Sole Performance Wide Insole Review For Snowboarders

An In Depth Breakdown and comparison of how the Sole Performance Wide Insole Rides Review by The Good Ride

• User Reviews
• Product Specs
• Product Images
• Questions?

How The Sole It Was Tested:

I borrowed the Sole Performance Wide Insole for an extended demo, and due to sanitary reasons, I can’t send it back.

First, I rode these on their own for a few days. Then I went up with my Union Force bindings and Nitro Team TLS boots. I took my first run with the Team factory insoles, then I took out the front insole and started swapping it out with Sole, then Remind, always putting one in the front and leaving the factory insole in the back to see the difference compared to what you get with stock.

I went through all of these front-foot-only, and I also compared them against really high-end custom orthotics from Sand Sole Technology. They make an amazing insole, and it was a hell of a test.

Size: 9 Medium Arch 
Days: 3
Conditions: Mostly varied groomer conditions. 
Riders: James (Size 9 E, 5’10”, 185-190lbs). I’ve tested and compared 850+ boards, 200+ bindings, and 120+ boots
Redundancy: Strapins in case boots or bindings break.
Jacket: Skyline Fuse Jacket, Jones Mtn Surf Anorak
Pant: Skyline Fase 3L Bib Pant, Skyline Faze Pant, Jones Mountain Surf Pant
Helmet: Smith Method, Smith Scout
Goggle: Smith 4D Mag Low Bridge Fit
Gloves: Burton AK Clutch Mitt, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove

Boots

Nitro Team BOA, Nitro Team TLS

Bindings:

Union Force

Boards:

Capita Black Snowboard Of Death,  Yes Greats

James’ Foot Specs

Foot Size: 9 US
Foot Width: E
Arch Length: Right & Left 9.5
Instep: (Left and Right) 10.5”

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Sizing/Fit/Liner

These come one full size at a time. I got size nines, and they almost fit, but if you’re a nine and a half, you have to get a ten and cut it down.

I’m a 9E. These are a little too wide for my feet, but I like that. So if you’re a double or triple E, these will be amazing. I cut these to match how my foot spreads out when I’m weighted down in the boot, so I really appreciated this wider fit compared to the regular Sole.

Footprint insoles also come pretty wide, so you can cut them for a medium/wide foot. Remind insoles are best for a D width and below.

Thickness

When it comes to thickness, these are only a few millimeters throughout. They’re not very thick, and even compared to these, they feel a good bit thinner. That’s great if you’re somebody with a really thick foot and a high instep because these might work for you.

For me, I have lots of room in my boots, so I can put in a really thick insole like this one and, with most boots, have zero issues.

Arch Support / Heat Molding

These are heat-moldable, so even though they’re made of cork, you can throw them in an oven and get them to conform better to your arch.

Construction

When it comes to materials, they’re using recycled cork. Then you have a very thin layer of foam, maybe around two millimeters, and then the typical top layer that every insole has. It’s a very thin insole.

Shock Absorption

When it comes to shock absorption, I felt like it was really lacking. I don’t feel like this is designed or made for snowboarders. We’re moving at higher speeds than the human body was designed for through all those years of evolution.

Their whole approach is about keeping all the skin contained around the heel, along with the fatty tissue underneath, to improve shock absorption. That’s fine, and a lot of other insoles do that. They have that same type of heel cup throughout. Even my Kingfoam Orthotic, when it’s in the boot, holds my heel well in place.

Comparison to Remind and Footprint

All of these from Remind, and especially those from Footprint, have exceptional shock absorption underneath. They’re soft from the heel all the way to the forefoot.

Instead of having a hard bottom from the heel through the middle of the foot, which feels like it’s creating a barrier between your foot and the exceptional shock absorption in the heel of my Nitro Team TLS boots, these feel like they’re working with the boot from my foot all the way down to the sole.

So this was the worst of all the insoles in my test. Even their Active Thick was the second worst. These were a distant last compared to everything I tried from Footprint and Remind.

I was kind of surprised they didn’t have a thicker insole than this. This is more like their average insole, especially after looking at the shoes they sent me, the Jasper Chukka, which I absolutely love. It’s such an amazing shoe with so much shock absorption.

Why It Didn’t Work for Snowboarding

Even the insole in their Jasper Chukka shoe defies the logic behind their Performance insoles by simply being nice and soft. It works with the shock absorption in the midsole, and I never feel like there’s a barrier between them.

When I take out that insole and put in one of these, it makes the shoe feel worse. I really wish they would take some notes from these excellent shoes they’re making. I don’t really have a place to review them on my website, but I wish I did because they’re exceptional. They fit wide feet really well, and I really like them.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to the Sole Performance Wide Medium, I just don’t think it’s designed well for snowboarders and what we’re doing on the mountain. These feel more like something I’d want in a casual shoe, so I’d leave them in that world.

If you’re choosing between the Remind Medic Impact, other Remind insoles, Footprint, and the Sole Performance Wide Medium, I’d strongly recommend choosing either Remind or, even more so, Footprint if shock absorption is really important to you.