Heel cups for heel pain: what they do and the best pick
Buying through our links can earn us a commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. How that works. This is general information, not medical advice.
Short answer
A heel cup is a firm or gel cup that sits under your heel inside the shoe. It cushions impact, which many people with bruised-feeling heel pain find comfortable. Tuli's Heavy Duty Heel Cups are the standard pick. If your pain spreads into the arch, a full insole with arch support usually does more.
Illustration Best heel cup
Tuli's Heavy Duty Gel Heel Cups
A firm gel cup with a multi-cell base designed to absorb impact under the heel. Slips into almost any shoe without replacing the insole.
- Multi-cell, multi-layer gel
- Latex-free
- APMA accepted (per Tuli's)
- Moves between shoes
Skip it if: your pain is mainly in the arch.
See today's priceAmazon prices change often Check price at Amazon
Illustration If you need arch support too
PowerStep Pinnacle Insoles
A firm-but-flexible arch shell with a cushioned top layer and a deep heel cradle. PowerStep designs it to support the arch and cradle the heel.
- Semi-rigid arch support
- Deep heel cradle
- Dual-layer cushioning
- Made in USA
- Swaps in for the factory insole
See today's priceAmazon prices change often Check price at Amazon
A note on evidence: AAOS and the NHS mention cushioning heel inserts or heel pads as part of plantar fasciitis care, but heel cups as a specific product haven't been studied as much as stretching or night splints.