Upstep: The ultimate review for 2027

Who Should Buy

• First-time orthotic buyers who want a friendly, guided experience
• Those with mild foot discomfort rather than a diagnosed condition (particularly in the heel or midfoot)
• People who value the scale and service guarantees of a large established brand

Who Should NOT Buy

• Athletes or runners who need forefoot support and energy return
• Those with metatarsalgia or toe pain (again, there is no toe zone support)
• Buyers who want to know exactly who built their insole and reviewed their case
• Those who need their orthotics quickly (it takes 30+ days for the entire process)

Product Facts

	Upstep
Price	$239
Data Capture	Foam Impression Box
Ownership	Israel
Total Process Time	36 Days
Shell	Dense Foam
Warranty	180 days (with restocking fee)
Construction & Materials	4 layers
Weight (single insole)	3.0 oz
Arch height	18 mm
Heel cup depth	20 mm
Foam hardness	46 SH A

Material Overview

Layers	4
Top Layer	Perforated Synthetic Leather
Middle Layer	EVA Foam
Bottom	High Density Foam (2 Layers)

The construction of Upstep has four main layers, all glued together.

On top we have a synthetic leather like material with perforated holes throughout. In my particular model it is blue, but colors are model dependent. I thought this was smart for moisture wicking and it generally held up well to sweat.

Below the top layer is about 2mm of EVA foam. This is pretty standard as we have seen in other custom orthotics brands like BILT and Stride. During my one month trial period, it held up well to wear and I felt like it was satisfactory in terms of comfort.

On the bottom we have the high density foam core. This is where the actual corrections, or undulations, on the orthotic occur. At first glance I thought the core foam was multiple densities given there are multiple colors here.

On further inspection, it seems like they just glued two layers of identical high density foam on top of each other. I do not understand why this was done, but I suspect they wanted to reuse material. This bottom was about the density of a yoga block.

Overall Fit

How I feel: 3 / 5

Upstep is not a bargain orthotic. At roughly $250, you are expecting a custom orthotic similar to what you would get at a podiatrist. The orthotic did fit well in my shoe, so I could tell that they put time into designing it.

The sizing of the orthotic more generally was on point, as I did not need to cut it down at all. Additionally, the width was exactly right for my shoe.

The one issue I had was that the arch was a bit too far back on my heel. The arch was the correct height, just the position was a bit off.

The arch being in the wrong place created a small pain which did not go away after a few weeks. I think this had to do with the foam impression kit, in which you place your foot down on a foam box. Normally this is done at a doctor's office with a trained professional, so the impression may have not been taken correctly.

Either that, or there was an issue when they presumably scanned or put a plaster mold into the foam impression kit. I will not know why, but I do know that they are not perfectly comfortable.

Cushioning

To measure the cushioning effect of the orthotic we drop a 2 pound steel ball from 10 inches in height. The ball bounced up 2 inches in the forefoot area and 1.75 inches in the heel.

This is about half as high a bounce as Superfeet, for example, which were closer to 4 inches. As such, Upstep is great at deadening high impact forces, which can suggest the insole is better at cushioning the foot during gait.

It is important to note that in athletics, you might actually want more energy return. For that reason, we do not suggest this version of Upstep for top level athletics.

Arch

Arch Height	20mm
Quality	High

Upstep has a high arch of 20mm. While this can be uncomfortably high for some at first, this height is needed to ensure proper support underfoot. It is important to note that with custom orthotics, you should adhere to a two week break in period as your body gets used to the support.

Upstep also uses the firm foam, similar to a yoga block, as the core material over the arch. I found this definitely sufficient to hold my full weight during the gait cycle. It does compress just about 1mm for me when I step, mainly due to the top cushion, but the core orthotic stays intact.

The issue mainly for me was that the arch was a bit too far back in the heel. It might have been user error when completing the foam impression, but that is a limitation of the foam impression kit: there is no feedback or second chances.

Support & Stability

Score: 5/5

Forward stability

As you can see from the video above, Upstep does a great job of maintaining its shape, especially around the arch area during load.

Lateral stability

Strength Score: 4/5

Lateral strength is necessary to prevent overpronation, as it needs to counter the weight of your foot and keep its shape. As you step down through the gait pattern, a strong orthotic will keep the foot from rolling inwards too much.

To check the lateral strength of an orthotic we simply bend the orthotic back and forth and observe.

As you can see from the video, the core of the orthotic keeps its shape fairly well through my twists. The flimsiness comes from the toe area, which, as I will discuss later, is simply a cushion and does not have any medical benefits.

Hardness

Finally, we've got the top layer hardness coming in at a 46. This is actually on the softer end of the spectrum as BILT labs has a score of 65 and Stride Soles is a 60. 

If you want a orthotic with a cushioned bottom but support that keeps its shape through impact, Upstep is a great option. 

Heel Quality

Heel Height	14mm
Heel Drop	0mm

A deep heel cup is essential for keeping the feet locked in the shoe and preventing overpronation.

Upstep has a robust heel cup of 14mm. This adequately keeps the foot in place, especially during lateral movements. My heel felt comfortable in the cup, and I would not make any improvements to this area of the orthotics.

Another thing I like about the Upstep heel was that there was minimal heel lift. Lifting the heel puts the foot in an unnatural position, akin to high heels. Many shoes already add a bit of a heel lift, so it is preferred to have zero drop, as Upstep has.

Forefoot

The forefoot, including the toe area, is essential to allowing the foot to balance and provide push off. In fact, one third of the gait cycle is spent with weight on the forefoot. As such, it is increasingly common to see pain in this area.

I was disappointed to experience a lack of corrections in this very important area of the foot.

The forefoot is simply a cushion, with no corrections or changes made to the orthotic. An easy improvement could have been to add some more material under the toes to offset pressure, but nothing was done.

Now I will say that having no orthotic over the forefoot, and only cushion, is common, especially for a drug store insole. However, for $250 I was expecting some thought and construction to be put into the forefoot area. What we are looking at is essentially an orthotic which only covers two thirds of the foot.

Metatarsal

The metatarsal bones are right in front of the arch. For many with high arches, this area can take the brunt of the pressure and become quite painful.

I am not sure if it is just because I have flat feet, but Upstep does not include metatarsal padding. For me, that is perfectly fine as I do not have pain in that area. However, for someone with discomfort or metatarsalgia, this might be a reason to look for a different orthotic type or to reach out to their team for confirmation.

Weight

At 1.1 ounces or 38 grams, Upstep is extremely lightweight. I found this beneficial as I put my Upsteps inside my running shoes and did not really notice them slowing me down.

It is important to note that I have an orthotic with a foam core. The "on my feet all day" orthotics from them feature a plastic core which will add an additional 1 ounce. However, unless you are a professional runner, this amount of weight will not matter.

Upstep Durability

• Stated by Upstep: 2 years
• My estimation: 1 year

Upstep states a durability of 2 years or longer depending on use. They also warranty the top cover for 1 year of use.

When addressing the durability of an orthotic, it is important to make a distinction between the top layer and the core of the orthotic.

We are going to focus on the orthotic core, as that is what keeps the foot supported. When the orthotic core starts to flatten out it becomes nothing more than a comfortable rug. You need rigidity around the arch area.

Using foam as the core of an orthotic means the orthotic will lose its form sooner than a plastic core orthotic. From my experience, foam core orthotics last for an average of a year before they start to flatten, so that is what I believe the average length of an Upstep core to be.

If you want your orthotic to last longer, we recommend getting a polypropylene core orthotic, not one made of foam.

While searching online, we found a variety of different durability reviews. For example, the below said the foam only lasted a year.

On the other hand, I saw a picture of someone who wore Upstep for 6 years and we see a well intact orthotic, especially at the all important arch area. If I were to just look at this review I would say that the Upstep is quite impressive in terms of durability.

All in all, I would expect the average person to need to replace their Upsteps after one year.

Moisture Wicking

Score

5/5

Upstep's top layer is phenomenal with moisture wicking through the water test. The vegan leather top layer completely repelled the water, making my normal countdown timer until dry useless. It was dry in seconds.

I am curious to test other Upstep models, but for the all day model I had, I would very much trust it for moisture wicking.

Breathability

Score

3/5

As you can see, the top layer is perforated with little circular dots spaced about a quarter of an inch apart. Under those perforations is the foam.

While the perforations do give heat a bit more area to disperse, it is quite difficult for any of it to get out through the bottom given the foam.

It seems like Upstep decided to prioritize function and form with the rigid foam, rather than poke holes through it and risk degrading integrity. For this, I think it was a smart decision, even if it is harder for heat and general air to flow through the orthotic.

Stain Resistance

Score

5/5

Upstep had very impressive stain resistance. The ketchup test was a sure success, as it took me a second to wipe off the stain and there was absolutely nothing left of the ketchup.

Ordering Experience

On June 14, 2026 I bought a pair of custom orthotics from Upstep. For reference, I am a 35 year old male with flat feet.

I do not work on my feet, so I decided to go with the Normal Everyday orthotics, as shown above. They do have another model for 8+ hours, but that did not seem necessary for myself.

Ordering Process

Upstep makes your orthotic based on your foot shape and pain history, which is gathered using a foam impression box and quiz, respectively.

The quiz involves answering about 10 questions on topics such as where your feet hurt and what type of conditions you may have.

Next they will ship you a foam, play-doh like box which you step in to make an imprint of your foot.

The impression kit took 4 days to arrive, and is sent in an indiscreet box with instructions on how to push down on the box. I found the impression kit relatively easy to use and the process took about one minute.

The challenge I faced was that it was not clear how much weight to put on each foot. I put about three fourths of my weight down, but I do not really know if that was correct, and with the time to wait for the box I did not bother to try again.

The entire process did take 36 days.

The reason is that first they ship you a box, then you ship it back, and only then can they begin construction on the orthotic. So you are losing maybe 10 days just on the foam box.

Upstep Customer Service

I was impressed with the Upstep customer service. Every email I wrote them was responded to within 24 hours and the team was always courteous and cordial.

If you do search online, it does seem like things can get testy once you try to return the product. For example, read the review below.

Another area which might be a warning to people is how they respond to Trustpilot complaints. It seems like they are using a generic template instead of answering the situation head on. For example, read the below.

Return Policy

It is important to note that Upstep is a bit misleading when it comes to their return policy. On the website it states "We offer a risk-free, 180-day money-back guarantee."

However, when you look more closely at the fine print, you have to pay them to take them back.

In my opinion, it is not right to charge 10% to return if the customer has not even gotten the product yet. Please be warned of this before purchasing.

FAQ

Are Upstep insoles worth it?

Upstep insoles are worth it if you have minor discomfort or minor arch pain, and desire a well priced custom orthotic with no doctor visit. If you have any more serious conditions like plantar fasciitis or bunions, we recommend seeing a podiatrist or going with a place with clinical oversight like Stride Soles.

How much does Upstep cost?

As of September 3, 2026, Upstep costs $239 for one pair, $194 for two, and $167 for three pairs. There is also a 10-30% restocking fee should you decide to return the product.

Is Upstep orthotics legit?

Upstep is a legitimate custom orthotic, on par in terms of construction with what you would get at a podiatry office. However, it is not clear from the website who is actually making your orthotic, or where it is even made. If you would like more transparency or to speak with a clinician, you might be better served using a service like Stride Soles. If you have plantar fasciitis, flat feet, bunions, neuropathy, or any other condition, you should use a clinic which has humans to answer your questions. Upstep will also not help diagnose your condition.

Does Upstep work?

Orthotics may work for some and may not for others. Using an orthotic made from an impression of your foot, like Upstep does, gives you a higher likelihood of success rather than getting something off the shelf from a pharmacy.

That being said, it can be difficult to be consistent with your weight using a foam impression kit, as I experienced, which will lead to an inaccurate orthotic as there is a bigger arch on the one foot you put more pressure down on.

For $250, taking the chance on Upstep may not be worth it as they do have a restocking fee of up to 30% of the purchase cost. For this reason you may want to stick to orthotics with full guarantees like Stride Soles or Bilt Labs.

Upstep vs Bilt Labs

I prefer Upstep orthotics over Bilt Labs for those with real pain. With Upstep they build in a more substantial arch and heel cup, both essential for offsetting pressure and reducing overpronation. With Bilt Labs you get more of a strictly accommodative cushion orthotic, which for someone with flat feet like myself is not sufficient. On the other hand, Bilt Labs does not have a restocking fee, so if you think you might return the product, go with Bilt.

Where is Upstep located?

Upstep headquarters is in Israel, as their founders all live there. However, you do ship your impression kit to New Jersey, and the doctor they reference on the site is from the UK, so it is not exactly clear where your orthotics are made. If I were to guess, there is a lab in New Jersey which makes the pair and the team in Israel just oversees the process remotely. I doubt they are shipping from Israel at this time.

Reviewed for clinical accuracy by Dr. Zac Cartun, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Stride Soles. Last reviewed September 2026. This article is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for medical advice from a licensed clinician.