About PowerStep
PowerStep was founded in 1991 by Dr. Les Appel, a podiatrist and competitive runner who set out to bring the structural support of custom orthotics to an over-the-counter price point. The company is based in Wadsworth, Ohio, where most of its insoles are still designed and produced, and it has grown its catalog to more than 65 products spanning full-length and three-quarter-length orthotic insoles, compression socks, support sleeves, ankle braces, and orthotic footwear. PowerStep holds the APMA Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association, a distinction that requires an independent panel of podiatrists to evaluate whether a product promotes normal foot function and healthy feet.
On BestRatedDocs, we independently reviewed PowerStep's Pinnacle line across two separate insole categories, and it was a top pick in both: the standard Pinnacle Insoles stood out in our orthotic insole and plantar fasciitis insole reviews, each backed by more than 30,000 verified Amazon reviews, while the firmer Pinnacle Maxx and the lower-profile Pinnacle Low earned additional call-outs for overpronation correction and flat-foot support. PowerStep was the only insole brand in either roundup carrying APMA acceptance, the closest analog to a clinical endorsement available in over-the-counter orthotics, and Dr. Taylor's clinical review noted the semi-rigid polypropylene shell construction as delivering genuine structural correction rather than cushioning-only comfort.
Brand website: powerstep.com
What PowerStep makes
PowerStep's range runs wider than the products we review. The lines we know best from our own testing are marked with a star:
Pinnacle Insoles
moderate arch support on a semi-rigid polypropylene shell — the brand's #1 podiatrist-recommended line — featured on BestRatedDocs
Pinnacle Maxx Insoles
maximum-stability insoles with an angled medial heel post for overpronation correction — featured on BestRatedDocs
Pinnacle Low Insoles
low-profile contoured insoles for flat feet and fallen arches — featured on BestRatedDocs
Compression socks
graduated compression socks for circulation and everyday wear
Support sleeves & ankle braces
compression sleeves and bracing for joint and ankle support
Orthotic footwear
shoes built around PowerStep's arch-support platform
Why we recognized PowerStep
The BestRatedDocs Top Brand recognition isn't paid for and can't be applied for. We award it to the brands whose products consistently stand out in our category reviews. PowerStep earned it on the strength of the products below, evaluated the same way every product on this site is: assessed against clinical criteria, verified specifications, and real-world user outcomes, and judged on merit.
PowerStep products we rated highly
PowerStep Pinnacle Insoles, Orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis Relief, Made in USA Orthotic Insoles, Arch Support Inserts with Moderate Pronation
The #1 podiatrist-recommended OTC orthotic insole, carrying the APMA Seal of Acceptance and backed by more than 30,000 verified Amazon reviews. A dual-layer EVA foam top sits on a semi-rigid polypropylene shell, delivering cushioning and genuine structural arch support in the same insole, and it ships pre-sized so it transfers between shoes without any trimming.
Read the 8 Best Orthotic Insoles of 2026 guide →
PowerStep Pinnacle Maxx Orthotic Insoles, Maximum Stability & Comfort, Firm & Flexible Angled Heel, Flat Feet & Overpronation, Heavy Duty Shoe Inserts for Men & Women, Made in USA
A 2-degree angled medial heel post gives measurably greater pronation correction than the standard Pinnacle, and multiple reviewers report replacing custom orthotics costing several hundred dollars with the Maxx at equivalent or better outcomes. It carries the highest star rating of any insole in the roundup and is FSA/HSA eligible.
Read the 8 Best Orthotic Insoles of 2026 guide →
PowerStep Pinnacle Low Insoles for Flat Feet and Low Arches
The only insole in the roundup engineered specifically for a low arch, using a contoured low-profile design that supports a fallen arch without jamming into it. It keeps the same dual-layer cushioning and semi-rigid shell as the standard Pinnacle, is pre-sized with no trimming required, and is thin enough to move between athletic, work, and casual shoes.
Read the 8 Best Orthotic Insoles of 2026 guide → PowerStep Pinnacle Insoles
The only insole in this roundup carrying APMA acceptance, and the number one podiatrist-recommended insole brand in the US. Its moderate arch support and deep angled heel cup address the two primary biomechanical drivers of plantar fasciitis at once, and it works across sneakers, dress shoes, and work boots without any trimming or shoe modification.
Read the 7 Best Plantar Fasciitis Insoles of 2026 guide → PowerStep Pinnacle Maxx Orthotic Insoles
An angled heel post corrects lateral heel-strike mechanics, the specific biomechanical intervention orthopedic physicians cite for overpronation-driven plantar fasciitis, and pedorthists recommend it for post-surgical recovery and cases that didn't respond to standard arch support. It keeps the same Made in USA manufacturing and APMA-acceptance lineage as the standard Pinnacle.
Read the 7 Best Plantar Fasciitis Insoles of 2026 guide →What earned PowerStep the recognition
- PowerStep Pinnacle is a top pick in both our orthotic insole and plantar fasciitis insole reviews, out-reviewing every other insole we evaluated in either category.
- The only insole line in either roundup carrying the APMA Seal of Acceptance, the American Podiatric Medical Association's independent endorsement that a product promotes normal foot function and healthy feet.
- Three distinct PowerStep lines earned recognition across our two insole guides: the standard Pinnacle for general plantar fasciitis relief, the Pinnacle Maxx for overpronation correction, and the Pinnacle Low for flat feet and fallen arches.
- Made in USA at PowerStep's own Wadsworth, Ohio facility, with a semi-rigid polypropylene shell construction that Dr. Taylor's clinical review flagged as genuine structural correction, not just cushioning.
- Backed by more than 60,000 combined verified Amazon reviews across the Pinnacle listings on our two roundups, one of the deepest real-world validation samples of any brand we reviewed.