Debunking Remind Insoles’ Advertising Claims: What Skateboarders Need to Know
If you are searching for Remind Insoles, FP Insoles, or the best skateboarding insoles, you’ve probably seen videos and ads claiming Remind insoles absorb “90%+ of impact” and outperform FP. As the inventor of FP’s impact technologies, here’s what those claims actually mean — and whether they reflect real-world skateboarding.
01
Why Remind’s “90% Impact” Claim Fails in Skateboarding
Remind advertises that its insoles absorb more than 90% of impact, referencing standard ASTM footwear testing. The problem: that test was historically developed to evaluate running heel-strike cushioning — not repeated high-energy skateboard landings.
Walking, jogging, and running create dramatically different impact conditions than high-impact action sports:
- Skateboarding
- Snowboarding
- BMX
- Parkour
02
ASTM Footwear Testing vs. Real-World Skate Shoe Temperatures
Standard footwear cushioning tests run under controlled, room-temperature lab conditions. That makes sense for traditional shoe foam — but skateboarders don’t use insoles on a lab bench.
Skateboarders use them:
- Inside enclosed shoes
- Under heavy body weight
- Under repeated, intense impacts
- At temperatures approaching or exceeding body temperature
The inside of a skate shoe acts like an insulated chamber. Every step, push, ollie, and landing generates additional heat. Unlike motorcycle armor or helmet liners exposed directly to outside air, insoles trap heat inside the shoe, causing temperatures to rise continuously during use.
03
The Science: Remind Insoles Lost ~30% Impact Protection When Heated
To evaluate real-world performance, FP conducted controlled instrumented testing using a 5 kg impactor at 50 joules of impact energy — representative of actual skateboarding and snowboarding landings.
At ~30°C
23,000 N
Transmitted force
At ~40°C
34,000 N
Transmitted force
↓ Approximately a 30% reduction in impact protection simply from operating at temperatures inside real footwear.
The same insole that performs well on a cold lab bench performs dramatically differently once it warms up inside your skate shoe.
04
Temperature-Sensitive Material Hardness (Shore C Testing)
We also measured the hardness of the tested Remind material using Shore C testing across different temperatures:
| Temperature Condition | Material Hardness (Shore C) | Impact Protection Level |
|---|---|---|
| Cold | 50 Shore C | Higher Protection |
| Room Temperature | 30 Shore C | Moderate Protection |
| Body Temperature | 20 Shore C | Significantly Reduced |
As the material hardness decreased with heat, the transmitted impact force increased. This is a known behavior of temperature-sensitive viscoelastic foams. Inside footwear, these changes become critical because:
- Heat builds continuously during active skate sessions
- Body weight continuously compresses the softened material
- Repeated impacts generate even more heat, making the foam easier to bottom out
05
Misleading Comparative Advertising & Consumer Confusion
Beginning in approximately 2022, FP notified Remind and its legal counsel that we believed their comparative advertising was misleading. We provided independent SGS laboratory testing alongside our own instrumented testing data.
Despite receiving this information, Remind has continued to:
- Publish the original, unscientific comparison videos
- Run aggressive Google Ads targeting FP-related searches
- Build SEO pages targeting searches like “FP Insoles” and “Remind vs FP”
- Publish comparison charts that mischaracterize FP’s testing
This has resulted in widespread consumer confusion, leading skateboarders to believe Remind has “proven” FP products are inferior — despite independent scientific tests showing otherwise.
Why This Matters to Skateboarders
Choosing a skateboarding insole is about serious impact protection, not just comfort. If you are buying a product believing it protects you from 90% of impact, you deserve to know:
At FP, we believe skateboarders deserve transparent, scientifically supported comparisons using equivalent products and testing conditions representative of real skateboarding. Accurate testing protects skateboarders, and the truth matters.