The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

BB Reviews: Dr. Scholl's For Her Ball of Foot Cushions


Recently I received a complimentary pair of Dr. Scholl's For Her Ball of Foot Cushions ($5.99), a product that promises "comfort where you need it most" so you can rock your fabulous heels without aching feet. Sound too good to be true? Well, I put these inserts to the test by wearing them for a busy day of work in the city - Uptown, Downtown, subway stairs, cobblestone streets - the works. Keep reading to find out how well they performed...or didn't.

What they say: "Have you ever experienced Fabulitis - discomfort caused by the decision to wear uncomfortable, yet fabulous shoes? As the first and only full line of products designed specifically for women, Dr. Scholl's For Her is here to help... From pedicure products to insoles for your favorite pairs of heels, Dr. Scholl's For Her enables women to look and feel fabulous."

Dr. Scholl's For Her Ball of Foot Cushions ($5.99): "These cushions provide instant comfort while massaging feet with every step and cushioning the sensitive ball of foot area. They are uniquely designed to stay firmly in place and fit both open and close style shoes."

What I thought: When Dr. Scholl's approached me to test out their new line of products, I was so excited. I had a specific pair of ankle boots in mind, and a specific date in mind to really put these to the test: I would wear my Mossimo for Target ankle boots (seen here) to a day of press previews in New York City. As much as I love love love those ankle boots, they KILL my feet, specifically, the balls of my feet start to burn after about the first hour of wearing them. I chalk it up to little or no platform and a very thin, non-existent footbed. What better way to find out if Dr. Scholl's really lived up to it's money-back-guarantee of comfort?

So I slipped my shoe inserts into the boots and headed out for the day. The inserts are very easy to use, there's no glue or tacky tape needed, just position and you're ready to go. They didn't budge at all - I wore them for about 8 hours straight - and they don't leave any residue behind. They're very easy to remove and insert into another shoe.

The only downside: They don't work AT ALL. My feet were killing me, as usual, after about one hour of wearing my boots. I experienced no difference whatsoever in the level of comfort. In fact, the balls of my feet were hurting so bad that I had to stop at a shoe store and buy a pair of flats, just so I could make it home in one piece. (I got some cute gold sandals on sale for $40 at Shoegasm, so not a total loss. And yes, I should have been carrying my Kushyfoot Flats to Go, but I forgot to pack them.)

I am so glad these were a free sample and so glad I didn't waste my money on these. I had such high hopes, but for my feet, and my shoes, they were entirely ineffective. This was just my experience, some of you may love these inserts and you might have luck with them, but I will not be using them again (what's the point?) and I certainly wouldn't recommend them to a friend.

How about you, have you tried Dr. Scholl's for Her Ball of Foot Inserts? Are you a fan? Speak up if you like these!

Dr. Scholl's For Her products are available nationwide at most food, drug and mass retailers. More information about the full line is available online at www.facebook.com/drschollsforher or www.drscholls.com.

FTC Discolure: I received the product reviewed in this post free of charge. The opinions expressed are entirely my own as was the choice to write this review.


Comments
I have these, and I like them. However, I bought them to keep my foot from sliding around in my heels, not to make my shoes more comfortable. I think that they are good for improving fit, but ineffective for improving comfort.
#1 Sudha on 2011-05-29 14:22 (Reply)
I use these in most of my heels and I think they work really well. I guess maybe it just depends on the person. I personally love them.
#2 Mckenzie on 2011-05-29 14:27 (Reply)
I didn't like them either. I'm on my feet all day at work and I bought them so I could wear heels to work. I didn't think they made my shoes any more comfortable.
#3 Jessica on 2011-05-29 15:31 (Reply)
I couldn't agree more! I used them for an uncomfortable pair of really cute heels and when wearing the shoes, it was as if the inserts weren't there! Maybe if you layered them it would help? But otherwise, they're totally worthless!
#4 Sharona on 2011-05-29 16:23 (Reply)
I also tried these once, and was very disappointed, especially since I have high expectations from the Dr. Scholl's brand. As far as I remember, in Europe they market them as good for dancing in heels, but they didn't even help me walk in the heels I was hoping to make more comfortable.
#5 Greta on 2011-05-29 16:53 (Reply)
I agree they don't work much, much at least with heels. I did find they work perfectly with sandals, and especially the cheap $10 ones lol
#6 Vnssa906 on 2011-05-29 17:20 (Reply)
I have tried something similar -- but not these. I believe they were also Dr. Scholls but they have sticky stuff on them and I leave them in this pair of shoes permanently. They offer some relief, but don't make the shoes completely pain free. What we do for fashion!
#7 Beth (Homepage) on 2011-05-29 18:29 (Reply)
DAMN! i was really hoping you'd say you'd found the miracle fix for uncomfortable high heels. i was ready to rush out and buy a bunch if they worked. is it just impossible to make those darned shoes more comfortable?
#8 jane (Homepage) on 2011-05-30 04:39 (Reply)
No they don't work..uncomfortable shoes are just that uncomfortable !! Don't torture yourself when buying shoes no matter how cute..you only have one pair of feet and they have to last you a lifetime !!! :>)
#9 sohoaccessories (Homepage) on 2011-05-30 05:13 (Reply)
I have tried these several times, they NEVER work. I do love their heel gel pads though, they work great for preventing blisters on your heels, and also for helping a shoe fit a little more snug (i have very small feet) but the ball of foot pads? waste of money
#10 mags on 2011-05-30 07:51 (Reply)
I know...me too! I tried them and they didn't do anything for me.
#11 Michel on 2011-05-30 08:27 (Reply)
I have used these and found them OK; however, their high heel gel inserts are really great! I also use their athletic shoe gel inserts in my workout shoes.
#12 OR on 2011-05-30 16:50 (Reply)
Didn't work for me either!
#13 Gail on 2011-05-30 18:16 (Reply)
I also bought these for some heels and they DIDN'T WORK! I was so disappointed. Wish wearing certain heels wasn't so painful. lol
#14 Angie on 2011-05-30 21:58 (Reply)
i know they didn't work for me either! i've tried every brand out there and the best i've found is www.stilettohardware.com. They are expensive but they were the most comfortable because they have memory foam on top. What us women do for fashion!
#15 Natalie on 2011-05-30 22:03 (Reply)
I tried these to get thru a funeral and they did not work for me AT ALL either. In fact I actually thought they made my shoes feel worse! Plus I didnt like the way they felt with bare feet! Kinda slimy!
#16 robin on 2011-05-31 11:42 (Reply)
Interesting - I use these in a pair of sky high boots I own and they work like a charm. Maybe it depends on the shoe? There may be some shoes for which no miracle will work! I also would not use these with a bare foot because the gel-feel would get way too slippery. Socks only.
#17 Teal @ Expecting Chic (Homepage) on 2011-05-31 13:23 (Reply)
I didn't like them either but for me it was because they were sliding all over my shoe. I couldn't keep them in place.

However, I use the Dr. Scholls Open shoe insoles in a few pairs of heels and think they work really well.

I'm always interested in any product that might make heels even slighly more comfortable so look forward to more reviews in this department!
#18 Natalie (Homepage) on 2011-05-31 15:12 (Reply)
I've used them too and found no difference in the comfort level of my heels. Why can't some designer just make comfortable women's shoes that don't look orthopedic? Or why can't places with cute, cheap shoes (talking to you Target) just add more padding and charge a dollar or two extra? Sandals are just as bad; there is no way to walk comfortably for a day in shoes that have a sole that is less than 1/8" of an inch thick. Sorry for the rant, but I feel like there should be choices other than "tolerable" or "excruciating" when it comes to women's footwear.
#19 Sara (Homepage) on 2011-05-31 15:19 (Reply)
Agreed with the comments on the full-insole high heel and athletic cushions. I rarely have luck with just a partial insert, but the full foot clear gel ones are great for strappy heels, and have amazing arch support... and the black stick in ones are pretty fantastic too, and keep my feet from sliding too much in pumps.
#20 Veronica on 2011-05-31 17:12 (Reply)
I appreciate all the feedback. I've received the Open Sole insoles, High Heel insoles and Comfort insoles, so I'll be putting those to the test in the coming weeks :-)
#20.1 The Budget Babe on 2011-06-01 08:38 (Reply)
I used these inserts to help me break-in new shoes and then take them out once the shoes have been worn a few times. I think they work effectively if the shoes have a potential to be comfortable.
#21 JMill (Homepage) on 2011-06-01 08:38 (Reply)
Ok, this is an ongoing quest of mine, to find things to make my shoes more comfortable. I have wide, flat feet with almost no arch, so this can be difficult. Plus I am very picky about my feet, I'm not into suffering for beauty! I agree w/ Sarah that it's ridiculous that so many cute shoes are uncomfortable, I think there should be more female shoe designers (why are most of them men? they don't care, they don't have to wear them!) and cute should not equal pain!

I have tried these and they don't work. However, I found another brand that does. Airplus, gel ball of foot cushion or the forefoot ones (one is slightly bigger and thicker than the other, I prefer that one but sometimes have to use the thinner/smaller one for aesthetic reasons). Sold at WalMart. Those really work for me, much better than the reviewed product. Good for counteracting the "burn," and for lifting a little higher so the angle of my foot is not as steep.

Also, the Dr. Scholls colored fabric whole foot inserts work for putting in sandals/ flipflops etc. Same brand, different product.
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I've also had some luck with Fab Feet (Target) products, particularly the arch support gel inserts (for closed-toe pumps, etc)

Also, one more rec: Some Walmarts have Dr Scholls custom orthotic insert, you step on a machine and it scans your foot, and recommends one of about 10 (all numbered). These are EXPENSIVE (around $50 although there was a $10 rebate when I bought mine), but they really worked for my flat arches in my walking sneakers, much much better than the generic ones. But these would only work for sneakers because they're pretty big and ugly.

Oh, one final note: sometimes for closed toe shoes, I wear foot socks (you know, like ankle socks but lower and in a thinner material). KMart, of all places, has the best ones, they have a wide variety of Peds in all types and colors, including ones with small ball-of-foot cushions. That plus Airplus usually works very well. If there's no KMart nearby, Target also has a smaller but decent selection (I believe Merona brand, it's near the pantyhose), but they don't have the ones w/ the built-in cushions, or much variety in colors/ styles.

Hope this helps someone! If anyone has more recs I am always open to testing more!
#22 elisa on 2011-06-02 04:57 (Reply)
Oops, correction. For sandals/ flip flops, I mean the Merona 3/4 length ones (Target), not Dr. Scholls. The Dr Scholls were actually weirdly lumpy and wrong, and Fab Feet shaped oddly. Merona's (the house brand) were perfect. Unfortunately I haven't seen the ones I'm thinking of in a while, I'm hoping my local Target brings it back (I stocked up on it last time). If you're looking for it, it's the foam ones in tan or black, foam but with a sort of covering on top so it's not raw foam, and it's cut on a straight diagonal at top. They are fabulous for flip flops/ sandals.
#22.1 elisa on 2011-06-02 05:04 (Reply)
Oh, I keep thinking of things to add. The Dr Scholls thin gel full liners (sold to put inside strappy heels, so they say), the ones with the black tops and blue bottoms, and pretty small relatively speaking? COMPLETELY USELESS, don't waste your money! Actually now that I think about it, the only Dr Scholls that worked for me (and I think I've tried them all) was the pricy one that went inside my walking shoes. Other ones, Airplus or Fab Feet do it better. Well, I do have their foldup flats (like Kushyfoot) and those are ok, I added Fab Feet sandal insert (as in my previous comment) inside so I wouldn't feel the ground as much. This is weird as I always thought Dr Scholls meant good foot products/ shoes, I guess that's not as true as the hype says!
#22.2 elisa on 2011-06-02 05:10 (Reply)
Thanks for the honest review based on your own "roadtest" BB! I'm sure other readers agree with me that your reviews are always worth reading and full of good advice!
#23 The_Dark_Lady on 2011-06-03 08:08 (Reply)
I've purchased these in the past and you are right, they don't work. Have you ever heard of Foot Petals? Their inserts are much thinner and really work WONDERS!!!

#24 Juliette (Homepage) on 2011-06-04 09:59 (Reply)
Oh and I wrote a blog post on Foot Petals! http://www.shoesandjules.com/2011/04/how-to-make-your-high-heels-more_09.

Also, I do buy the Dr Scholl's Sole Expression inserts. Those are great! Here they are: http://www.drscholls.com/drscholls/productSearch.do?method=doProductDetailsLookup&searchArg=50

www.shoesandjules.com
#24.1 Juliette (Homepage) on 2011-06-04 10:04 (Reply)
I have these as well. I find they don't do much for comfort either, but are good to keep my foot from slipping out of my shoes.
#25 Prêt à Porter P (Homepage) on 2011-06-27 03:30 (Reply)
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