We never set out to start a business. NextSole exists because we were desperate parents trying to solve a problem that was affecting our twin boys – and we couldn’t afford the only solution we’d been offered.

It Started with Sore Legs and Sleepless Nights

Our twin boys have always been active. One in particular never stops – sport, playground, running around with mates – he’s constantly on the go. By the end of each day, his feet and legs were so sore he’d complain about them hurting. We thought maybe he was just pushing too hard, or it was growing pains, or he needed more rest.

We took him to a podiatrist, hoping to get some extra support for his feet. The solution? Custom orthotics. Price tag? Several hundred dollars. And we’d need new ones every 4-6 months as his feet grew.

Then Came the Wake-Up Call We Didn’t Expect

Our other twin had been dealing with shoulder stiffness, so we took him to a chiropractor. During the assessment, the chiro asked about his sleep and moods.

We’d noticed he was waking up grumpy and tired. He’d been complaining about sore legs too, but we’d put it down to the same thing as his brother—just growing pains, right?

The chiropractor examined his posture and noticed something we’d never picked up on: his ankle had been rolling. Nothing dramatic. Nothing he could even recall happening. But that rolled ankle had thrown his entire body alignment out.

Here’s what hit us hard: his body was spending all night trying to recover from the compensation and strain of the day before. He wasn’t getting proper rest because his body was in constant repair mode from walking on unstable, unsupported feet.

We had no idea. He had no idea. But his body was telling the story – poor sleep, grumpiness, tired legs, shoulder tension – all connected to his feet.

The Problem We Couldn’t Afford to Fix

Both boys needed support. The chiropractor and podiatrist both suggested orthotics as part of the solution.

We did the maths. Custom orthotics for both boys, replaced every 4-6 months as they grew. We’re talking thousands of dollars a year, and that’s being conservative.

Cost of living was climbing. We had bills to pay, groceries to buy, school fees, sport registrations. Like most Aussie families, we were doing our best, but we simply couldn’t afford the ongoing expense of custom orthotics for two growing boys.

We had to find an alternative.

The Search for Something That Actually Worked

We tried the chemist options. We bought insoles from sports shoe shops. Honestly? They didn’t last long, they were still expensive for what they were, and they didn’t provide the level of support our boys actually needed.

We started doing serious research. We reached out to people with genuine knowledge about foot support and comfort for children. We tested different products. We used various insoles with our boys, noting what worked and what didn’t.

And in the back of our minds, we kept thinking: we can’t be the only ones dealing with this.

We Weren’t Alone

Talking to other school parents and friends confirmed what we suspected. So many families were in the same boat:

• Kids complaining about tired legs
• Parents noticing ankle rolling or flat feet
• Concerns about growing bodies and proper development
• The shock of orthopaedic costs they couldn’t sustain

But here’s what really struck us: people just didn’t know what they didn’t know.

Parents had no idea that their child’s poor sleep, grumpiness, or tired legs could be connected to foot support. They didn’t realise that ankle rolling could affect entire body alignment. They hadn’t considered that preventative support during growth years could make such a difference.

And honestly? Nobody had the time or energy to research it all whilst juggling work, family, bills, and everything else life throws at you.

When Opportunity Knocked During Hardship

Then Amanda lost her job. It was a difficult time, but it also created space to think differently.

We looked at what we’d learnt through our boys’ journey. We looked at the gap in the market – quality, affordable foot support for Aussie kids. We looked at how many families were struggling with the same issues we’d faced.

And we thought: why not take what we’ve learnt and help the wider community?

NextSole Was Born from Real Family Need

So here we are – taking a chance to do something we genuinely believe in and know can help families just like ours.

We know Aussie kids. We know the way they play. We understand our active lifestyle – sport every weekend, playground adventures, walking to school, running around with mates. Our kids don’t sit still, and they shouldn’t have to.

We’ve leaned on the knowledge of podiatrists, chiropractors, and foot health experts. We’ve tested products with our own children. We’ve created something that provides the support growing feet need without the orthopaedic price tag.

For Families Just Trying to Do Their Best

NextSole exists for parents who:

• Notice their child’s tired legs but aren’t sure what to do about it
• Can’t afford repeated custom orthotics every few months
• Want to support their child’s development but need an affordable option
• Don’t have time to become foot health experts but want a solution that works

We’re not podiatrists. We’re parents who’ve been there – standing in the specialist’s office, looking at quotes we couldn’t afford, knowing our children needed support but having no realistic way to provide it long-term.

We’ve done the research for you. We’ve made the mistakes and learnt from them. We’ve tested products until we found what actually works for active Aussie kids.

This Is Personal for Us

Every NextSole we send out represents another family who won’t have to choose between their child’s foot health and paying the bills. Another parent who won’t lie awake worrying about whether they’re doing enough. Another child who might sleep better, play longer, and grow stronger because their feet have the support they need.

Our boys now wear NextSole every day. They sleep better. They complain less about tired legs. They keep playing sport and being active kids – which is exactly how it should be.

We built NextSole because we needed it for our family. We’re sharing it because we know yours might need it too.

Sometimes the best businesses aren’t born from market research or business plans. They’re born from parents who couldn’t find what their children needed and decided to create it themselves.

That’s our story. And we’d be honoured to be part of yours.

— The NextSole Family