REASONS TO BUY
Gel cushioning
Inexpensive
Easy to cut
REASONS TO AVOID
No footbed support
Flimsy
Questionable durability
Dr. Scholl's Work with Massaging Gel Review
A budget-friendly insole that offers cushioning but no support
Credit: Travis Reddinger
By Travis Reddinger ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ November 9, 2026
RELATED: The Best Insoles of 2026
Our Verdict
Dr. Scholl's Work with Massaging Gel is an insole that provides good comfort and cushioning performance at a budget-friendly price. The flexible insole is designed to reduce odor, and the gel cushion absorbs impact in the heel and midfoot. Unfortunately, the insole offers little arch support, and its soft, flexible design doesn't support proper anatomical alignment for people with chronic pain. If you want a simple cushion design with no extra frills, this low-cost option can offer some extra cushioning over your shoe's standard insole, but if you need support, look elsewhere.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Dr. Scholl's Work with Massaging Gel | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Insole |  Best Bang for Your Buck | |||
| Price | $16.00 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $60 List Check REI (on sale!) | $20.00 List Check Amazon (on sale!) | $17.00 List Check Price at Amazon | $18.00 List Check Amazon (on sale!) |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | These inexpensive insoles provide a layer of comfortable cushioning but no real support | Semi-rigid with excellent arch and heel support plus deep cushion, all without burdening your shoes with unnecessary extra weight | These semi-rigid insoles help maintain anatomical alignment while reducing foot pain and fatigue | A wallet-friendly insert that delivers stabilizing basics but lacks significant support | An inexpensive insole for those needing additional cushion but without requiring too much additional support |
| Rating Categories | Dr. Scholl's Work wi... | Superfeet Hike Support | Walk Hero All-Purpos... | Dr. Scholl's Run Act... | Dr. Scholl's Plantar... |
| Comfort and Fit (30%) | |||||
| Cushion (20%) | |||||
| Arch Support (20%) | |||||
| Footbed Support (20%) | |||||
| Construction and Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Dr. Scholl's Work wi... | Superfeet Hike Support | Walk Hero All-Purpos... | Dr. Scholl's Run Act... | Dr. Scholl's Plantar... |
| Rigidity/Flex | Flexible | Semi-rigid | Semi-rigid | Semi-rigid | Semi-rigid |
| Arch Support Options | Medium | Medium to high | Flat or high arch | Medium | Medium |
| Arch Height (Measured) | 2 cm | 1.8 cm | 3.2 cm | 1.7 cm | 1.0 cm |
| Heel Cup | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Weight Per Pair | 4.62 oz | 2.82 oz | 4.76 oz | 4.05 oz | 2.39 oz |
| Cushioning at Toe (Measured) | 0.40 cm | 0.59 cm | 0.40 cm | 0.50 cm | 0.40 cm |
| Cushioning at Heel (Measured) | 0.80 cm | 1 cm | 0.70 cm | 0.75 cm | 1.30 cm |
| Heel Cup Height (Measured) | 2 cm | 2.50 cm | 2.3 cm | 1.75 cm | 0.30 cm |
| Heel Features | Shock absorbing, contoured gel. | Deep heel cup | Deep heel cup | Deep heel cup | Shock absorbing heel cup |
| Additional Forefoot Support | Cushioning | N/A | NA | Metatarsal support pad |
N/A |
| Moisture & Odor Prevention Treatment | Polygiene StayFresh | Moisturewick top layer | Antimicrobial top layer | Polygiene StayFresh technology top layer | None listed |
| Materials | Foam and gel | Dual-layer cushioning foam, carbon fiber cap | Dual-layer memory foam | Foam | Foam |
| Design Style | Sports/athletic | Orthotic/arch support | Orthotic/arch support | Sports/athletic | Orthotic/plantar fasciitis |
| Available Sizes (Size Tested) | 2 sizes 8-14 women's 6-10 (mens) |
4 sizes from 5.5 - 13 (9.5-11) | 13 sizes 4-16.5 (test size unknown) |
2 options: men's 8-14, women's 6-10 (women's 6-10) | 2 options: men's 8-14, women's 6-10 (women's 6-10) |
| Full Length Tested (Measured) | 29.5 cm | 26.0 cm | 29 cm | 26.0 cm | 25.6 cm |
| Trim-to-Fit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Gel style cushioning improves comfort in work boots by reducing impact. Credit: Travis Reddinger
Likes
The Dr. Scholl's Work with Massaging Gel insole is a one-size-fits-all approach that requires you to cut it to size. Cutting the insoles is a simple task, and we appreciated the option for footwear with wider toe profiles. If you wear shoes with a wider toe box, these insoles let you match the factory insoles, unlike pre-cut options that are too narrow and leave space on the sides. These cushion-style insoles are comfortable and absorb impact in footwear with stiffer soles like work boots, which should mean less pain and jarring in the joints.
Flexible and light, these add more padding than stock insoles without adding too much volume. Credit: Travis Reddinger
We appreciated that the insole provides extra cushioning without adding much volume inside the shoe. This allowed us to use them in various footwear to reduce foot pain and fatigue without making them feel tight. We tested these in various athletic shoes and work boots, and didn't have any issues with instep or toe tightness like other insoles. Dr. Scholl's also features Polygiene StayFresh Technology for odor control and has ventilation holes in the forefoot to improve airflow and help with sweaty feet. The ventilation holes seem to help with prolonged use, and our feet didn't feel as sweaty. Some odor and dampness remained on the insole, however, despite the treatment.
With lots of flex, this design provides cushioning and not much more. Credit: Travis Reddinger
Dislikes
Dr. Scholl's Work with Massaging Gel is a flexible insole that lacks the structure needed for good arch support and anatomical alignment. We would have liked to see some additions that would help prevent overpronation.
The flexible insoles take a little effort to seat properly. Credit: Travis Reddinger
The insoles are also pretty floppy, and the bottom material is sticky. Inserting the insoles into footwear was a challenge because we had to fold them up when sliding them in, then try to smooth them out from heel to toe. Depending on the shoe, it can be hard to reach far enough forward to smooth out all the wrinkles. A few times we thought they were flat, but had to keep working to smooth them completely.
Because these insoles lack a firm base, they don't support the midfoot or forefoot bones, which may be necessary for people with chronic foot pain. The arch padding helps cushion impact, but it doesn't provide support for those who need more structure or promote proper foot alignment. The cushioning held up during our testing, but we question the gel's longevity and how it may compress over time, requiring replacement.
Flexible enough to roll up, these provide cushioning but no real support. Credit: Travis Reddinger
Should You Buy The Dr. Scholl's Work with Massaging Gel?
If you're looking for serious support, we don't recommend these. They provide mild cushioning that can help reduce joint impact that causes pain and fatigue, but many people will want more structure than this Dr. Scholl's insole can offer. They're simple, lightweight, and inexpensive if you just need a little more cushioning on a budget. But those needing strong arch support or a deep heel cup for a locked-in feel should look elsewhere.
These worked well for work boots that needed a little extra cushion for comfort. Credit: Travis Reddinger
What Other Insoles Should You Consider?
If your goal is significant cushioning, the Spenco Polysorb Cross Trainer has a lot of dense foam that absorbs impact throughout the foot. A solid option for budget-conscious buyers is the Walk Hero All-Purpose Plantar Fasciitis Relief, which has a semi-rigid backing and prominent arch for a more supportive, corrective feel. If you want to go all out and really treat your feet, the Superfeet Hike Support is one of our favorite insoles. It's four times the price of the Dr. Scholl's, but we think it's worth it.
—Travis Reddinger
You Might Also Like
