Every number in this table is from VKTRY's own website or from the published studies. The 2023 study tested moderately active adult men, not athletes, and VKTRY isn't listing it on its research page as of November 5, 2026. Its authors wrote that the insoles "did not affect quantitative performance measures (VJ, sprint speed, or VO2)", though people said they felt more explosive.
Comparison
Blumaka vs VKTRY: the claims vs the research
VKTRY sells a carbon fiber insole with some big performance numbers. We read every study on their research page. Here's where those numbers come from, and how our insoles compare.
Shop NonSlipFree shipping · 90-day guarantee, even if worn · 1,000-mile cushioning guarantee
The short answer
VKTRY advertises +1.6 inches of vertical and says athletes are "guaranteed" to run .12 seconds faster in the 40. The jump number comes from a team test with no control group, and the sprint number doesn't name a study at all. In 2025, the ad industry's watchdog recommended VKTRY stop using both numbers. VKTRY said it would comply, and its website still uses them. In their controlled lab studies the gains were much smaller, and a 2023 study VKTRY paid for found no significant change in jump or sprint. We test ours in an independent biomechanics lab with motion capture and force plates, and we report what was and wasn't statistically significant. 90% of athletes ran faster, and the speed gain was significant. Ours also come with a 1,000-mile cushioning guarantee, backed by testing from Heeluxe, an independent lab, at 5 to 6.5 cents a mile.
Their claims vs their own research
| What VKTRY says | Where that number comes from | What controlled studies found |
|---|---|---|
| +1.6 inch vertical jump | UConn men's soccer team testing, 18 players over 9 weeks. No control group described | 2017 Southern Connecticut lab study: +1.0 inch. 2018 peer-reviewed study: +1.4 cm (about half an inch). 2023 UConn study funded by VKTRY: no significant change |
| "Guaranteed" .12 seconds faster in the 40 | Credited to "3rd party PhD led research" with no study named. The closest match on their research page is a BARWIS Methods training-facility test of a 20-yard dash (0.12 seconds), with athletes tested without insoles first, then with them | 2018 peer-reviewed study: 10-yard sprint 0.03 seconds faster. 2023 UConn study: no significant change in sprint |
| Agility: 3-cone 0.17 seconds faster | BARWIS Methods training-facility test, same setup | 2018 peer-reviewed study: no significant improvement in pro agility |
| "-41% less foot injuries" | No study named on the page where the claim appears | Their Korey Stringer Institute study measured movement and force, not injury rates |
What the ad watchdog found
In April 2025, the National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs, the ad industry's self-regulation body, reviewed VKTRY's advertising (NAD Case #7334). It recommended VKTRY discontinue these claims:
- "Jump Higher, Run Faster"
- "on average our athletes see: 1.6" Higher Vertical Jumps; .12 seconds faster 40-yard dashes; 41% less foot injuries"
- "Enhances support & stability to reduce the risk of injury"
- Testimonials implying instant results or complete pain relief
NAD found the studies behind those claims were not sufficiently reliable or a good fit for them. VKTRY said it disagreed with some findings but would comply with the decision.
VKTRY continues to use these claims on its own website. As of November 5, 2026:
- Its General Sports page still promises "higher verticals (+1.6 inches)", says athletes are "guaranteed to see faster sprint times (.12 secs off a 40 yard dash)", and claims "-41% less foot injuries"
- Its Mac McClung basketball page says the insoles help players "jump higher, run faster" and "reduces the risk of injuries such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, and ankle sprains"
- Its blog post "Can Insoles Help You Jump Higher?" still cites "+1.6 inches"
How we test performance
In an independent biomechanics lab, not a weight room. 3D motion capture and force plates measured 10 athletes across 190 trials. Each athlete ran in their own stock insole, then in ours, in the same cleats on the same turf.
90%ran faster
90%took longer strides
80%started faster
80%stopped faster
80%landed with more knee stability
Running speed (p = 0.0053) and stride length (p = 0.028) were statistically significant. The other gains showed up in most athletes but didn't reach significance with 10 athletes. We'd rather tell you that than round it up. See the full data.
Side by side
| Blumaka | VKTRY | |
|---|---|---|
| Main build | 85% ETPU supercritical foam, molded arch support | Carbon fiber baseplate with closed-cell foam layers on top |
| Top surface | Two options: a fabric top (Performance Insole) or our NonSlip grippy top that holds your sock | Foam top cover in 2, 4 or 6 mm. Grip socks sold separately |
| Fit | Low, medium or high arch | Plate stiffness picked by body weight, age, gender and sport |
| How long they say it lasts | 1,000-mile cushioning guarantee | No set lifespan. FAQ recommends "Replacing your insoles each season" |
| Cost per mile | 5 to 6.5 cents, the lowest of the brands we compare | No mileage given. $149, replaced each season |
| Guarantee | 90 days, even if worn | 120-day money-back guarantee (90 days in their FAQ) |
| Carbon insole | NonSlip Carbon Elite ($140): Carbitex plate with the NonSlip grippy top, for speed, propulsion and turf toe in field and court sports | Gold ($149): carbon fiber plate for all sports |
| Price, everyday insoles | $50 to $65 | $149 (Gold) |
| Where to buy | blumaka.com, Amazon and 90+ retail stores across the U.S. | vktry.com, team deals and online |
The closest match to VKTRY Gold is our NonSlip Carbon Elite. For most athletes who want grip and long-lasting cushioning, our NonSlip Performance Insole is the better fit at less than half the price. Prices are list prices on November 5, 2026.
Who actually tests their insoles?
| Blumaka NonSlip Performance | Blumaka Performance Insole | VKTRY | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent durability testing published? | Yes. Heeluxe, an independent lab: 87% of cushioning kept after 1,389 miles. Backed by a 1,000-mile guarantee | Yes. Heeluxe, an independent lab: 87% of cushioning kept after 1,389 miles. Backed by a 1,000-mile guarantee | None found. FAQ recommends replacing each season |
| Cost per mile | 5.5 to 6.5 cents ($55 to $65, 1,000-mile guarantee) | 5 to 6 cents ($50 to $60, 1,000-mile guarantee) | No mileage given. $149, replaced each season |
| Independent performance testing published? | Yes. Independent biomechanics lab: 90% ran faster, 80% started faster, 80% stopped faster. See the data | None. It has a fabric top cover, so it isn't built or tested for grip in athletic movement | Several studies. Their biggest advertised numbers come from tests without a control group, and their controlled studies show smaller or no gains |
We read every study on VKTRY's research page on November 5, 2026. If they publish durability testing, we'll add it here. Theirs may cost less up front. Ours costs less per mile. Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.
Where Blumaka comes out ahead
Durability you can check. We guarantee 1,000 miles of cushioning, and an independent lab, Heeluxe, measured 87% of it still there after 1,389 miles. That's 5 to 6.5 cents a mile. VKTRY gives no mileage and tells you to replace a $149 insole each season.
Tested in a lab, reported straight. Our performance numbers come from motion capture and force plates, and we tell you which results were statistically significant and which weren't.
Your foot stays put. Our NonSlip top grips your sock, so your foot doesn't slide on stops and cuts. You don't need to buy grip socks on top.
Less than half the price. Our everyday insoles are $50 to $65. VKTRY Gold is $149.
We don't promise you a number. No "guaranteed" sprint time. We guarantee the cushioning lasts, and you get 90 days to try them, even if worn.
Where VKTRY comes out ahead
A longer trial. VKTRY's site advertises 120 days, compared with our 90.
Stiffness matched to your weight. If you want a carbon plate tuned to your body weight and sport, that's what VKTRY is built around.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Blumaka if
You want cushioning that's tested and guaranteed for 1,000 miles, a foot that stays put, or 90 days to make sure, even after wearing them. Go NonSlip Performance for grip, or the Performance Insole for cushioning that lasts without the grippy top.
Pick VKTRY if
You want a carbon plate with stiffness picked by body weight, or a 120-day trial, and you're fine paying $149.
Not sure which Blumaka insole is right for you? Take our insole quiz. It matches you to an insole and arch height in about a minute.
Questions we get a lot
Tap a question to see the answer.
Do VKTRY insoles really make you jump higher?
VKTRY advertises +1.6 inches, from a team test with no control group. In controlled lab studies the gain was about 1 inch (2017) and about half an inch (2018). A 2023 University of Connecticut study funded by VKTRY found no significant change in vertical jump.
Do VKTRY insoles make you faster?
VKTRY says athletes are "guaranteed" to run .12 seconds faster in the 40, but doesn't name the study. The closest match on its research page is a 20-yard dash result from a training-facility test with no control group. A 2018 peer-reviewed study found a 10-yard sprint 0.03 seconds faster. The 2023 study VKTRY funded found no significant change in sprint.
Does VKTRY test its insoles?
Yes. VKTRY lists several studies on its research page. But its biggest advertised numbers come from team and training-facility tests without a control group, and its controlled studies show smaller or no gains. We couldn't find any published durability testing.
Has VKTRY been told to stop any claims?
Yes. In April 2025, the National Advertising Division of BBB National Programs (Case #7334) recommended VKTRY discontinue "Jump Higher, Run Faster", its 1.6-inch vertical, .12-second 40-yard dash and 41% fewer foot injuries claims, and its injury-risk claim. VKTRY said it would comply, but as of November 5, 2026 it continues to use these claims on its own website, including "+1.6 inches", ".12 secs off a 40 yard dash", "-41% less foot injuries", "jump higher, run faster" and that its insoles reduce injury risk.
How does Blumaka test its insoles?
Performance is tested in an independent biomechanics lab with 3D motion capture and force plates: 10 athletes, 190 trials, each in their own stock insole and then in ours. 90% ran faster, 80% started faster and 80% stopped faster, and the speed gain was statistically significant. Durability and cushioning are tested by Heeluxe, an independent footwear lab, for every Blumaka insole: our insoles kept 87% of their cushioning after 1,389 miles.
Which lasts longer, Blumaka or VKTRY?
VKTRY doesn't give a lifespan and recommends replacing its insoles each season. Blumaka has a 1,000-mile cushioning guarantee and kept 87% of its cushioning after 1,389 miles in testing by Heeluxe, an independent lab. That works out to 5 to 6.5 cents a mile. VKTRY Gold is $149 per season.
How much do VKTRY and Blumaka cost?
VKTRY Gold is $149. Blumaka's everyday insoles are $50 to $65, and our Carbon Elite is $140.
What's the return policy on each?
VKTRY advertises a 120-day money-back guarantee (its FAQ says 90 days). Blumaka offers a 90-day guarantee, even if you've worn them, with free returns in the U.S.
VKTRY facts are from VKTRY's own pages, checked November 5, 2026: the VKTRY Research page and the study summaries in its drop-downs, the Gold Performance Insoles product page and FAQ, the General Sports page, the Mac McClung basketball page and the blog post "Can Insoles Help You Jump Higher?". NAD Case #7334, VKTRY Performance Insoles, BBB National Programs, April 24, 2025. Published study: Dierickx et al., "Carbon Fiber Insoles Enhance Perception of Performance Despite Variable Objective Outcomes," International Journal of Exercise Science, 2023 (University of Connecticut; funded by VKTRY Performance). Gregory et al., "The effects of a carbon fiber shoe insole on athletic performance in collegiate athletes," Journal of Sports Science, 2018 (Southern Connecticut State University). Prices are list prices that day and can change. Blumaka durability: 1,000-mile cushioning guarantee; cushioning retention from Heeluxe testing.
Last updated: November 5, 2026
