Navigating the world of specialized footwear can be confusing, especially when terms like “custom-made” and “customized” are often used interchangeably. This distinction isn’t just about semantics; it carries implications for fit, functionality, and even insurance coverage. In the video below, our expert pedorthist, Jean-Marc, delves into the core differences between these two types of therapeutic footwear, clarifying what each entails, the typical reasons someone might need them, and the significant variations in their creation process and cost. Whether you’re exploring options for a specific foot condition or simply curious about the nuances, this visual guide will illuminate the key distinctions.

Here is the video transcript for those who prefer reading over watching videos.

Hi, in this video, I’ll show you the difference between a custom-made shoe and a customized shoe. People will often inquire because they say their insurance will cover it if it’s a customized shoe or custom-made.

Basically, a customized shoe is just a regular shoe that’s been modified. Often, people will need a lift put on the sole, or a buttress, or a lateral flare. So, it’s a permanent modification on the shoe itself that the client will need for a specific reason. That’s a customized shoe. Modification costs can range between, let’s say, $40 to $200, depending on what modification needs to be done.

A custom-made shoe is a shoe that’s basically built from scratch, and that’s only for people who really can’t wear regular shoes at all. They either have a very big deformity, or something’s going on that means any shoe, whether it’s been customized or not, just won’t work. So, we have to take a mold of the entire foot and have an actual shoe built from that whole shape. Sometimes, insurance will cover a percentage of that. They’re generally quite a bit more expensive, about 10 times the price of regular footwear or one that’s been modified, so easily in the thousands of dollars. And basically, it will be made of, most of the time, a very sturdy material, and it will be only for that specific population. And that’s the major difference.