Consumer Reports published this report after testing several styles and brands of Insoles. What they found may surprise you. The report is as follows: 12:00 AM EST on Monday, January 20, 2003 By Consumer Reports Aerobics instructor Pam Campana goes through a pair of shoes every three months. "Usually, the sneaker will begin to be compressed underneath my foot. It will cause my foot to slide and I'll feel pain in my shins," she said. Even if you don't go through shoes like Pam, you may be interested to know that Consumer Reports has a much less expensive option than buying a whole new pair - replacing the insoles in your old shoes. Testers just evaluated six different insoles that cost up to $40.00. A machine assesses the insole's shock absorption in different pairs of walking shoes. "We take out the original insole, we put in the replacement insole and then we test the cushioning," said Harv Ebel with Consumer Reports. But machines can't tell you everything, so the insoles were also tested where the rubber meets the road. Testers wore them for several weeks to see how they affect a shoe's performance. "We do blind tests. We take one brand of insole and put it in the left shoe and put another brand in the right shoe. The tester doesn't know which insole is in each shoe. That makes it an objective test," Ebel said. When all the results were in, the top-rated insoles were also the least expensive. The Spenco Polysorb Cross Trainer Insoles costs around $19. These can improve an older shoe's performance. Consumer Reports says it's important to make sure insoles fit correctly or they can slip and compromise stability and fit. The Spenco insoles are made to be trimmed to fit your shoes. You can use the insole you are replacing as a guide so you get the closest fit possible. Spenco manufactures several Polysorb cushioning insoles. The top three are the Cross Trainer Insoles, the Walker Runner Insoles and the Total Support Insoles. The Cross Trainer and Walker Runners sell for around $17 at The Insole Store while the Spenco Polysorb Total Support Insoles sell for just under $30 but provide arch support as well as cushioning. The Insole Store features Insoles, Orthotic Arch Supports, Cushioning Insoles, Gel Insoles and cushions and more from leading manufacturers such as Spenco, Superfeet, Sof Sole, Sole, Arch Angels and others. For detailed information about the full Spenco Insole line, visit The Insole Store today! Related Articles - spenco, spenco insoles, insoles, shoe insoles, shoe inserts, Email this Article to a Friend! Receive Articles like this one direct to your email box!Subscribe for free today!