Blumaka Insoles: A Brand Exploration
As tennis gear enthusiasts, we know just about every product under the sun when it comes to racquet sports. We also test court shoes extensively and are well-versed in the various kinds of performance footwear that comes our way. One area of the footwear experience that is gaining more interest would be insoles, specifically those designed for enhancing performance. While many an insole is built with comfort in mind, few are made with the intent of increasing an athlete’s performance at the highest level.
Answering this call is Blumaka, a company dedicated to improving the athlete’s experience first and foremost via their performance-driven insoles. So how exactly does Blumaka achieve the level of success that has led them to become endorsed and used by various professional athletes in MLB, the NFL, the NBA and other elite sports?
It all starts with its premium underfoot cushioning, which is made from sustainably sourced materials and provides excellent, consistent comfort. Blumaka's Sculpted Heel Cup ensures a locked-in feeling from heel to toe that keeps your feet firmly in place within your shoes. Additionally, internal Sidewall Pillars secure your feet laterally and help situate the insole comfortably within the shoe. Simply slide out your stock insoles, and replace with the Blumaka insole of your choice!
There are two kinds of Blumaka insoles to be aware of, the standard editions and its Konnect “Non-Slip” variant. The standard Blumaka is relatively traditional as far as insoles go. Tennis Warehouse offers in three different arch heights with varying amounts of cushioning: the Low Profile Medium Arch, the Max Cushion Medium Arch and the Max Cushion High Arch.
The Low Profile Medium Arch standard insole is the best place to start for someone who wants something not that noticeable in terms of the feeling underfoot. Additionally, this insole will fit in the largest variety of shoes, so it’s a safe bet for anyone wanting to try out the Blumaka sensation. This option will not only work in the largest variety of shoes, but should also cater to the largest range of foot types. We found the Low Profile Medium Arch insoles to work best in shoes with a more low to the ground profile, and those with an overall smaller or flatter chassis. Shoes like the KSwiss K-Frame Speed and the Nike Vapor 12 both have proved to work great with these insoles.
The Max Cushion Medium Arch by comparison is designed to provide the wearer with a more cushioned response underfoot and helps alleviate some harshness from stiffer shoes that utilize firmer foam compounds in their construction. We found this to work really well in shoes like the ON The Roger Pros and the ASICS Gel Resolution Xs.
Lastly, the Max Cushion High Arch is designed for those who crave additional support underneath their arches or experience bouts of plantar fasciitis. These work great in any shoe that has enough room to accommodate their slightly larger construction.
The Konnect version of all of the above features Blumaka’s non-slip capability. These insoles are a bit different in that they are certainly built differently, using Blumaka’s Textured Insole Bottom to ground your feet more firmly than ever. The non-slip Konnect texture grips both the shoes and your feet heartily without feeling restrictive, making planting and pivots feel sturdier. For us tennis players, extra grip into and out of aggressive stops goes a long way, and our team was amazed at how much additional traction and grip these insoles fostered.
The non-slip feature may be too much for shoes that have a bootie construction and are a little harder to get into. Conversely, they might also leave your feet feeling a little too “stuck” from time to time, meaning that trusting your plants under high acceleration may not always be viable.
Tennis Warehouse Playtester Picks:
Troy, the plush enthusiast
Insole: Max Cushion High Arch or Max Cushion Medium Arch (both non-Konnect versions).
Reasoning: I tend to prefer a medium to high arch support. I have experienced plantar fasciitis in the past, as well as calf/achilles injuries so a medium to high arch support seems to do the job; in terms of preventing reccuring flare-ups. Besides that I am always looking for added cushioning underneath my feet, especially the forefoot, since most tennis specific footwear tends to be minimal or low to the court. I will take all the added cushioning I can get!
Shoe: Skechers Baseline Bully (worked well since these shoes lacked some arch support) and I also have the Low Profile Medium Arch insoles in the adidas Barricade 14.
Tiffani, the stable counter-puncher
Insole: Max Cushion Medium Arch
Reasoning: These offer a cushioned, yet supportive feel, and the arch support is in the right place. It helps me wear my shoes longer without any foot pain. I’ve worn these in casual boots that didn’t have much cushioning and walked over 10 miles in a day. I didn’t feel any aches or that my feet were tired the next day. For court shoes, these insoles are pretty cushioned and thick. I recommend finding tennis shoes that are deep enough to hold them (the KSwiss Ultrashot 4 worked for me), or shoes that you need to fill out some extra space.
Shoe: Deeper shoes, like the KSwiss Ultrashot 4 or Babolat SFX 4, or shoes that you find too roomy with the stock insole. If the shoes are shallow or they already are tight in the toe box, there might not be enough room for your feet to fit comfortably. For example, I found the Nike Vapor Pro 3 too shallow in the heel to fit these insoles and allow my feet to be down in the shoes.
In conclusion, Blumaka insoles are built to enhance the speed and stability of their wearer on court. They facilitate excellent movement and increased security within any pair of court shoes. If you're looking for some extra speed without changing shoes, look no further than Blumaka.
