Good Feet stores are now found in the Seattle area and I have been asked by several of my patients to provide a Good Feet Store review.
There are many other great shoe and arch support stores in the area that I refer to every day. These include Super Jock ‘n Jill, Sole Perfection, SHOES-n-FEET and Chicks’s Shoes. All of these stores provide expert and valuable service to my patients. I can’t say that the same is true of the Good Feet stores. In fact, it is my opinion that they provide very poor value.
Not a Good Value
The primary problem I have with Good Feet stores and the reason they have such poor reviews is that they are charging hundreds of dollars for arch supports that are, in my opinion, inferior to arch supports that will cost you no more than about $60.
In fact, for the hundreds of dollars we have seen some people spend on Good Feet orthotics you can get a custom orthotic that will almost always do more to reduce pain than any prefabricated orthotic (if the orthotic is made by a skilled and experienced practitioner).
Don’t get me wrong – not everyone with foot pain needs a custom orthotic. In fact, most people will probably do fine with a really good prefabricated orthotic. But if you are going to spend more than about $100, get a custom orthotic from a podiatrist specializing in orthotic therapy.
Poor Arch Support
In addition, from my evaluation, Good Feet arch supports provide very little support of the mid-portion of the arch. They are not bad devices, per se, but they are also not particularly effective arch supports for a majority of patients and they cost many times more than arch supports that in my opinion work much better to eliminate the most common types of foot pain. For example brands like PowerStep, New Balance and Superfeet provide greater support and cost up to 10 times less than Good Feet. Some of our most recommended OTC arch supports are listed below.
Please read this important disclosure about the products recommended in this article.
Recommended Alternatives to Good Feet
For example, one of the prefabricated arch supports I recommend the most is the FootChair Medical Grade Orthotic. This arch support has a significantly higher arch than the 
standard Good Feet arch support and it also includes pads that can be added under the cover to customize the arch height for greater comfort and support.
A number of studies have shown that orthotics with higher arches are more effective at reducing the forces that cause pain in the most common foot conditions. These conditions include:
- Plantar Fasciitis: A higher arched orthotic helps prevent the arch from collapsing and in turn reduces tension on the plantar fascia. You can read here detailed information on how orthotics for plantar fasciitis should function (including the studies supporting a higher arch to treat arch and heel pain). The FootChair orthotic mentioned above is excellent for plantar fasciitis.
- If you prefer a shorter device the 3/4 length FootChair Slim is a very good choice.
If you want a good device for women’s dress shoes, see my recommendation below.
- Ball of Foot Pain: The higher arched orthotic has been shown in a number studies to more effectively transfer force off of the ball of the foot in order to reduce the pressure that causes pain under the forefoot. Read more here about orthotics for ball of foot pain. The metatarsal raise that is found on the standard Good Feet arch support is also effective at transferring pressure off of the ball of the foot but according to most of the available studies it is not as effective as the higher arched arch support. In my opinion a better choice for most people with ball of foot pain is the PowerStep Pinnacle with Metatarsal Pad. This has a higher than average arch and also has a metatarsal pad. This gives you the best of both worlds – the combination of the higher arch PLUS the metatarsal pad does a superb job at reducing pressure on the ball of the foot. You can usually find them for around $40 – which is just a fraction of the price of the most common Good Feet arch support. Currently this Powerstep with Metatarsal Pad is my favorite device for anyone with pain under the ball of the foot including those with Morton’s neuroma, metatarsalgia, sesamoiditis and calluses.
- Bunions and Big Toe Joint Pain: This is the third common foot problem that current studies respond best to an arch support that conforms close to the arch of the foot. The same Footchair or PowerStep orthotics recommended for plantar fasciitis above are excellent choices for anyone with big toe joint pain. You can learn here exactly how orthotics should function to help bunions and big toe joints.
Women’s Dress Shoes: If you are looking for an alternative arch support for dress shoes we usually recommend another FootChair product. The FootChair Slim Orthotic with adjustable arch support has excellent arch support with adjustable arch height and fits in both flats and heels.
A Very Similar Alternative
In a previous blog I compared Good Feet arch supports to Walkfit. Walkfit, I find, is a very similar device in shape to the standard Good Feet arch support in that it has a fairly low arch with a large metatarsal raise. In that blog I go into greater detail on why I give the arch supports from both Walkfit and 
Good Feet an overall poor review.
But in Walkfits favor, in my review of the devices I find that the Walkfit are essentially the same shape (and thus the same type of support) as the GoodFeet devices at about 1/10 of the price!
In that blog, you can also read an online discussion I had with a publicist from Good Feet who tried to argue my points.
You can see the Walkfit Arch Support here.
Let the Buyer Beware
My recommendation is simply “let the buyer beware”. Do your research before buying any over the counter arch supports. In general you can get great OTC arch supports for under $60 that we find are much more supportive than the ones from Good Feet at a fraction of the cost.
Where to Get Arch Supports in Seattle
If you are in the Seattle area you can find a great selection of what we consider much better arch supports at stores such as Super Jock n Jill, SHOES-n-FEET, Chick’s and Sole Perfection. REI also has a wide selection of good arch supports.
If you have a more serious foot condition, would like information on whether custom orthotics might help you or you have tried the OTC arch supports and they just don’t provide adequate relief of your pain then contact us for an appointment.
Updated List of Best Prefabricated Orthotics
I try to update this page pretty regularly, but for our always updated list of the prefabricated orthotics we currently recommend you can go to our Best Prefabricated Orthotics page.
- Do I Have to Keep Wearing My Orthotics if My Feet Feel Better? - November 29, 2019
- Flip Flops and Sandals for Ball of Foot Pain | Podiatrist Recommended - August 5, 2018
- How To Strengthen the Arch of Foot - August 31, 2017
From a fellow foot specialist who has no financial interest in any “orthopedic” shoe stores, I would like to thank Dr. Huppin for taking the time to post this information. I agree that they aren’t selling anything harmful that I know of but the devices they sell are not custom and are quite inferior to true custom devices and to a few over the counter devices as well (as mentioned by Dr. Huppin). SAVE YOURSELF HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS- don’t go there!
That’s right… dont go there. From the time you step inside the shop the pressure is on… to sell!
Expensive footwear which they tell you is a must .
Exorbitantly- priced mass produced inserts. Nothing custom made whatsoever. Pressure, pressure, pressure…and elderly people get sucked in. It cost my boyfriend over $600 for ‘treating me’ to their footwear. I was unable to get a refund just a couple of days and never having worn them outside. Yet I tried a few shoes inside…none of which were particularly comfortable. Do yourself a big favour… don’t entertain this company. And by the way, don’t try using the inserts in your normal shoes…they ruin the lining! I am horribly embarrassed whenever I see/hear adverts and testimonials for these things. They are not qualified in podiatry. You are dealing with nothing more than pressurising salespeople.
I am looking at the Brooks Ariel shoe I have pins and a plate in my ankle what is the difference between the 14 and 16 models I have notice that my ankle seems to be turning inward and it swells often is this shoe going to be enough support or should I get insoles also? Are is there another shoe I should be looking at I also need a wide
The 16 is just a newer model. There is no significant difference. I can’t give individual medical advice online but in general someone with a history like yours would benefit a lot from an insole that provides a lot of support. I recommend the FootChair Adjustable Orthotic as the arch can be adjusted for best support.
If that doesn’t work see a podiatrist about a custom orthotic.
i am 72 yrs old was having trouble with pain in my hip when i walked. i wish i had done research on good feet before i went there. i am in so much pain after wearing them for a few weeks. the pain is now up and down my leg. I can’t even walk into a store without crying now with the pain. this has been since may of this year 2017. they have exchanged them twice for me but nothing is different. it was a waste of money, I would not recommend them at all. good feet is a rip off
Hi Cecilia,
I just read your post about the good feet store that you did in 2017. I thought I had written it myself when I read it. I too am 72 and have great pain in my hips & back. So much so that I’ve had multiple back surgeries and a spinal cord stimulator implanted, but that’s another novel.
I’ve known for some time now that my right leg is shorter than my left, probably from the years of arthritis in my spine and now scoliosis. My slacks come over my right shoe. So,,,,, I’ve experimented by myself. I’ve been wearing one shoe or slipper around the house, maybe it’s an inch different , but it made a world of difference. I can stand with both knees straight, (not bending the left and putting all my weight on the right leg).
So I thought I would look into the good feet store to see if they could help me, but first I checked the reviews, that’s when I ran across yours. Whoa,,,,, like I said, I could have written it myself. My question is, did you ever get satisfaction for your pain? And if you did, how? Did you go to a Podiotrist? I’m actually thinking about getting something from the drug store to see if it works before I get taken by someone more interested in their pocket than my pain. I know Dr’s. don’t like people diagnosing themselves, but who knows more about yourself, them or us?
I know this was a lengthy reply, but thanks for listening, and if you were to reply to me, I would love to hear from you.
Mary Jean Kowalski
mrsmjski@icloud.com
Total ripoff.Costs $900,If they dont work,they offer in store credit,turns out to be a pair of their shoes .+_ $200.Tonite I see new ad where the Lady shows all the used insoles she has bought,and only shows ONE Good feet insoles (not 3 )as comparison .I would not recommend Good feet store.
Spend over 1000 and still not working for me. What can i do?
Any chance there’s an updated selection of stores/alternative brands? Since your article was written a few years ago…
I update this page regularly. List is current in 2022. You can always find our most updated list of prefabricated orthotics at: https://www.footankle.com/orthotics/off-the-shelf/
Dr. Huppin, I am a 66 year old woman who has child-size feet. My right foot supinates. I can’t begin to tell you how many times this has caused me to trip and fall. Can you recommend an orthotic that will help correct this problem. I do not live in the Washington area so I need a recommendation for place that ships orthotics. Thank you for any help you can give me.
I wasn’t aware going into the good feet store that my arch supports would be so costly??
I was an owner before I knew it- shame on me.
Buyer beware. I also went there with high hopes. I developed plantar fasci. I bought the 300 arch support, did what they said and they made my foot worse. I should have just gone to the podiatrist and had an ortho made. A 900 plan is absurd and a total rip off. If they advertised that there would be no good feet store. They really are a rip off.
I went in thinking it was just a mechanical fitting and should provide some relief. After getting the plastic inserts, my pain actually increased severely after spending all that money. Anyone looking for treatment for plantar fasciitis or other issues with foot pain and walking, go to a podiatrist with an education and training rather than store clerk who was working next door at a chicken restaurant 2 days ago. These stores are a sham and you could go to Walmart and the Dr. Scholl’s fitting station and fare as well for a lot less money. They offered store credit and I commented “Great, I can buy more inferior product. Please refund my money and I will leave or I can stand here and advise other victims as they come into the store.” They threatened to have me removed and I said OK I will just stand outside the store. They said they would issue a refund. It never arrived and when I returned the sales person was no longer working there. Horrible experience.
I wish I had read this before I invest a ton of money, I found that the good feet store I was no help at all for my Hallux Rigidis rígidos (toe joint arthritis ) and very flat overpronating feet. I think the moral of the story here is to make sure you go to a podiatrist first and understand all the options and the different pros and cons of various offerings. I find that my $90 custom orthotics and a fantastic pair of Hokas are much more helpful
I BOUGHT THE ENTIRE GOOD FEET PROGRAM. TRIED IT FOR 30 DAYS BY THE BOOK. ALL I CAN SAYIDS I WASTED $1500. WHAT A RIP OFF. A $12 PAIR OF DR, SCHOLLS INSERTS WOULD HAVE BEENBETTER.
Good Feet commercials on TV are pathetic. Little girl who’s full of herself talks dowhow good volley ball player she is . Who promotes that kind of cockyness..not cute . And the person who runs good feet putting down the poor guy with 30 yr plantar fasciitis and says “ Where ya been ?”
Felt Ike smacking her. What a jerk!!!!!🤨😡
Wouldn’t go here if my feet were falling off