Use These Items to Stop Your Orthotics from Squeaking
Orthotics need to be prescribed for a number of reasons, and they're crucial if you want to correct your stride and avoid injuries. Unfortunately, they can also rub up against part of the shoe and cause an embarrassing squeak whenever you put your foot down. Nobody wants to have to deal with that, but you can use the items listed below to help solve the issue.
Foot or Baby Powder
The quickest and easiest way to eliminate orthotic squeaking is to sprinkle some baby powder or foot powder across the trouble areas before you place the orthotic into the shoe. This should only last a few days, but it's a good way to eliminate the problem until the orthotic can settle within the shoe. Just make sure you don't go overboard. A little powder will work just as well as a lot, and you don't want clouds puffing out at every footfall!
Adhesive Tape or Moleskin
No powder around? Try looking for some rough adhesive tape. Take your orthotic out of the shoe, then cut a small piece of tape out and stick it to the part that's rubbing—this will reduce the abrasive friction of orthotic against insole and prevent squeaking from occurring. If you happen to have a piece of moleskin lying around, this works just as well.
Thin Socks or Tights
Powder, tape, and moleskin are good solutions, but they can either wear off or come off over time. Luckily, the orthotic might just have settled by the time this happens. If it hasn't, try using a light sock or pair of tights to create a long-term solution. Just slip the orthotic into the sock or tights, cut them off at the end, then sew up the gap. You will now have a very thin cover that should permanently stop your orthotic from rubbing and squeaking.
Pair of Scissors
If none of the methods listed above do anything to keep your shoes quiet as you're walking around, you might consider trying to trim away part of the orthotic that is causing the problems. Of course, you never want to damage the structural integrity of the orthotic, but, in some cases, you can trim away the side to make a big difference. This is especially useful if the orthotic in question is noticeably wider than your shoe across its whole length. Just make sure you take off a little bit at a time and keep the basic shape intact.
Many people are tempted to ditch their orthotic if it starts to squeak, but this just isn't a solution. Instead, use these items to keep your shoes from sounding off in public.