Our VALSOLE Test: Insoles, Compression Socks and Recovery Slides
VALSOLE approached RunnersPicks with a proposal: test its replacement footbeds independently in real running and walking shoes. We agreed because it was a category we could assess through ordinary use rather than repeating a specification sheet.
The test later expanded to Compression Max socks and a pair of Recovery Slides. Jos tested all three product types. Sarah added a second perspective on the insoles and socks, with a different foot shape and different fit requirements.
Disclosure: VALSOLE provided the products in this article for testing at no cost. The brand had no editorial control and did not review or approve our verdict.
This was not paid or sponsored content. VALSOLE did not set a score, require a positive conclusion, or preview the articles.
The complete supplied VALSOLE test batch: Heavy Duty insoles, Compression Max socks and Recovery Slides.
What VALSOLE supplied
| Product | Tester | Size/context | Main test context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy Duty insoles | Jos | Worn in menâs US 12 / EU 46 shoes | About 90 km running in three shoes, plus 70 km walking in Rome |
| Heavy Duty insoles | Sarah | Worn in womenâs US 8.5 / EU 39 shoes | Running in Saucony Ride and Endorphin Speed; later walking-shoe use |
| Compression Max socks | Jos | Menâs pair | Runs of approximately one hour, plus wash and shape checks |
| Compression Max socks | Sarah | Womenâs pair | Runs of approximately one hour, with calf and cuff fit observations |
| Recovery Slide | Jos | Menâs US 12 / EU 46 | Two weeks of daily indoor use, beside a self-purchased HOKA ORA Recovery Slide 3 |
Who tested what
Jos is a regular runner wearing menâs EU 46 / US 12. He tested the Heavy Duty insoles in the Brooks Ghost Max 2, Adidas Adizero Evo SL and ASICS Novablast 4, then used them for three high-volume walking days in Rome. He also ran in the Compression Max socks and wore the Recovery Slide daily at home.
Sarah wears womenâs EU 39 / US 8.5. She has flat feet and uses custom orthotics in some shoes. She also has hallux valgus on one foot, which made internal shoe volume particularly relevant in her test. These details provide fit context; they are not medical evidence about what another runner should use.
How we tested
We did not invent a laboratory protocol. We used the products in the situations for which runners might actually buy them.
Heavy Duty insoles
Jos accumulated roughly 90 km of running, including an approximately 11 km first run and a longest run of around 20 km. The insoles moved across three shoes with different rides and internal shapes. Sarah tested them in two Saucony shoes and later kept using them in roomier walking shoes.
The Rome walking test added 21, 26 and 23 km on consecutive days. That was useful for checking whether the added support created pressure or fit problems under unusually high volume, but it was not a controlled medical outcome.
Compression Max socks
Both testers wore the socks primarily while running. Most sessions lasted about an hour. We noted how easy they were to put on, whether they slipped, warmth, cuff feel and whether washing produced an obvious loss of shape or elasticity.
Recovery Slide
Jos wore the VALSOLE slide indoors every day for about two weeks, both with and without socks. He compared it directly with a HOKA ORA Recovery Slide 3 that he bought himself on June 2, 2026. The older HOKA pair makes this a current feel comparison, not a fair long-term durability contest.
Overall takeaways
- Heavy Duty made the biggest difference in roomy footwear. The surprise was the Brooks Ghost Max 2: a shoe Jos had actively disliked became more enjoyable with the replacement footbed.
- Compression Max stayed securely in place. Both testers found the knee-high socks warmer than their usual low socks, and Sarah noticed the cuff more on her larger calves.
- The two recovery slides prioritize different sensations. HOKA currently feels slightly softer. VALSOLE gives Jos a stronger, more structured sensation through the midfoot, so it is the pair he reaches for more often around the house.
Those are product-specific observations, not treatment or injury-prevention claims.
Read the detailed reviews
- VALSOLE Heavy Duty Insoles Review: Two Runners, Two Different Feet
- VALSOLE Compression Max Review: What 20â30 mmHg Feels Like While Running
- VALSOLE Recovery Slide vs HOKA ORA Slide 3: Softness or Support?
All photographs in this cluster are original RunnersPicks test photos rather than manufacturer-supplied product images.