By Frank S. Ring | Walking for Health and Fitness® | September 2026
Quick answer: The ordering process involved more than a quick phone photo: I scanned my feet with an iPhone, took ruler measurements, and recorded a short walking video. Stride checked one measurement with me before making the insoles. My pair arrived about two weeks later, fit my New Balance walking shoes, and took several days to feel natural under my arches. After about seven weeks of use, I like the support, but this is my experience with one pair and one main pair of shoes—not a promise that they will solve someone else's foot pain.
Disclosure: Stride provided my pair of custom insoles at no cost. If you buy through a link in this article, I may earn a commission. My observations are based on wearing the insoles in my own walking shoes since August 10, 2026.
Watch my Stride Soles video review and see the scan, unboxing, and first fit. https://youtu.be/rmgTK6kZgKw
As a walking educator, I spend a lot of time thinking about the small details that make a walk more comfortable and repeatable. Shoes matter, but so does what sits inside them. I was curious whether custom insoles ordered from home would feel meaningfully different from the inserts already in my walking shoes—and whether the phone-based ordering process would be manageable.
How I ordered Stride Soles from home
The iPhone scan was one part of my order. Using Stride's app, I scanned the soles of my feet, took measurements with a ruler, and submitted a video of myself walking toward and away from the camera. The walking clip gave Stride a view of how I moved; the ruler measurements provided another check on the foot scan.
One measurement looked unusual, and a member of the Stride team followed up to verify it. I appreciated that someone checked rather than simply producing the pair from an uncertain number. That was my experience; I cannot say how often Stride contacts other customers.
Stride says customers can complete the scan and gait recording with an iOS or Android device after ordering. Its website, www.stridesoles.com, is the best place to check current device requirements and instructions.
Delivery, unboxing, and fit in my walking shoes
My insoles arrived roughly two weeks after I completed the order, in a protective plastic envelope. I filmed the mailbox pickup, unboxing, and the moment I put them into my New Balance walking shoes for the first time. Those scenes are in the video above, so you can see the actual pair and fit rather than relying only on product images.
They slid into my shoes and fit well. That matters to me because an insole can feel promising in your hand and still be awkward once it takes up space inside the shoe. My experience here applies to these New Balance shoes; I have not tested this pair across a wide range of footwear.
The first week: an adjustment, not an instant verdict
The arch support initially felt a little “bumpy” under my feet. I did not take that first sensation as proof that the insoles were right or wrong for me. I increased my wear gradually, from about one hour to about six hours a day over the first six days.
After that adjustment period, the sensation became more familiar and I found the insoles supportive during my walks. Stride provides its own getting started guidance via email. Follow the instructions supplied with your pair and contact the company if the fit or comfort concerns you. If you have persistent foot pain or a diagnosed condition, a qualified foot-care clinician can help you decide what support is appropriate.
What I noticed after seven weeks
I have worn the Stride insoles in my New Balance walking shoes since August 10. They feel supportive to me and have become part of my regular walking setup.
I noticed another change during this period: the foot cramps I had experienced in yoga became much less frequent and less intense. I cannot establish that the insoles caused that change, and I am not claiming that insoles treat yoga-related cramps. It is simply something I noticed after I began using them.
On a hike in boots without the Stride insoles, I felt some discomfort in my right foot after about 20 minutes. That reminded me how different footwear can feel, but one hike cannot tell me whether the missing insoles were the reason. I have not yet tested this pair in those boots.
My honest take
What I liked: The ordering process could be done at home; a team member checked an unusual measurement; the delivered pair fit my walking shoes; and, after a gradual adjustment, the support felt good on my walks.
What to consider: The scan asks you to do several steps, including measurements and a gait video. The arch shape took time for me to get used to. Fit and comfort may differ with another foot, shoe, or activity. My observations come from one pair over about seven weeks, not a head-to-head test of multiple custom insoles.
For a walker who wants to explore a custom option without visiting a clinic for a mold, Stride may be worth considering. If you already have an orthotic prescription or an ongoing foot problem, discuss your needs with your clinician and check directly with Stride about how it handles prescriptions and fit.
Interested in the same pair I tried? See Stride Soles and use code WALKING. I received my pair free and may earn a commission if you purchase through this link. Check the cart to confirm that the discount is applied; if needed, enter WALKING at checkout.
Stride Soles questions I had before ordering
Is it really just an iPhone foot scan?
No. My order also included ruler measurements and a video of me walking toward and away from the camera. Stride says the process can be completed on iOS or Android after purchase. Check its current instructions at Stridesoles.com before ordering.
How long did delivery take?
My pair arrived in about two weeks. That was my order, not a guaranteed delivery time for every customer.
Did the insoles feel comfortable immediately?
They fit my shoes immediately, but the arch support initially felt unfamiliar. I gradually increased my wear over six days. Comfort is individual, and I would not judge a custom insole only by its first few minutes—or keep wearing one that causes concerning pain.
Did they cure my foot cramps?
I would not make that claim. I noticed fewer and less intense cramps in yoga during the weeks after I started wearing the insoles in my walking shoes, but other factors may have contributed.
Can I move them into my hiking boots?
Yes, I easily put my Stride insoles into my hiking boot. My hiking observation was made while wearing boots **without** the Stride insoles.
See the full review, then decide
My video review: https://youtu.be/rmgTK6kZgKw shows the real ordering and unboxing footage and how the insoles went into my shoes. If you value seeing the process before you buy, start there. Then consider your own shoes, comfort, and any advice you have received about your feet.
Stride gave me the pair I reviewed, and I may earn a commission from a purchase through this link. Verify the discount and current terms at checkout.
*Walk on. Stay steady. Stay STRONG,
Frank S. Ring
Author: Walking for Health and Fitness, Fitness Walking and Bodyweight Exercises, Walking Inspiration, Walking Logbook Journal , and Walking Works Blueprint
