matt_outandabout wrote:I agree, so many technology laden boots and approach shoes have a sliver of cheap foam whacked in it seems.
I always thought it was opportunity to 'upsell' something...
When I worked in the outdoor equipment industry the general consensus was that even if a more substantial footbed came with a boot as standard many people would still want to swap them out anyway because everyone's foot is different and the one supplied wouldn't work for everyone. For example the Superfeet heel cup and arch support shape that suits my feet are not the same "size" as my boots are. No point in making boots more expensive when you'd still have to pull the footbeds out and replace them.
One solution to this would be for a manufacturer to supply retailers with boots and a set of various sized decent insoles so a customer can get fitted for the correct boots and insoles which then get sold as a package.
I think Superfeet do a comfort guarantee where they can be returned within 30 or 60 days if you don't get on with them, worth bearing in mind if anyone's bought some recently and found they're not the ones for you.