The Best Insoles for Adidas Sambas (Wide Feet Edition)

Set your hairdryer to medium heat. Hold the nozzle 3–4 inches inside the shoe at the heel end and apply heat for 30–45 seconds. You are targeting the heel adhesive — not the full insole — so concentrate the airflow on the back third of the shoe. You will notice the insole gently lift slightly at the edges as the adhesive softens. Do not use maximum heat, as excessive temperature can damage the Samba's leather upper or cause the inner lining to separate.

While the adhesive is still warm, pinch the heel end of the factory insole between your thumb and forefinger and slowly peel it back toward the toe. Work gently and steadily — do not yank it. The toe area is rarely glued, so it should lift freely once the heel bond releases. If you feel resistance at any point, stop and apply another 15 seconds of heat before continuing. Forcing a cold insole out can tear the Samba's inner lining.

Once removed, set the factory insole aside on a flat surface — you will use it as a cutting template in the next step. Do not discard it.

Place the factory insole face-down on top of your new aftermarket insole, aligning the heels exactly. The factory insole will be your template. Use a marker pen to trace the outline of the factory insole onto the surface of the new insole, focusing on the toe end where trimming is almost always needed. Most low-volume insoles are cut slightly larger than the shoe's interior to accommodate multiple shoe sizes — the Samba's narrow last means you will almost always need to trim at least a few millimetres from the sides of the toe area.

Cut along your traced line with sharp scissors. Cut just inside the marker line — you can always remove more material, but you cannot add it back. For carbon fibre insoles like the Superfeet Carbon or Tread Labs Dash Thin, use a dedicated craft knife or aviation snips rather than household scissors, as the material is harder to cut cleanly.

Before pushing the insole all the way in, drop it loosely into the shoe and look down from above. The insole should lie completely flat from heel to toe with no buckling, bridging, or curling at any edge. Check specifically that the sides of the insole are not folding up against the inner walls of the shoe — this indicates it is still slightly too wide and needs a small additional trim on each side.

Now put the shoe on your foot without lacing it and stand up. The insole should feel flat and even underfoot, with no hard edges pressing into the toe, no ridge at the arch digging in, and no raised feeling at the heel collar. If the insole feels like it is pushing your foot up against the tongue of the shoe, the profile is too high for the Samba and you should consider a thinner option (the Superfeet Carbon is typically the solution here). A properly fitted low-volume insole should feel like a seamless upgrade, not like you have inserted something foreign.

Once the test fit is confirmed, press the insole firmly into the shoe heel-first, smoothing it toward the toe with your fingers to eliminate any air pockets. There is no need to glue the new insole in — the friction between the insole's base and the shoe's insole board keeps it in place during normal wear. Lacing the shoe securely also locks the insole down.

For rigid carbon fibre insoles (Superfeet Carbon, Tread Labs), do not try to flex or bend them to fit — insert them flat and heel-first. The shoe will mould to the insole over the first few wears rather than the other way around.

New insoles — particularly carbon fibre and rigid EVA models — require a short break-in period. For the first 2–3 wears, limit sessions to 30–45 minutes. Your foot will initially feel more of the arch support than you are used to, and the muscles of the arch may feel slightly fatigued after the first use. This is normal: the insole is activating and stabilising structures that were previously underused.

By the third or fourth wear, the insole will have conformed slightly to the contours of your foot and the initial firmness will mellow. If discomfort persists beyond 5–6 wears, the arch height is likely wrong for your foot profile — consider trying a different arch height if the insole is adjustable (Tread Labs) or switching to a softer option (Powerstep Pinnacle Low).

Low-volume insoles in street shoes like the Samba typically last 6–12 months with daily or near-daily use. The top fabric wears through first, followed by compression of any foam layer. Carbon fibre structural plates do not compress or degrade — they last indefinitely, which is why the Tread Labs replaceable top cover system is such good long-term value. Replace the foam top cover every 6 months; the carbon plate may never need replacement.

To clean insoles: remove them from the shoe and hand wash with mild soap and cold water. Never machine wash or tumble dry — heat warps foam materials and can delaminate any glued layers. Air dry flat at room temperature. Storing Sambas with insoles inserted and shoes upright helps the insoles retain their shape between wears. See our shoe drying guide for best practice.