a thermal protection system is disclosed herein . in various aspects , the thermal protection system includes an insert . the insert may include a first layer and a second layer bonded to one another . the insert may be removeably receivable within a cavity of a shoe to form a thermally insulating barrier between a plantar surface of a user &# 39 ; s foot and a sole of the shoe with a side of the first layer oriented toward the sole and a side of the second layer oriented toward the plantar surface . the first layer may include an aerogel and the second layer may include a meta aramid polymer , in various aspects . related compositions of matter disclosed herein , in various aspects , include a plurality of layers bonded to one another in the form of an insert removeably receivable within a cavity of a shoe to create a thermal barrier between a sole of the shoe and a plantar surface of a foot of a user . this abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 c . f . r . § 1 . 72 only , and is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus , methods , and compositions of matter disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof .