In some ways, the idea of wearing aftermarket insoles comes along with some negative connotation. Many of us find ourselves seeking them out as a means of relief from ailments of the foot. In most cases, they aren’t really a younger person’s product either, though there are some exceptions to that. We’re going to throw that all out the window today though. What if we told you that some of the world’s most elite athletes are wearing insoles for performance purposes? In fact, many are, and there’s some science behind their choice to do so. We recently were introduced to a company called Blumaka that specializes in performance insoles for athletes, and we had a chance to test them out on the golf course.
About Blumaka
Blumaka was founded in 2021 by Stuart Jenkins, a former Olympic Trials qualifier and veteran with over 40 years in the footwear industry. Frustrated by the massive foam waste he observed in global shoe manufacturing, Jenkins launched Blumaka to “do better”—a mission deeply inspired by his mother.
Based in Santa Barbara, California, the company converted a lifelong commitment to athletic performance into transforming discarded performance foam into high-end insoles. Today, Blumaka repurposes up to 85% recycled foam from manufacturers and avoids harsh chemicals and excessive water in production, using just four grams of water per pair—a fraction of traditional methods.
Since its launch, Blumaka has earned recognition like the ISPO Award 2024 for its Konnect Max Cushion insole, praised for combining measurable performance improvements compelling environmental standards.
Blumaka NonSlip Insoles with Konnect Technology
So, what exactly is Blumaka offering, and more specifically, what is the company offering golfers? The concept of their insoles isn’t all about fixing foot issues, though we will say that they do offer some benefits there that we’ll discuss later. Rather, the NonSlip Insoles are designed to do exactly what their name might suggest – hold your foot securely in place, giving you more control with each step and athletic movement.
The company describes their Konnect Technology by saying, “Konnect GRF is our proprietary anti-slip surface which ensures superior grip, reduces slipping, reduces chance of injury, and optimizes energy transfer to maximize control and power.”
To simplify that a little bit, you can think of Konnect Techology as a surface treatment on the insoles that locks your foot firmly into place inside the shoe. While this may not sound all that remarkable on paper, there is an immediate and tangible sensation when you slip your foot into a shoe with the NonSlip Insoles. The bottom of your foot grabs firmly on to the bed of the shoe and there is a level of connection experienced with each step that wasn’t there before.
Why is this important, especially in golf? Simply put, the modern golf swing is rooted in our feet and our connection to the ground. We hear the term “ground forces” in much of the modern teaching material out there, meaning that we use our feet and legs to push against the ground to gain power. By anchoring the foot securely to the golf shoe, which is then anchored to the ground, we can better utilize those forces without slipping or succumbing to the forces of torque. It is perhaps easier to see the benefits for athletes in higher impact sports, but the amount of force used by the modern golfer is measurable and quite impressive.
Blumaka has studies they highlight on their website showing some impressive statistics. For example, 80% of the participants running in one study started faster and 90% ran faster. Soccer players in another study shows massive improvements in things like dexterity, accuracy, and power. The company proudly showcases athletes from numerous sports that use their products in competition.
Blumaka offers several options that need to be considered carefully before a purchase. First, the NonSlip Insoles are available in either Low Profile or Max Cushion profile. For golf, they recommend the Low Profile option, which is what we tested. They also offer three levels of arch support – low, medium, and high. Most people should have an idea of what type of arch support they need, but if not, we recommend figuring that out first. While we tried all three options, we already knew high arch support would work best (and testing backed that up).
In hand, we wouldn’t call the Low Profile NonSlip Insoles “soft” or “cushioned”, but they are definitely more flexible than some comparable products we’ve used. While not the most ideal descriptor, the material Blumaka has created feels somewhat like a foam/rubber hybrid of sorts. We admit to some concern when we first put them in our shoes, primarily because the shoes we tested them in, Puma PhantomCat Nitros, are so naturally comfortable to start. There was a slight loss of cushioning after installing the Blumaka insoles, but that was quickly forgotten as we found ourselves enjoying both the stability of the arch support and the incredible connection the Konnect Technology provides.
In all, we walked half a dozen rounds in the NonSlip Insoles and enjoyed the comfort and stability the product offered quite a bit. It could be coincidence of course, but we had a few of our better driving days with them installed as well. It’s easy to feel how rooted the feet are into the ground when wearing the Blumaka NonSlips. It’s difficult to quantify the performance of a product like this, but there is one telling sign. Even with our love affair of the PhantomCat Nitro shoes out of the box, we left the NonSlip Insoles in them and won’t be taking them out any time soon.
The Details
Blumaka NonSlip insoles with Konnect Technology are available on the company’s website, blumaka.com. They are priced competitively at $60 per pair and come with Blumaka’s “Completely Thrilled Or Your Money Back Guarantee” that offers a full refund within 90 days of purchase if you are not satisfied.
