DIY Wool Felt Insoles

Your feet help you stand, walk, run, jump, skip, stroll and kick. They do so much for us, why not do something in return?

Our Wool Felt Insoles are resilient and add additional cushioning to your joints when leading an active lifestyle. Made from 100% wool, they are both breathable and naturally wick moisture which helps to regulate temperature when your feet encounter extreme cold or hot climates.

Wool also helps to naturally reduce odor from constantly being on your feet for long periods of time. While sweat itself has no odor, if it remains on the skin, bacteria will develop and create unpleasant foot odors. Wool reduces the opportunity for these odors to generate because it is more efficient than other textiles at absorbing sweat and evaporating it into the air. With your new wool insoles say goodbye to embarrassing odors and chemical sprays or messy baby powder to help mask the smell.

When wearing wool insoles, they can also diminish the force of impact when walking on uneven ground compared to insoles made from other material. Wool insoles are the ideal footwear accessory for long days on your feet to outdoor activities such as hiking as they naturally mold to the shape of your foot.

Wool insoles are the gift that keeps on giving, so if you are looking to customize the shape and thickness for your own wool insoles, look no further. This quick tutorial will show you step-by-step how to create your own replacement insoles.

For this tutorial, we used our ¼” thick F-7 industrial felt. This medium density felt has excellent cushioning properties and is resilient enough to handle constant impact, pressure, and movement to keep up with the daily demands we put on our feet each day. For softer alternatives, you can also use our F-10 or F-15 industrial felts. These lower density felts will offer more cushioning while still withstanding the everyday wear and tear from using regular insoles.

When choosing the right felt material for your insoles, keep in mind the density of the felt as well as the wool content and thickness. Choose material with a higher wool content and a thickness ranging between 5/16” to ½” thick. The thicker and denser the insole, the snugger your shoes will feel. This is also great to keep in mind if you are looking for “half-sizer” insoles for your shoes.

Summary of Benefits:

• Additional cushioning
• Regulates temperature (hot and cold)
• Eliminates foot odor
• Diminishes force of impact
• More comfortable than original insoles
• Fills out the shoe depending on thickness – “half-sizer” insole

Industrial Felts Best Suited for DIY Insoles:

• F-7 Industrial Felt
• 80% Wool
• Medium-High Density
• F-10 Industrial Felt
• 80% Wool
• Medium-Low Density
• F-15 Industrial Felt
• 55% Wool
• Low Density

Materials Used:

• ¼” thick F-7 industrial felt
• Marker
• Industrial Fabric Shears or a sharp utility knife

Depending on the thickness and density of the felt, you may need to use a sharp utility knife to cut your insoles to achieve a cleaner cut. For further instructions check out our video on how to cut thick felt.

Instructions:

1.Remove the old insoles from your shoes. Shake out your shoes of any dirt build up.

2. Place the old insole on top of your felt and using your marker, trace the insole shape directly on to your felt.

3. Carefully cut the felt with industrial fabric shears following the traced outline as a guide.
If you are working with thicker or denser felt, take your time slicing layer by layer using a sharp utility knife. The thicker the felt, the more strokes you will need to cut through. Check out our video on how to cut thick felt.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the opposite insole.

5. Place your new wool felt insoles into your shoes and you’re done.

For maximum longevity of your felt insoles, air them out once in a while. Don’t forget to show off your new insoles with #thefeltstore on social media.