Heal pad works great. Low profile but noticeable cushion on impact. Lasts about as long as a pair of tennis shoes. Easy to install
Joint-Protection Heel Pad - 3 Pairs
Shipping calculated at checkout.
3 Pairs of RTP Heel Pad
"It’s hard to explain in words — but the knee pain I lived with my whole life was almost gone. And my back pain? Completely disappeared."
— Sky Kim, RTP Founder & Former Pro Tennis Player
This is the story of the RTP Heel Pad XC — trusted by elite athletes and born from a personal battle with chronic joint pain.
Developed and tested for over 4 years in collaboration with Sorbothane®, RTP Heel Pads are engineered for those who need to keep going — without letting pain hold them back.
From high-performance athletes to everyday warriors, this is the heel pad that makes movement pain-free and powerful again.
Benefits and Features
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Maximum Shock Absorption: Absorbs up to 94.7% of impact, reducing strain on joints.
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Undying Cushion: Over 1,000,000 steps tested — no signs of compression or degradation.
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Ultra-Thin Profile: No bulk. Just comfort. Keeps body alignment intact without throwing off your balance.
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Naturally Sticky Grip: Self-adhering surface keeps heel pads in place during high-performance activity.
Note: Adhesion may decrease over time but can be refreshed — see Care Instructions. -
Improved Film Liner: New peel-off film liner makes it easier to remove and apply the pads cleanly.
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All-Day Comfort: Designed to eliminate discomfort from plantar fasciitis, ankle, Achilles, knee, hip, and back pain.
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Made in the USA: Precision-built for serious athletes who care about both quality and origin.
Specifications
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3 Pairs of Heel Pad
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Available in 3 sizes — Check Size Info
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Compatible with most shoes: sneakers, trainers, boots, and daily footwear
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Color: Red
Who Should Use RTP Heel Pads?
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Anyone struggling with heel, ankle, or joint pain
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Athletes recovering from knee surgery or with prior injuries
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Individuals suffering from Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD), plantar fasciitis, or back issues
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Runners, tennis players, hikers, and those on their feet all day
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Anyone who wants to protect their joints from the wear and tear of impact
From Sky Kim — RTP Founder
"I had Osteochondritis Dissecans(OCD) since age 7. Despite two knee surgeries, the pain never went away. Standard insoles never worked — they were uncomfortable and made things worse. But when I developed this pad with Sorbothane, everything changed. For the first time, the pain I thought I’d carry forever... was gone. I knew I had to share this with the world."
Size info
Small (M 5-6, W 4 1/2-9)
Medium (M 6 1/2-12, W 9 1/2-13 1/2)
Large (M 12 1/2-16, W 13+)
When ordering for kids, please use Women's size. Please make sure it is possible to remove your kids existing insoles.
Spec
Dimension: 4.75 x 3 x 05 inches
Package Weight: 2.56 ounces
material
Sorbothane.
Shipping and return policy
Contact us via support@rtptennis.com with the reason for your return. If the product was damaged then we can send a replacement for exchange or a refund. The product must be returned within 30 days of receiving the item. Please follow these additional guidelines when making a return to rtptennis.com:
-Heel Pad XC may be returned no questions asked for a full refund within 30 days.
Other products:
- Item must be in new condition.
- Clothing must be unworn.
- Item must be returned with all original packaging and accessories
(includes box or plastic poly bag).
- No receipt is necessary to process your return.
- The online return form will ask for your order number.
- You can find your order number in the order confirmation email.
Note that we do not refund for shipping price, only the product price.
WHY HEEL PAD XC?
REVIEWS
Some of our favorite reviews. Just some, out of many ;).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I know if Heel Pad XC will work for me?
You've got nothing to lose but your pain! If you're not satisfied with Heel Pad XC for any reason, just send it back within 30 days and get a full refund of the product.
Does it help plantar fasciitis?
The heel pad is a lifesaver for those suffering from plantar fasciitis! Our customers have told us that they no longer feel any pain in their heels when going to the bathroom at morning time thanks to this amazing product.
Why protect only the heels and not the whole feet?
For our testers and athletes, the bulky and squishy full insoles were not a good fit. They said it slowed them down when pushing off in any direction because of how soft its cushioning felt on their ball-of feet; we wanted to make an insole with natural responsiveness but still offer complete protection for all joints! Our goal was create an innovative product with all protection needed while still maintaining comfort level over longer periods; we succeeded!
What types of shoes does it work with?
While this product works with most shoes, it doesn't work on certain types of footwear. If you have a pair where the original insole is permanently fixed to your shoe, Heel Pad XC will not work with your shoes. Some footwear requires more force than others to pull out the original insoles so make sure you test with some force to take out the original insoles.
Would it throw off my natural stance/balance?
Our Heel Pad XC is so thin that it does not throw off your natural balance when standing on them and they compress enough to keep you feeling secure like there would be no foreign object underneath your foot! As soon as you take a step, the heel pads quickly go back into their original shape absorbing any shock caused by your next step.
Have the Heel Pad XC's been tested?
The Heel Pad XC has been tested by nurses, servers, professional athletes and weekend warriors alike to withstand the often rigorous activity that they engage in every day while still providing comfort during those long hours on their feet! Not only that, it has been tested by SATRA, a non-profit organization that tests footwear and insoles for some of the most prestigious footwear companies in this world.
Wouldn't it be better to make them thicker for more shock absorption?
If the heel pads are too thick it would throw off your body's natural stance and balance and it would sacrifice your ankle stability. Our Heel Pad XC gives you the best of both worlds by keeping your body's natural stance and preventing shocks from coming up from your heels to your joints.
I'm experiencing some muscle ache. Is this normal?
Yes! The testers who felt muscle aches after using it usually experienced a significant relief from their joint pain and the muscle aches were going away within 7-10 days. For those that didn't have any discomfort at all – they reported feeling the pressure relieved on day 1 of use and haven’t looked back since then.
What is unique to your heel pads compared to other competitors?
Heel Pad XC was developed by a group of athletes who had experienced pain and discomfort in their daily lives. Lab tests alone could only take you so far. We wanted to do our research and testing where the action was happening. Our team at Road to Pro and Sorbothane engineering team was listening closely and taking notes from pro athletes' complaints about the pain in their feet while they trained for hours on end. By eliminating these problem points one by one through innovation combined with over 100 years worth experience from professionals across all industries; Heel Pad XC is born!
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.0 / 5 from 104 reviews.
the rtp heel pads are thin and add to heel comfort, I feel like they add some protection against the occasional jarring bo jackson type of misstep. Long lasting too. can’t speak to plantar fasciitis, but i’ve had 2 stress fractures and a broken metatarsal so i try to take care of my feet.
I have been using Healpad XCfor the last 2 weeks.tonight I played 11 games of pickleball with”ZERO”pain.
So far your cushions really take the pressure off my heels I use your heel cushion under my fore foot at times to reduce the impact as well
Going to be automatic installs in every sneaker from now on. The heel pad / sock combo provides elite protection with minimal added bulk.
Great support in my tennis court shoes
Great product
I really noticed them in my hard court shoes. Works as advertised.
Fantastic product! This is a company that makes things that do exactly what they say they will do!
I thought it would’ve worked a lot better than what it is. I’m still having pain in my heels after playing tennis.
These heel pads have been nothing short of amazing! I play tennis almost every day and my feet and heels no longer hurt.
Sky sent an additional pair because we had gone to a different location. Because of that, we went on to buy the socks. The socks were good so we bought more. All future sock order will be with rtp. Great job Sky making things right. Lots of socks and heel order since my boys are highly competitive players.
I bought these on a whim. I am very pleased with these pads. I noticed almost immediately how I did not ache after my matches. At my age, that's a big plus! Great product. Bought more for family and friends
I tend to play in 2 to 3 hour pickleball sessions on a hard court and my lower back would be in pain. Now with the heel pads, I feel no pain at the end of a long session.
Great product
Great support feel less knee pain
They just didn't work for me. They set my heel too high in my shoe so It was slipping
Shared with friends and we all live them
Allows me to play much longer!
I was skeptical but desperate so I took a chance on buying the inserts. I had been having progressively worse left knee pain on the outside of my knee. braces & straps did not work. Went to Ortho & they said I have a strained LCL & to rest it for 6-8 weeks. Well, that wasn't going to happen. I bought the inserts & literally noticed a difference the first day. Not so much during play but after. I was not limping to the car, I did not have to favor that leg... I was amazed. I have placed 2 orders of the 3 pack since bc I have been sharing with friends with different issues like Achilles, knee, heel, back & sciatica pain. I intend on ordering more bc I switch out my shoes often. I am truly amazed on how much a thin insert could absorb that much impact to relieve pain.
I like the heel pads. I put them in several pairs of athletic shoes. I buy several at a time to save $$.
They do not work for me, my heel pain actually got worse. However, the fit in the shoe well and do not move. I think they might workbif you were to catch the issue earlier. Mine is pretty severe.
These inserts are amazing! They feel comfortable and relieve my heel pain and pressure
Definitely is not orthopedic, so is not that thick, it helps keeping your ankle more stable, since it does not slip. For guys prone to heel injuries like me, is beneficial not to get the straight impact coming from short runs and or small jumps, it is worth to say that running or jumping while playing tennis our body mechanics or motions are way different than any other sport. For me it was a smart investment for a smart benefit.
They’re thin enough I’m unaware of them but offer extra cushion. First week notices less lower back and hip pain
Used them after I received them in New shoes, didnt realize they were small and not medium, seem to work well I put them in New shoes so I will see if there is any degradation as I wear through the shoes.
It's good for my tennis performance.
Due to my flat feet; the insert pushes my foot forward too much which makes my toes feel too cramped in my show.
Great
Great product! Definitely worth the purchase!
Took forever to get to me but i try them and it worked
My initial feeling was one of extreme disappointment because it took nearly A month to get them, and when i i checked the order I did not have any kind of notification until this survey email was sent. The positive side of this experience was that while waiting I checked my order and saw that the heel size was incorrect, and when I wrote to your office, the staff was able to make the changes and the items came a few days later. I have had the heels for about a week and while i still have knee pain I have already begun to notice the relief from wearing the heel. I look forward to see how they respond when i get to the gym this week.
I have no idea how to improve. I’ve tried a pair of heel pads on my running work shoes and did everything you said to do and I still experience heel pains. So I’m just not that impressed. I’m still waiting to see if I feel any different when I play tennis and try them. We will see. I bought so many of them and now I’m thinking I should not have.
It is sent again and seems to stay at one location. First time it also went wrong so no trust I will receive my item to test it out
WAITING ON THE PRODUCT! IT NEVER ARRIVED!
never sent. didn't refund.
Great cushioning. I hope it helps my sore knees
Heel pads Make a big difference !!
I have foot and knee . This didn’t make a difference
Very poor glue doesn’t feel any different