Insole

An insole 2 has a heel region 8, an arch region 6, and a forefoot region 4. A pod 10 comprising an encapsulated liquid is partially embedded in a polyurethane (PU) foam layer (20, Fig. 2) in the heel region. The insole may have a memory foam layer (22, Fig. 2). A thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) shell may be present on the bottom surface of the insole. The pod may be elliptical and may have a lip (12, Fig. 4a) around its perimeter. The pod may comprise a capsule and a film (26, 28, Fig. 4b). The impact of foot strike can lead to large forces on joints in the body. The insole with the pod reduces the impact of foot strike and therefore can lessen the impact of steps on the body.