Can You Bring Shoe Insoles on a Plane? Yes

Shoe insoles of every type — custom orthotics, over-the-counter gel insoles, memory foam arch supports, and silicone heel cups — are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage on all airlines worldwide. There are no aviation or security restrictions on insoles. Here is what you need to know at the security checkpoint and in your packing.

Why Insoles Are Not Restricted

Security restrictions target weapons, significant quantities of liquid, high-capacity lithium batteries, and certain flammable materials. Shoe insoles fall into none of these categories. They are solid objects — plastic, foam, gel, silicone, or carbon fibre — and are treated no differently from any other piece of footwear or apparel at security screening.

Insole Types and Carry-on Status

Insole type	Carry-on	Checked bag	Notes
Custom prescription orthotics (rigid)	Allowed	Allowed	Medical device; never restricted
Custom prescription orthotics (semi-rigid)	Allowed	Allowed	Medical device
Over-the-counter foam arch support insoles	Allowed	Allowed	No restrictions
Memory foam insoles	Allowed	Allowed	Solid foam, not subject to liquid rules
Gel insoles (Dr. Scholl's, Superfeet Gel)	Allowed	Allowed	Wear through security to avoid any question
Silicone heel cups	Allowed	Allowed
Silicone metatarsal pads	Allowed	Allowed
Magnetic insoles	Allowed	Allowed	Consumer magnets pose no aviation risk
Carbon fibre orthotics	Allowed	Allowed	May show clearly on X-ray; not restricted
Heated insoles (battery-powered)	Allowed	Allowed	Small lithium battery; follow device battery rules

Custom Orthotics: Always Allowed

Custom orthotics — rigid or semi-rigid insoles prescribed and manufactured by a podiatrist, orthopaedic specialist, or physiotherapist — are medical devices. They are fully allowed in carry-on and checked baggage under TSA rules and equivalent international security standards.

If you are wearing your orthotics in your shoes, they will typically pass through security without ever being examined separately. Most custom orthotics are made from polypropylene, carbon fibre, or EVA foam, none of which flag metal detectors. If your orthotics have metal components (uncommon but possible in some specialist devices), they may trigger the body scanner — this is not a problem, simply allow the secondary screening process.

If you are packing orthotics loose in your bag, they may appear on the X-ray monitor. A security officer might ask to look at them. There is no basis for confiscation — show them and continue.

Gel Insoles: The Liquid Rules Question

Gel insoles contain a soft, viscous gel material — the kind used in products like Dr. Scholl's Massaging Gel insoles or Superfeet Carbon Gel. Technically, gel is a category that falls under the carry-on liquid rules (which cover liquids, gels, creams, and pastes).

In practice, gel insoles are thin, solid-state objects — the gel is encapsulated inside a firm plastic or fabric shell. They do not pour, drip, or behave like a free liquid. TSA and equivalent international security agencies do not treat gel insoles as liquid items. They are not listed as restricted and are not confiscated at standard checkpoints.

That said, enforcement is not perfectly uniform. Some EU airports apply the liquid rules more broadly. If you want to eliminate any possible ambiguity entirely, the simplest approach is to wear your gel insoles inside your shoes through the security checkpoint. Worn insoles inside closed shoes are never separately screened.

If you are packing them loose in your bag, they are almost certain to be waved through — but now you know that wearing them is the guaranteed-smooth option.

Magnetic Insoles

Magnetic insoles — marketed for circulation or pain relief, with small embedded magnets — are fully allowed in carry-on and checked bags. Consumer-grade magnets produce a negligible magnetic field that has no effect on airport metal detectors, body scanners, or aircraft avionics. There is no aviation restriction on magnetic insoles.

Heated / Battery-Powered Insoles

Heated insoles (products like Therm-ic or Hotronic ski insoles) contain a small rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The rules for these follow the standard device battery rules:

• The insoles with the battery installed may travel in carry-on or checked baggage
• Spare lithium batteries (not inside the device) must travel in carry-on only, not in checked bags
• The battery in most heated insoles is far under the 100 Wh carry-on limit

At the Security Checkpoint: Practical Tips

Wearing your insoles through security is the simplest approach for any insole type, particularly gel insoles. When you remove your shoes at the checkpoint — which is required at most international security lanes and at all US airports — the insoles remain inside your shoes and go through the X-ray with them, without ever being separately examined.

If you are packing insoles loose:

• Custom orthotics are clearly shaped medical devices — an officer who looks at them can see what they are
• Foam and memory foam insoles are entirely unremarkable on X-ray
• Gel insoles are unlikely to be flagged, but if you want certainty, wear them

No insole type requires a doctor's note or any special declaration at the checkpoint, though carrying documentation for a medical device is never a bad idea if you rely on prescription orthotics and travel frequently.

Packing Tips

• Wear your everyday insoles or orthotics in your shoes rather than packing them loose — saves space in your bag and removes the checkpoint variable entirely
• For spare insoles (backup pair or travel-specific insoles), pack them flat inside a shoe in your bag to save space
• If flying with heated insoles, charge them before departure; pack the battery pack in carry-on even if the insoles go in your checked bag
• Multiple pairs of insoles add negligible weight — foam insoles weigh 50–100 g per pair, gel insoles 100–200 g

Summary

All shoe insoles — custom orthotics, gel, foam, memory foam, silicone, magnetic, and battery-powered — are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage with no restrictions. Gel insoles occupy a technical grey area under the liquid rules but are not confiscated in practice. The simplest strategy: wear your insoles through security inside your shoes, where they are never separately scrutinised.