Used & Abused | TreadLabs Dash Insoles
adam’s 2,000 Mile Dash Review
When it comes to cycling, I’m the type of rider who tends to get caught in the hype around fast and flashy upgrades. Like many road riders, I tend to spend more time daydreaming about oversized pully-wheels and buzzy hubs than something unseen, like the footbeds in my shoes. I didn’t expect that insoles would not only improve my comfort on the bike but give me more performance benefits than ceramic bearings or a waxed chain likely ever would.
Over the years, I've tried various gear and accessories to enhance my riding, but nothing has made a more significant impact than the TreadLabs Dash thin insoles. After putting over 2000 miles on these insoles, I’m happy to report that it’s well worth the upgrade.
For me, the world of insoles was always a bit daunting, and information would often send me down different rabbit holes. I’m someone with “normal” feet, and so I never felt clear direction on if I have high or low arches. I assumed insoles were more for people with “irregular” feet even though the signs I could benefit from them were there: numb toes, arch fatigue, and occasional knee pain on long rides. I don’t have high or low arches and so I tended to chalk this discomfort up to saddle issues or overtraining. I never considered the benefits that additional support could add to my cycling until I hear about the Dash insoles through Leal Wilcox, who partnered with TreadLabs in 2023. They claimed that their carbon insoles would improve biomechanics, provide energy return, and boost performance. That sounded worth checking out.
The TreadLabs Dash insoles are offered in four different carbon fiber arch support heights and a 5mm(regular) or 3mm(thin) thick top sheet. I, like most riders, opted for the thins to fit better in cycling shoes. Unlike other insole companies that have special tools or scanners, TreadLabs has a simple process to find your arch height by comparing your wet footprint to their chart. It was simple to do at home and I was confident I got the right size: medium. When I pulled the current footbeds out of my Giro Regime road shoes, I was surprised by how flimsy they were compared to the Dash. In my experience, that’s the case for most cycling shoes, even at premium price points. The difference was immediately noticeable.
I assumed I was getting ample support from cycling shoes’ stiff carbon outsoles, but the Dash insoles gave me a new sense of connection. Even though my arch isn’t abnormally high, this was the first time I felt what it meant for my foot to feel supported.
After using the Dash insoles this season, the improvements are undeniable. The numbness in my feet has completely disappeared, even on rides over eight hours. This is because now the pedaling pressure is distributed evenly across my whole foot instead of just through my forefoot. This also in turn increases the power I’m able to output through each stroke. While I haven’t yet tested for a measurable power increase, the additional comfort the insole provides allows me to keep pedaling consistency hour after hour, anecdotally making me faster over the long-haul.
More importantly than speed though, the insoles have also relieved my occasional knee pain, helping to better align my knee tracking, which has dramatically improved my overall fit and comfort without making any expensive saddle or cockpit changes.
I've ridden with the Dash insoles in all sorts of weather—rain, heat, cold, you name it. Despite the varying conditions, the insoles have held up incredibly well. They’ve proven to be durable and reliable, providing the same level of comfort and support regardless of the weather. With the ability to simply replace the top cover when they get too beat up, I don’t feel the need to baby them. Once I’m clipped in, they just disappear, allowing me to focus on the ride.
Whether you’re a casual rider or a serious cyclist, investing in a quality insole like the Dash can make a world of difference. After over 2000 miles, I can confidently say that these insoles are an essential part of my cycling gear. If you’re looking to enhance your comfort and performance on road and gravel, the TreadLabs Dash thin insoles are well worth the investment.
