CurrexSole Review The insoles that allow you to run free
By Ryan Light, Running/Anxiety Coach
I heard about currexSole from a running friend on twitter, I saw that they promote a insole for a “natural runner”. Interested in knowing more about how this insole allows you to “run naturally” I reached out to them to see if they would send me a few pairs to test and review. Now I must admit that since I would be classified as a “natural runner” which generally means you are a mid to forefoot striker, I was looking for a reason to give these insoles a bad review – well I can’t! After using them for about 6 weeks and putting about 150 miles in them I have to say they are awesome! I was shocked in how they do allow me to keep and hold my form while also allowing me to feel the ground when I’m running, I have used them in various training such as tempo, intervals, and long runs. Each time they held up quite well and never lost their firmness!
Who is currexSole?
currexSole is an international company primarily focused on making various insoles every kind of sports activity. I found that the company does line up to their core values of being “ambitious, independent and effective team of sports scientists and athletes who create products that result from the very latest research findings and meet the highest requirements.”
The Science! What’s the big deal?
Studies have shown that, “Comfort plays an important role in the selection process of the best fitting running shoe (Piller, 2002). To improve wearing comfort of running shoes, the approaches of footwear accessory industry range from individually customized via “semi” customized to “one size fits all” prefabricated insoles.” Throughout this study currexSole ranked the highest in overall comfort, heel cushion, and heel fit.
What is currexSole?
currexSole as they would refer to it as being, “currexSoles are small technological powerhouses beneath your feet.” The soles are made up of a four step process, top layer is primarily where the deep heel cup is focused. The second layer is made up of breathable material that wicks away the sweat and allows airflow to get under the foot helping is keep dry. The third layer is made of a soft bendable plastic what currexSole calls “3D DAT” it’s meant to provide to provide energy return with a “spring like” action, The last layer gives you some extra cushion under the balls and heels of your feet. This is mean for those long runs in which these areas are under the most stress.
The Sole!
I was given two insoles to try during my runs, the RUNPRO and the RUNFREE they were both similar in materials, but different in the amount and placement of the material. I found that both of the insoles were made for a sz 11 shoe, however both of them were about a half-size too big. Lucky, and I love this feature, they are made a little big and have ridges in the soles that allow you to cut to the exact size quite easily,
The RUNFREE
The RunFree’s main mantra is, well just what is says, RUNFREE, and that is exactly what I found wearing these. As i mention in my intro I’m a “minimalist” when is comes to running and I like being as low to the ground as possible. I found these insoles didn’t impede my foot movement at all. The insole allowed me to forefoot strike while providing me the energy return I was not expecting. I found that the insole did not stop me from feeling the ground, and it did give me the protection in the balls of my feet that is needed during a two to three-hour run, There was some flaws that I did notice. There are some “gel dots” on the big toe under the big toe to allow for some extra stabilization. I found them to be annoying and bothersome after a while, The “geldots” were intruding out of the insole and were piercing sometimes. I would have like them to be inverted so that on impact I could feel them rather than feeling them during the entire run, Other than that minor glitch I really liked the insole and did find that I was less fatigued when I wore them.
Note – The gel dots are to help enhance proprioception in your feet (aka help activate all of the tiny muscles to your feet truly work naturally)
The RUNPRO
Like the RUNFREE theRUNPRO is made of he same material, it just has more of it. I also found that the sole itself was thicker then the RUNFREE. Interesting enough I actually preferred to run in these soles over the RUNFREE, mostly because of the “geldots”, and I happen to like the extra cushion, especially during those longer runs. I was a pleasantly surprised that I could feel the ground as much as I could wearing these. The extra cushion is evident and I didn’t think I’d have that ground contact I like feeling., but I did. I also found that they insoles gave me some extra energy return and I felt less fatigue in them after my long runs. This most likely has to do with the arch piece, with these, this piece seemed larger than the one in the RUNFREE. This larger piece gave me that extra “bounce” that I happen to like and again was not expecting, but happily take.
Conclusion
Likes
- Allowed me to have cushion while allowing me to “run free”
- Less fatigue
- Energy return
- Ridge to allow to exact sizing
- Love, love, love that you the insole is “made” for runners like me, by using http://www.currex.de/en/products/insoles/which_insole_for_me.php I get the perfect insole
Dislikes
- Geldots on RUNFREE
- Anti-microbial the insoles are already discoloring
- Price tag, at $50.00 relatively inexpensive for a high quality insole, but still it’s $50.00
Overall
If you are looking for some extra “bounce” and protection while running then currexSole is for you. Wearing these insoles has made me a believer, and the RUNFREE are for sure in every shoe I run in to include all my “minimalist” shoes.
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My husband uses them- his feet have been causing him pain after long runs
They definitely deserve a try!
I use an insole because I have high arches and Plantar fasciitis sometimes.
I haven’t really used insoles before, I should give it a try some time in the future. Lately I noticed some pains in and after the run.
I’ve not used insoles, but I would like to try, especially after experience dealing with not-so-fun pf issues.
Thanks for taking the time for talking about these new shoe insoles, so excited to hear about them because we tend to suffer severe injuries such as planta fasica or foot pronation, this is definitely useful.