I worked for a podiatrist, and Amazon's $22 orthotics are comparable to the real deal

TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Why we love this deal

Before becoming a writer, my career background was in healthcare, which started with working for a podiatrist during college. I'd check in patients for ingrown toenails, bunions, and sprains, but most frequently, people visited because of daily and consistent foot pain, often stemming from a very common condition called plantar fasciitis. The go-to treatment for relief was custom-fit orthotics, which cost over $400, and they were rarely covered by insurance. 

Instead of splurging hundreds of dollars on custom-made inserts, I suggest first trying Amazon's no. 1 bestselling shoe insole, the Valsole Heavy-Duty Support Pain Relief Orthotics. Normally, this top-rated foot care product retails for $36, but right now you can get it for only $22 with a limited-time discount of 38% off. One reviewer even wrote, "My podiatrist actually recommended these instead of custom-made orthotics, and I can tell you they work great."

Valsole Heavy-Duty Support Pain Relief Orthotics, $22 (was $36) at Amazon

Why do shoppers love it?

Plantar fasciitis will affect one in ten people at some point during their life, and the biggest sign that you're dealing with this condition is heel pain when you first get out of bed in the morning. Stretching and arch support in the form of custom-fit orthotics are the gold standards of treatment for plantar fasciitis, but with the right inserts, like the ones from Valsole, you can also improve aches from other sources, like flat feet, heel spurs, or fallen arches.

Constructed with a firm, high-density foam, these orthotic shoe inserts are designed for daily wear. To continuously provide rigid arch support, the material is harder than your standard cushioned insole, which means some people will need to wear the orthotics for short periods as they adjust to the feeling. The benefit of these heavy-duty insoles is that shock is absorbed in every step, body weight is distributed for reduced impact, and the stress on the foot is eased. 

Related: Amazon's bestselling standing desk is on sale for $85 and it makes working a joy

Whether you're wearing work boots, cute sneakers, or running shoes, you can slip these pain-relieving insoles into your shoes, which can be trimmed to precisely tailor the fit to your footwear. As a bonus, these insoles can be used for workouts and running, and stinky feet won't be an issue since they're made of premium fabric designed to reduce odor and keep things fresh.

Details to know 

• Sizes available: These insoles come in men's shoe sizes 4 to 15.5 and women's shoe sizes 6 to 17.5.
• What shoes can they be used with?: These orthotics can be fit to all types of footwear, except dress shoes or heeled shoes.
• Can they help with overpronation?: Yes, the deep heel cup design provides stability to improve overpronation.

With more than 3,000 perfect five-star ratings and more than 6,000 units sold within the last month, these bestselling insoles are a winning choice. "These are a perfect fit, and they work for me," raved one reviewer. Even more impressive, they wrote, "I have a podiatrist-made set of inserts, and they help, but these work well and feel better than the podiatrist's custom-made inserts."

Shop more deals

• Paplus Plantar Fasciitis Compression Socks, $19 (was $22) at Amazon
• Renpho Heated Foot Massager Machine, $81 (was $150) at Amazon
• Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 Supportive Running Shoe, $100 (was $140) at Amazon

Maybe you will need custom-fit, highly expensive orthotics, but before you shell out the big bucks, you might as well try the Valsole Heavy-Duty Support Pain Relief Orthotics for only $22 at Amazon. If they do improve your foot pain, you'll be walking comfortably with hundreds of dollars saved in your pocket.