It’s always attention-grabbing when a video, article, or podcast promises to take you inside “the game within the game.”
It makes consumers wonder what type of cool new information they might come across that makes them see things in a different way.
Rather than come up with a corny, overused hook like the one mentioned above, we’re going to do something different. We’re going to take players inside “the game within the basketball shoes.”
Now that we’ve established our interesting angle, it’s time to get into what that actually means. Many basketball players spend a lot of time weighing the pros and cons of a sneaker to give them an edge.
However, not as much time is spent thinking about the impact an insole, which provides comfort, cushion and stability may have. High-quality insoles can help prevent foot pain, inflammation of the plantar fascia, stress fractures, and other ailments.
The above-mentioned ailments can hold a player back in a significant way, which makes an insole’s presence all the more critical.
We’ll review the best insoles on the market right now to help give your feet the advantage on the court.
1. Sof Sole Airr
Sof Sole insoles with Skydex air bubbles in the heel and arch to help absorb impact. Gel in forefoot provides cushioning.
The Scoop: Sof Sole Airr takes home the prestigious MVI, or Most Valuable Insole award that was just made up two minutes ago. Despite the tongue-in-cheek honor bestowed above, this product is beloved in the world of shoe inserts.
It uses a wonderful combination of many of the most prominent padding technologies that currently exist. The Sof Sole Airr features air bubbles spanning from the heel to the middle of the foot that provides firm arch support.
While the air pocket would be sufficient for most insoles, the Sof Sole Airr also comes with polymer gel pads, which help optimize shock absorption for the high leapers out there. Many would say that it’s almost like your feet went to heaven after years of unnecessary wear and tear.
As one might conclude based on the above description, these orthotic shoe insoles run a little thick given all that it’s comprised of. The only negative to consider is that the fit of these insoles might be a little (too) snug if your current pair of sneakers already wrap around your feet tightly.
Amazon Total Reviews: 3,940
Average Amazon Rating: 4.5
2. Powerstep Pinnacle Maxx
Full length insoles, neutral arch support, maximum cushioning, high activity for maximum support.
The Scoop: As evidenced by its rating metrics on Amazon, the Powerstep Pinnacle Maxx is highly respected by most of its customer base. It has taken strides to increase the depth of the heel cup, which is an upgrade over previous versions of the product.
We have seen that EVA foam is a popular choice of material when it comes to insoles, but Powerstap Pinnacle doubles down on that, literally. This product includes a double layer of foam to provide that much more shock absorption ability when you get up there to try and block a shot.
While the Pinnacle Maxx has a lot of things going for it, one downside is that the fabric may start to stick to your feet, which is less than exciting to address mid or post-game. If the folks at Pinnacle are able to figure this part out, there’s a good chance that the product may move up the list in future breakdowns.
Amazon Total Reviews: 14,222
Average Amazon Rating: 4.5
3. Spenco Rx Comfort
For athletes looking for rigid support. Improves motion control to reduce over-pronation.
The Scoop: A great movie character once said “If you’re not first, you’re last”, but the Spenco Rx Comfort still has a bunch of redeeming qualities to consider when you’re buying your next insole. It’s arguably the best value proposition on this list and doesn’t sacrifice much despite its low price point.
Unlike some insoles, the Spenco Rx Comfort won’t feel like it’s taking over your entire shoe. It’s got a low profile and isn’t going to bog you down due to its lightweight construction.
Despite its sleek form, the product has a deep heel cup and a nuanced support mechanism. It includes softer pads, but also one rigid pad to maintain arch support.
Ordering these in bulk due to their affordability and reputation isn’t a bad idea, but make sure to pay attention to ideal sizing. Reviewers have noted that it isn’t always easy to get the right size straight away.
Amazon Total Reviews: 4,637
Average Amazon Rating: 4.4
4. WalkHero Insoles
Excellent for shock absorption and foot fatigue. The fabric also helps keep your feel cool.
The Scoop: The next quality insole on our rundown comes from WalkHero. One of its claims to fame is the premium EVA high-density foam, which is some of the softest materials around.
Even though Walkhero insoles are designed to minimize foot pain and combat plantar fasciitis, it takes other factors into consideration. Because inadequate leg alignment can also contribute to foot issues, these insoles try to keep everything in its proper position so that problems with your knees or Achilles tendon can be avoided.
Another feather in its shoe is that Walkhero’s insoles promote equal weight distribution and stability, meaning that no singular part of your foot will absorb the brunt of the impact upon landing.
The one potential additional step customers may need to take is to trim the heel portion of the insole to more comfortably fit in their shoe.
Amazon Total Reviews: 71,353
Average Amazon Rating: 4.3
5. Superfeet Carbon Sport
Delivers long-lasting comfort for tight-fitting athletic footwear. Insoles cradle heel in shoes to optimize natural shock absorption.
The Scoop: We’ve already seen on this list that certain insoles might be too thick, or potentially too thin. Ideally, athletes would be able to strike a balance somewhere in the middle, and the Superfeet Carbon Sport insoles appear to have achieved that.
As its name gives away, this product features carbon fiber, which is a hot new material utilized in athletics and across other disciplines. This fabric allows for supreme contortion to match the shape of your foot while providing the optimal amount of support.
It’s the most expensive product on this list but is one of the most well-rounded solutions out there. The Carbon Sport is also exceptionally durable but may feel a little slippery to some players inside their shoes.
Amazon Total Reviews: 2,448
Average Amazon Rating: 4.5
6. Sof Sole Athlete
Performance orthotic insoles improve the comfort and fit of men’s footwear. Contoured neutral arch is suitable for most foot types; inserts designed to fit in casual and athletic footwear.
The Scoop: Sof Sole has already done enough to warrant the top spot on our list, but they also have another product that is worth checking out. Their Sof Sole Athlete insoles have some contrasting qualities that may be more appealing to certain players.
The Airr contains multiple layers of padding which is tremendous for support but also can feel a little bit cumbersome. The Sof Sole Athlete is a little more nimble than its counterpart, as it features gel and foam rather than air and gel.
Another great feature working in the Sof Sole Athlete’s favor is its ability to keep your feet dry. It has hydrologic moisture-wicking technology that reduces the amount of sweat that could potentially build up.
Even though they may not be as comfortable as the Airr insoles, the Sof Sole Athlete’s work for players needing a boost in support. After extended use, they may start to squeak and make noise, signaling you to move on to your next insole.
Amazon Total Reviews: 8,402
Average Amazon Rating: 4.5
7. OKAY Healthy Step
Arch Support shoe inserts for plantar fasciitis strengthen your fallen/falling arches to achieve improved body weight distribution. With sufficiently cushioned heel cup and forefoot section, these shoe insoles for flat feet eliminate and reduce undue pressure/stresses in the forefoot or heel section.
The Scoop: It would be a mistake to think that Healthy Step insoles are your average, run-of-the-mill product. Seeing “OKAY” at the beginning of any branding effort would lead many to conclude this, but don’t let that stop you from checking them out.
We’ve touched on a few different foot issues that insoles help to prevent, but there’s one problem we haven’t yet touched on; blisters. These can be caused when your foot isn’t able to remain in place in your sneaker when it slides around the bottom of the shoe.
OKAY Healthy Step insoles pride themselves on stopping that from happening, which is a nice bonus for players who deal with them.
This product isn’t as soft as one of the others in the piece but is still found to generally be comfortable.
Amazon Total Reviews: 321
Average Amazon Rating: 4.2
8. Superfeet Green
High Arch and Wide, Deep Heel Cup. Helps stabilize and reduce stress on feet, ankles and back. Have a coating to help with odors in your shoes.
The Scoop: Superfeet makes a second appearance in our journey through the best insoles out there. We delved into their carbon-fiber offering a little earlier and will take a closer look at their Superfeet Green insoles.
A lot of attention is paid to supporting players with flat feet, but it isn’t often that insoles will also go out of their way to say they feature high arch support. The Superfeet Green is supposed to be a winning play for players on both sides of that spectrum.
The foam that the Superfeet Green insoles are comprised of provides a high level of comfort, but this product may not have the same kind of durability as others mentioned in these rankings.
Amazon Total Reviews: 27,105
Average Amazon Rating: 4.4
9. Move Insoles
The Scoop: Move insoles are perhaps the most interesting brand on this list. If we were doing a rundown of the market in 2025 or 2030, it’s possible that this product would be at the very top.
However, Move is extremely new to the insole world and is still in the process of building its brand awareness with the public. One thing it has going for it is that it is co-founded by star NBA players Chris Paul and Damian Lillard.
The endorsement given by two of the league’s best point guards has given Move immediate credibility as it fights for its spot in the pecking order. Depending on how often you’re playing basketball, Move has two different products to suit your athletic intensity.
Game Day is a standard version of their product, catered to casual players by providing a solid amount of arch support. Game Day Pro is suited for more serious ballers, built with sturdy nylon and energy foam, which Paul and Lillard supposedly use themselves in their NBA games.
Move Website Total Reviews: 800
Average Move Website Rating: 4.9
10. Shock Doctor Active
Adaptive arch technology, adapts to any foot shape for perfect comfort. Reduces and protects you from over use injuries and provides natural shock absorption.
The Scoop: Shock Doctor has a pretty notable presence in the mouthguard space, but also has some worthy products in the insole industry as well. It doesn’t take much imagination to figure out what this company specializes in, and their shock absorption solutions are front and center in their insoles.
While some people may find these custom orthotics quite specialized, Shock Doctor’s pads for the forefoot and heel help provide localized attention to two areas of the foot that generally take a beating. Additionally, this product is pretty malleable and supports players with flat feet, a neutral arch, or high arches.
The Shock Doctor Active insoles also have a top cloth that helps reduce the unpleasant odor that may emanate from your feet.
One unique aspect about these insoles is that it also includes padding for your toes. This sounds great in theory but might actually throw some players off if they’re not expecting it.
Amazon Total Reviews: 206
Average Amazon Rating: 3.7
11. Soul Insole Shoe Bubble
Patented biomechanically designed gel insole gently guides the foot into proper alignment, which in turn helps to align the body from the ground up.
The Scoop: With its rhyming moniker, this product sounds like something that New York Knicks legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier might one day advertise. The Soul Insole Shoe Bubble is an easily transferrable product that can help with heel pain and other foot discomforts.
If you’ve got multiple pairs of basketball sneakers that you keep in rotation when you head to the court, the Soul Insole will be versatile enough to accommodate most of them. Unlike some other alternatives, it doesn’t need to be trimmed or strategically sized upon purchase.
Soul Insole is primarily a gel-based product, and one of its positives is that it doesn’t stink up the joint, and is simple enough to clean. This is another option for players who have high arches, as the bubble inside the insole help provides much-needed support in that area.
Amazon Total Reviews: 89
Average Amazon Rating: 3.9
