Get Custom Insoles Delivered to Your Door

You don’t have to go to a podiatrist’s office or shell out to get custom insoles anymore. Thanks to the wonders of 3D printing and smartphones, a few companies have figured out how to deliver affordable bespoke full-length insoles to your door—all you have to do is send in a few pictures of your feet. We tried Wiivv Wearables, whose full-length insoles cost $89, to see how good Internet insoles could possibly be. The answer: surprisingly decent.

Here’s how it works: You download Wiivv’s free app then follow its video instructions to take a few photos of your feet. The photos are uploaded to Wiivv, where its proprietary software uses 200 points on your foot to design the insoles (something that used to take hours of manual labor by a CAD engineer). The shell of the insole is then 3D printed out of powdered nylon material, then comaes a top layer of high-performance foam made from moisture-wicking polyester, spandex and recycled nylon. The insoles arrive on your doorstep one week after ordering.

The Kickstarter-funded brand started with ¾-length insoles made to fit in regular shoes on top of built-in insoles—they worked best for “industrial athletes,” or people whose jobs require them to be on their feet all day. But in November, Wiivv launched its first full-length insoles with that high-performance top layer, which work much better for athletes.

The ordering process is simple and convenient, though there’s room for user error—getting the perfect foot photo takes some acrobatics. Ultimately the insoles are comfortable, fit well in run shoes, have great arch support, are lightweight and a step up from off-the-rack varieties. For $89, they’re worth a try. Wiivv.com