The Superfeet Fit Pod

Visitors to selected outdoor retailers in the New Year may see shoppers sitting with their feet up – and resting on a curious green machine.

Superfeet’s new Fit Pods will start appearing in shops in 2015, with a new range of custom footbeds moulded by the machines.

The pods first measure feet then trained staff will create a custom pair of insoles from the two-part Superfeet layered sets, using the heated compartment that is part of the Fit Pod. Feet, of course, don’t go in to the heater.

Superfeet says the new custom footbeds should take about 15 minutes to create in-store and will retail for between £50 and £65.

Meanwhile, on sale now is the latest development of its cut-to-fit footbeds, the Carbon.

The Superfeet Carbon

The Carbon is a thin, low-volume insole, designed to go in trail shoes, running shoes and other performance footwear.

The new model uses a combination of carbon-fibre and ultra-light foam to produce a footbed that cradles the heel and provides stability.

We’ve been trying a pair of Carbon footbeds for a few weeks now in one of our pairs of trail shoes. At first, they feel a little odd, with high support being felt under the arch, but once you get used to the feeling, the Carbons do provide very good stability under the foot.

They’re certainly not about extra padding: Superfeet says the natural shock absorption of the foot’s anatomy is aided by the low-volume Carbon footbeds.

The Superfeet Carbon footbeds cost £40 a pair and are available in shops now, in sizes 4½ to 12.

More details of the Carbon and other insoles in the range are on the Superfeet website.