Here Are the Best Insoles for Your Basketball Shoes

Dynamic performance and impact-absorbing cushioning on the court.

You won’t find a sport with more high-flying, quick-cutting, and outright sprinting than basketball.

It doesn’t matter if you’re running the point or battling it out on the block, your feet are going to take a beating over the course of a season.

That’s why the most important gear in your gym bag is what you’ll be wearing on your feet.

A stellar pair of basketball shoes is a great place to start and will make a huge difference to your game, but it’s not uncommon for basketball players to further optimize their footwear.

Whether you’re experiencing some form of pain while you’re moving on the court (arch, ankle, knee, etc.) or simply looking for a performance boost, adding insoles to your basketball shoes might be just what you need.

A high-quality pair of basketball insoles will improve energy transfer in your feet for faster speeds and higher verticals.

And they’ll also increase support and reduce strain on your feet, which in turn reduces your risk for injury and limits wear and tear on your joints.

Here, we’ve put together a list of the best insoles for your basketball shoes with our top picks to improve performance, support, and endurance.

Go ahead, grab a pair of these insoles, and take your game to the next level.

Note: Featured products are independently selected and reviewed by Compression Athlete. If you purchase through our links, we may earn commission.

Yes, insoles really can boost your basketball performance.

Think of all the action and skills performed over the course of a basketball game, from pull-up jumpers to defensive shuffles to hesitation dribbles (and that’s just to name a few).

There’s a reason why basketball shoes have a unique construction compared to other athletic shoe options that offer basketball players a specific set of benefits tailored to their needs.

But you don’t have to stop there.

Adding high-quality performance insoles to your basketball shoes can build on those benefits and take your game to the next level.

Basketball insoles are designed to boost a player’s lateral and vertical movements with springy energy-returning bases while also providing impact-absorbing cushion and stability to the feet and ankles for injury prevention. 

While some are apprehensive to switch out the insoles that come with their basketball shoes, it’s important to keep in mind that factory insoles offer a very generic fit and, in some cases, can be relatively cheap.

If you pop out the factory insole of your basketball shoe and place it next to a high-quality option, you’ll be able to actually see the difference between the two.

One flat and flimsy while the other will look much more like the bottom of your foot with a cushioned heel cup and dynamic arch support (among other beneficial features). 

Whether you’re looking to improve your performance or address a specific condition, pain point, or area of discomfort, insoles are a great way to further customize your footwear to meet your needs.

Wait, can insoles actually help you jump higher?

It’s one of the most popular questions we hear from basketball players.

And it’s no surprise, really.

When you see all those NBA players adding insoles to their already impressive high-tech basketball shoes, you’re right to assume those professionals know what they’re doing.

So, do performance insoles actually help players jump higher and move quicker on the court?

Well, the answer is both yes and no.

Of course, adding insoles to your basketball shoes won’t magically give you abilities that you didn’t already have before.

However, adding a high-quality pair of performance insoles to your basketball shoes can bring out the best of your physical ability, helping you to jump your highest, move your quickest, and so on.

Features like energy-returning foam, impact absorbing cushioning, and a stabilizing deep heel cup will keep you lighter on your feet and boost your endurance over the course of a game or practice.

So, in other words, if you add performance insoles to your basketball shoes, you’ll likely jump higher than you would by sticking with the factory insoles.

The majority of insole benefits stem from 3 key design features.

It’s important to remember that even though impact starts at your feet as they meet the court, that force can ripple throughout your body (to your ankles, knees, hips, and all the way up your spine and back).

Just ask any basketball player after a grueling workout or high-intensity game how crucial it is to have the proper footwear.

When you add high-quality insoles to your basketball shoes, you’re improving the barrier between your feet and the court (i.e. point of impact).

The specialized design of the insole improves biomechanics and posture in the body through three key design features.

1. Enhanced Arch Support: Supporting the arches of your feet reduces the amount of strain placed on your feet’s ligaments and bones, which in turn lessens fatigue and pain for improved endurance.

2. Improved Shock Absorption: Stress reverberates through your muscles and joints with every step, but a good insole with a deep heel cup and supportive cushioning will absorb and blunt it.  

3. Even Pressure Distribution: By distributing weight and pressure evenly across your entire foot, insoles help to decrease strain, fatigue, and injury risk.

And a few other notable features that insoles can offer your basketball shoes are responsive cushioning for explosive energy return and a deep heel cup for better stability.

Certain insole designs may also provide improved breathability and a grippy foot surface, which proves useful on the court. 

Top Picks for the Best Basketball Insoles

Now, we covered the many benefits that you can gain by adding insoles to your basketball shoes, but it’s important that we also mention there is a caveat.

Not just any old pair of insoles will provide all these benefits on the court.

Inferior insoles will tout lots of foam and cushioning, and these might even feel nice at first, but they won’t deliver the support and performance necessary to achieve other benefits like improving endurance or reducing plantar fascia strain.

So instead, go with one of the high-quality picks we have listed here, specifically designed to improve performance on the basketball court.

1. Move Game Day Pro Performance Insoles

The Move Game Day Pro Performance Insoles feature an incredibly dynamic performance design that pairs a firm and bouncy foundation for take-offs with comfortable cushioning for soft landings. These insoles provide superior stability while allowing natural foot movement.

Available on Amazon: Move Game Day Pro Performance Insoles

Move’s Game Day Pro Performance Insoles utilize a signature Pro Base with a carbon-like composite for strong and adaptive movements. These insoles sport a stabilizing forefoot grip and Active Heel Technology to reduce pressure where it’s needed most.

2. Move Game Day Performance Insoles

The Move Game Day Performance Insoles feature an ultra-responsive base that combines comfortable DS37 Energyfoam with impact absorbing Shockfree Foam. These insoles have stabilizing Active Heel Technology and forefoot grip to enhance playing surface feel.

Available on Amazon: Move Game Day Performance Insoles

Move’s Game Day Performance Insoles utilize X-Frame Torsional Support that protects and stabilizes while allowing maximum movement. These insoles sport odor control and a low friction top cloth to alleviate hot spots and foot slippage.

3. VKTRY Gold Performance Insoles

The VKTRY Gold Performance Insoles feature a full-length carbon fiber base plate for explosive energy return that results in quicker sprints and higher vertical jumps. These insoles sport a soft EVA foam in the top portion to support and cushion your foot.  

Available on Amazon: VKTRY Gold Performance Insoles

VKTRY’s Gold Performance Insoles utilize spring-like shock absorption and superior support and stability to reduce your injury risk for plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, and ankle sprains.

4. SOLE Active Medium Footbeds

The SOLE Active Medium Footbeds feature an incredibly durable EVA footbed that provides a moderate performance cushioning and equal weight and pressure distribution. These insoles offer dynamic arch support and are clinically proven to reduce plantar fascia strain.

Shop at SOLE: SOLE Active Medium Footbeds

Note: Use this link for a $20 credit.

SOLE’s Active Medium Footbeds utilize a deep heel cup to absorb impact when running, jumping, cutting, and stopping. These insoles work for any arch height, are moldable for a custom fit, and are covered by a 90-day guarantee.

5. SOLE Performance Medium Footbeds

The SOLE Performance Medium Footbeds feature a medium performance Softec cushioning from a naturally shock absorbing cork base that molds quickly to your feet. These insoles offer dynamic arch support and are clinically proven to reduce plantar fascia strain.

Shop at SOLE: SOLE Performance Medium Footbeds

Note: Use this link for a $20 credit.

SOLE’s Performance Medium Footbeds utilize a deep heel cup to absorb impact when running, jumping, cutting, and stopping. These insoles work for any arch height, are moldable for a custom fit, and are covered by a 90-day guarantee.

6. CURREX ACEPRO Insoles

The CURREX ACEPRO Insoles pair dynamic arch support with a deep decoupled heel cup to improve stability and evenly distribute pressure. These insoles feature comfortable dual layer cushioning and shock absorbing heel cushioning.

Shop at CURREX: CURREX ACEPRO Insoles

Available on Amazon: CURREX ACEPRO Insoles

CURREX’s ACEPRO Insoles sport targeted forefoot cushioning for improved agility and air vent holes for enhanced breathability. These insoles are specifically designed to handle the quick movements and heavy loads of force that occur during court sports like basketball.

7. PowerStep PULSE Performance Insoles

The PowerStep PULSE Performance Insoles feature soft and springy ShockAbsorb Premium Foam cushioning from heel to toe that absorbs shock, enhances comfort, and provides bounce back energy return with each step.

Shop at PowerStep: PowerStep PULSE Performance Insoles

Available on Amazon: PowerStep PULSE Performance Insoles

PowerStep’s PULSE Performance Insoles utilize a firm but flexible neutral arch support and a stabilizing deep heel cradle. These insoles sport an odor control top fabric that helps to reduce heat, friction, and perspiration.

Here’s What to Consider When Choosing Insoles for Your Basketball Shoes

As you may have already noticed, there’s no shortage of insole options out there, each of them promising some superior feature (comfort, support, etc.). 

So, how do you narrow down your selection and actually choose a pair of insoles for your basketball shoes?

Our best advice is to opt for a high-quality insole brand and be as specific as possible in your footwear style, primary activity, and health needs.

Here’s what we mean by that.

First, you’ll want to consider what style of footwear you’ll be putting the insole in.

In this case, you’re choosing insoles for basketball shoes, which is important because these insoles tend to have moderate performance cushioning that will fit well in basketball shoes designed to handle jumping, landing, and quick court movements.

While most insoles are moldable to your footwear and can be trimmed to fit a certain size, other design features will lend themselves better to a specific footwear style.

Next, think about the primary activity for which you’ll be wearing the insoles, because there are insoles designed for nearly every one with varying specifications and features to help you perform your best. 

The more specific you can get, the better your footwear experience and athletic performance.

For example, a more general all-day wear insole will prioritize different aspects than an insole designed to boost your performance on a basketball court.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, prioritize any foot conditions you have.

Plantar fasciitis is a common one that can be very painful and debilitating.

Heel pain, ankle pain, knee pain, and shin splints are also common and can be aided through wearing insoles.

Look for insoles that specifically address these conditions, as they can make a noticeable difference when it comes to reducing stress, strain, discomfort, and pain.

And remember that insoles, just like all footwear options, eventually wear out over time.

Replacing them on a regular basis will ensure you’re receiving peak performance from your insoles and keep you pain-free on the basketball court.

If you’re looking to get the most out of your basketball insoles, be sure to put them in high-quality basketball shoes.

Check out our top picks for the best men’s shoes, women’s shoes, and signature NBA shoes.