Cory Soulliard is a Runner’s Edge Ambassador for the 2018/19 season. You can usually find him volunteering or running at almost all of our Runners Edge events! He recently just crushed the Blue Mountain 30k! We asked him to compare the old Superfeet to the new Run Comfort Superfeet, and his thoughts are below… You can follow his adventures with his pup on intagram @corysoulliard.
Right out of the box I would say the original version of the Superfeet Blue (top) has gone through some improvements that lead to the new RUN Comfort 
Thin (bottom). Although fashion might not translate to function, the RUN Comfort looks much better than the original Superfeet Blue. I did notice before trimming the insoles that the RUN version does have a little bit more space available in the toe area. If you happen to be at the top of the size range and enjoy shoes with a wide toe box that may be helpful. Both version needed to be trimmed to fit my shoes so it did not change the performance for me. The newer version does talk about carbon fiber which always means better (except for emissions) when dealing with performance. I would say the integration of the solid support in the heel and the foam padding does seem to be a little more refined in the RUN insole as well as the heel cup appears to be a little deeper when placed side-by-side.The updated insole also sports a H.I.T. gel insert at the point of heel impact to help with shock absorption.
A quick trace of my old insole with a pen and a little trim and I was ready to slide the insoles into my Waveriders. Both insoles were thin enough that I would not have to worry about sizing up my shoes to handle the extra volume. At first I tried them just walking around the neighborhood with the Blue in my left shoe and the RUN in my right shoe. I could tell that the RUN version had a more defined arch and overall shape to the footbed. At first that was less comfortable to me. After wearing them for acouple hours I didn’t even notice the difference because my feet had adjusted. Next step, running in them. Since both feet had adjusted to their respective insoles without problem I was ready to run. I would highly recommend taking time and easing into any major changes to your running especially when the feet are concerned. I went for a short run first and I could instantly feel a change in the drop of my shoes. Generally I can swap from high to low drop without issue but the waveriders are on the higher side and the insoles boosted that even more. It did not cause any problems but I was happy I did not just take them out for a 15 miler.
In an effort to give the most comprehensive Superfeet review possible I did a little research on
the product, their claims, and the company in general. The most compelling quote from their
website was in reference to how the insoles work: “The human foot is designed to adapt to
uneven, natural terrain. Our world has become hard and flat, thanks to man-made surfaces like
sidewalks, tile floors and paved roads. For your foot, it’s exhausting, and can be painful.” I
spend as much of my running time on trails as possible and the trails in the Bitterroots are rarely
described as flat but all of my working hours are spent on said flat surfaces. Unfortunately I also
learned that I did a terrible job testing the product to provide this review. According to the
website, Superfeet are designed to be used in “a wide variety of footwear, from high heels to
hockey skates, hiking boots to high-tops.” I failed to attempt running in any of the mentioned
footwear.
To sum up my experience I would say if you were a fan of the Superfeet Blue then I would
expect that you will enjoy the improvements that have been made with the Comfort RUN Thin.
The RUN version looks better and has updated the insole to better meet the needs of most
runners. I am currently experimenting with using the insoles in my work shoes but I do not feel
the need for them on my daily runs. If you have never used insoles before then you can expect
the insoles to easily fit and provide improved stability, a better platform for your foot, and a slight
increase in the drop of your shoe. Should you be experiencing any difficulties with your running
that may be shoe/foot related, stop in and see your friends at Runners Edge and discuss your
options with an expert. They might have an insole for you to try or they might suggest you stop
running in hockey skates!
