut because there is no length that has to match.
So on a Footcore pack, “one size fits all” means either you will trim this, or this stretches.
The three formats in the range
Knowing which format you are holding answers most of the fitting questions.
Full length. The Memory Foam insoles and the Dubbel Dämpning insoles run heel to toe and either replace the insole already in the shoe or sit on top of it. Both are unisex, both are trimmed to fit, and the Memory Foam pack comes with a cutting guide and instructions. Full length is the format for whole-foot tiredness, all-day standing and general comfort.
Heel only. The Advanced Gel heel insert covers the heel and stops there. It comes in men’s and women’s sizes and needs no cutting. Heel-only suits a problem that is specifically about heel impact, and it fits shoes that a full-length insole would make too tight.
Toe and spot. Tåhätta, Tåskydd, the Gel Tube, Liktornsdynor and the Moleskin roll each cover one small area. They stretch, or they are cut from a roll, or they stick where you need them.
Nothing stops you combining formats. A full-length insole plus a corn cushion is a normal pairing.
How to trim an insole properly
The mistake that ruins an insole is cutting too much. You cannot put it back.
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Take the existing insole out of the shoe. Most shoes have one and it lifts out. This is your template, and it is a far better guide than the shoe itself.
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Lay it on top of the new insole, heels aligned exactly. Heel first, always. The heel end is shaped and should never be trimmed.
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Draw round the toe end with a pen. Only the toe end usually needs trimming, and often only the front centimetre or two.
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Cut outside the line. Leave a couple of millimetres. Follow the printed cutting guide where the pack has one.
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Try it in the shoe before cutting again. Put it in, put the shoe on, walk about. Trim a little more if it buckles at the toe.
If the shoe has no removable insole, stand on the new one in bare feet, mark just in front of your longest toe, and cut there. Then test and trim again as needed.
Fitting mistakes worth avoiding
Cutting from the heel. The heel end carries the shaping. Always trim from the toe.
Cutting in one go. Two careful trims beat one confident one.
Doubling up without checking the room. Putting a full-length insole on top of the original in an already snug shoe makes it tight, and can cause the rubbing you were trying to avoid. Take the original out, or choose a heel-only insert.
Wrong shoe type. A cushioned full-length insole is at home in a trainer, a work shoe, a boot or a flat everyday shoe. It will not behave in a court shoe or a sandal. For those, spot protection is the sensible format.
Trying it for ten minutes. Memory foam in particular takes a few wears to settle to the shape of your foot.
Forgetting to swap them over. Insoles belong in the shoes you spend your day in, not the ones by the door.
A note on socks
Try a new insole with the socks you normally wear with those shoes. Thick work socks and thin summer socks change the fit noticeably, and it is much easier to discover that before you cut.
Where to buy
Footcore is sold off the shelf in Sweden at ICA Supermarket and Kronans Apotek. There is no online shop. The pack names stay in Swedish even where the rest of the packaging is not, so look for Dubbel Dämpning, Tåhätta, Tåskydd, Liktornsdynor and Hallux Valgus-skydd on the shelf, and read the “Ideal for” line on the front, which tells you what each one was made for.
