amazon.com/dp/B0000BYFFE?tag=biernact-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1″ rel=”nofollow sponsored noopener” target=”_blank”>View Tuli’s Heavy Duty Heel Cups on Amazon →

2. Silipos Gel Heel Cup — Best for Heel Fat Pad Atrophy

Silipos gel heel cups use a medical-grade mineral oil-enriched silicone that remains softer and more viscous than standard silicone — providing superior impact absorption for patients with heel fat pad atrophy (the condition where the natural cushioning under the heel has thinned from aging or prior cortisone injection). The Silipos is preferred over Tuli’s in elderly patients and marathon runners who have overthinned their fat pads. Available in open-heel and closed-heel versions; the closed-heel version provides circumferential fat pad retention for maximum cushioning effect. View Silipos Gel Heel Cups on Amazon →

3. ProFoot Triad Orthotic — Best Heel Cup with Arch Support

The ProFoot Triad bridges the gap between a heel cup and a full-length insole: it includes a firm heel cup, a molded arch support, and metatarsal arch support in a 3/4-length profile that fits in most dress and athletic shoes. For patients with both heel pain and mild arch pain, the Triad provides dual-zone support without the volume of a full-length insole. The arch support portion is firmer than Silipos or Tuli’s (it uses an EVA foam shell) — appropriate for patients who have found pure silicone heel cups insufficient for their arch symptoms. View ProFoot Triad on Amazon →

4. Bauerfeind ViscoHeel — Best for Insertional Heel Pain

The Bauerfeind ViscoHeel uses a viscoelastic silicone with a heel spur pad — a softer central zone specifically designed to offload the calcaneal attachment point where the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon insert. For patients with confirmed insertional plantar fasciitis or Haglund’s deformity (bony spur at the Achilles attachment), the ViscoHeel’s pressure-relieving center pad directly unloads the painful attachment site. The 6mm heel elevation also reduces Achilles tension — a dual benefit for insertional pathology. Premium product at a higher price point than generic silicone cups, but clinically superior for its specific indication. View Bauerfeind ViscoHeel on Amazon →

5. Dr. Scholl’s Comfort & Energy Massaging Gel Heel Cups — Best Budget Option

For mild, recent-onset heel pain in a patient with good arch height and normal gait, the Dr. Scholl’s gel heel cups provide adequate cushioning at an accessible price point available at any pharmacy. Not as durable or deep as Tuli’s, and not appropriate for significant flat feet or chronic plantar fasciitis, but a reasonable first-line option for patients experiencing heel pain for the first time. Replace at 3 months of daily use. View Dr. Scholl’s Gel Heel Cups on Amazon →

The Most Common Heel Cup Mistake: Putting It In the Wrong Shoe

The single most common heel cup error: using a heel cup in a dress shoe, flat sandal, or thin-soled shoe and expecting it to replace what those shoes lack in terms of cushion and support. A heel cup in a dress shoe that has an 8mm heel stack still has an 8mm heel stack with slightly softer center compression — it does not create the 25–35mm stack height of a proper running shoe. Heel cups provide their benefit as an ENHANCEMENT to an already cushioned shoe, not as a rescue device for inadequate footwear. The priority order for plantar fasciitis management: (1) upgrade the shoe to ≥30mm heel stack, (2) add a heel cup or insole with arch support, (3) if insufficient → custom orthotic evaluation.

When a Heel Cup Is Not Enough

Heel cups are insufficient (and you need evaluation + custom orthotics) if: plantar fasciitis has persisted more than 8 weeks despite heel cup use; you have significant flat feet (navicular bone is near the floor when standing); the pain is not only at the heel but also along the arch (possible plantar fascia tear, not just heel insertion plantar fasciitis); you have had multiple cortisone injections without lasting relief; or pain is present at rest as well as with walking. Call (810) 206-1402 for a same-day plantar fasciitis evaluation at Balance Foot & Ankle — Howell and Bloomfield Hills.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Balance Foot & Ankle earns from qualifying purchases. Product recommendations are based on clinical experience and are independent of affiliate relationships.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM — podiatric physician and surgeon, Howell and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.