text: I love Birkenstock shoes - I have at least 8 pair.  But these insoles…..?<br /><br />OK, the heel/arch part is quite nice but it's very plasticy & not just &#34;cork&#34; like Birkie shoes.  Is there really cork in it or does it just look like cork?  And the blue part??!  What a piece of junk.  It's just a plastic/Styrofoam piece of garbage.  Imagine how sweaty this thing will be in a shoe.  YUCK!  At least cover it in fabric or something.  I tried the flat insole that came with the shoes I am trying to fit Instead of that blue Frisbee & it would *work* but not good enough.  And really, for the price of this Birkie, it should all work without having to rig up something.<br /><br />Yes, the heel/arch support part feels pretty good but it takes up a lot of room in a shoe & I am trying to fit these in a shoe with a lot of room.  It's very thick.  I can get my foot in the shoe & I could wear the shoe but it would be too tight for any length of time.  And I'm not convinced the cork part will really form to my foot like my beloved Birkie cork shoes so not worth it.<br /><br />The shoes I am trying to fit:  Merrell Dassie Buckle - Size 8.5M  [[ASIN:B00HF6P750 Merrell Women's Dassie Buckle Slip-On Shoe,Black,08 M US]]<br />-I have average feet - not wide, normal arch & one small bunion which is why I like a bigger toe box.  These are travel shoes so I often walk 10 miles a day in them; I need a good/comfy insole.<br />-The shoe has a very generous toe box & I ordered a half size bigger than my usual 8M (8.5M) knowing I would want a better insole.<br />-The Birkie 38 fits inside the shoe but is way too thick w/my foot in the shoe.<br /><br />So far the winning insole is the &#34;Pedag Viva Sport Semi-Rigid Orthotic for Impact Sports&#34;.  The only problem with it is it runs narrow so there is a little gap around it in the shoe.  But it is comfy & fits with my foot in the shoe.  And it's washable, fabric covered.<br />Pedag Size 38: [[ASIN:B00DI421G6 Pedag Viva Sport Semi-Rigid Orthotic for Impact Sports with Met Pad and Heel Cushion, Red, EU 45/US M12]]gid Orthotic for Impact Sports with Met Pad and Heel Cushion, Red, EU 45/US M12]]