While training for the NYC Half Marathon three years ago, chronic foot pain started nagging author Rachel Chang, so she pulled out all the stops, buying everything from compression socks and ankle braces to pain relief gels and patches. But after a series of podiatrist appointments gone wrong, she learned from an orthopedic surgeon that what she really needed were orthotics: customized insoles shaped for her foot. Before long, she was back on her feet pain-free.
While her particular case is admittedly more severe to correct for her extreme flat foot, and not everyone will need a customized set, the journey has been a serious wake-up call as to how essential that layer of padding under our feet can be.
Read more about The Best Insoles for Running, Hiking, and Long Travel Days
