Review: SQlab 216 Cushion insoles
Sometimes it’s the small things. SQlabs Cushion insoles are the perfect way to update you shoes and keep you comfortable in the saddle longer.
The handlebars, pedals and saddle are very important contact points when riding a bike. It is necessary that all three of these points are setup perfectly for each rider, especially when biking longer distances. Here, optimal power transfer, numbness and uncomfortable positions are how contact points can affect anyone’s ride. Everything has to work together to make sure time in the saddle is as comfortable as possible.
The Sqlab insole fits in every shoe.
The shape of the insole supports your feet.
The insole consists of different materials.
Optimising my shoes
For exactly the above mentioned reasons, I wanted to update my road shoes. Now, I’m not talking a new colour or other aesthetic detail. No, I wanted to update the shoes performance overall. The best way to do this was to look into insoles. SQlab offers, depending on the shape of the foot and leg position, three different types of insoles: Stability, Support and Cushion. Each insole has various support zones, which address individual weak points on the rider’s foot. SQlab’s description and charts on their webpage make it easy to find out which one fits you. It can also help to look at the outsoles of street shoes to see where the most wear is. This can help determine what type of foot type you have.
The SQlab Cushion insoles have various support zones.
In June of 2016 I bought the SQlap 216 Cushion insole in size XL. One size fits many different sizes and to fit the insole to your shoes, they need to be cut. It is best to remove the old insole and use it as a gauge to cut the new ones to size. This way the insoles fit in the shoe perfectly and can do their job of supporting your feet better.
Fitting the insole to the shoe only requires a pair of scissors and the old insole.
How they performed after 5,000 km
I rode these insoles the past year roughly 5,000 km. There were extended days in the saddle and the insole never gave me an issue. Often, one notices small things like this only when they don’t fit. The Cushion insole supported the outer side of the middle of my foot especially well. This small update to my shoes made the long hours of riding less noticeable to my feet. I would recommend anyone to give the SQlab soles a try, because they can make a big difference over time.
