Blumaka Research & Testing

Tested by labs.
Proven by athletes.

Every number on this page traces back to a named lab, a dated report, or a documented field test, not a marketing script. This is the data behind Blumaka's cushioning, durability, and performance claims, drawn directly from independent biomechanics testing, third-party lab reports, and real-world athlete studies.

Aerial view of a sprinter crossing the finish line on a track
90%Ran faster in independent biomechanics testing
17%More cushioning than the average insole tested
14%Higher energy return than the average insole tested
1,000Mile cushioning guarantee, backed by mileage testing
Independent biomechanics lab, 3D motion capture + force plates
Heeluxe impact & wear testing, ASTM F1976
41 real golfers, on-course, two independent tests
10 athletes, 190 trials, cleated turf
The Biomechanics

Faster off the line.
Stronger through every stride.

Blumaka NonSlip Insoles went head-to-head against each athlete's own stock insole for 190 trials on cleated turf. An independent biomechanics lab tracked the results with 3D marker-based motion capture and embedded force plates in September 2022.

Athlete planting and cutting hard on a turf field during a training session
90%
of athletes ran faster
90%
increased stride length
80%
started faster (increased acceleration)
80%
stopped faster (increased braking force)
80%
increased knee stability on landing
70%
increased drive force off the back leg
Source: Independent biomechanics lab study, Sept. 30, 2022. Blumaka NonSlip Insoles vs. each athlete's stock OEM insole, cleated turf shoes, 10 athletes / 190 total trials, processed via the Visual3D motion-capture pipeline. Of the metrics above, running velocity (p=0.0053) and stride length (p=0.028) reached statistical significance; the remaining metrics reflect the share of athletes who improved but did not reach the same significance threshold in this sample size. No metric showed a majority decline.
The Impact Lab

Softer landings.
Cushioning that doesn't quit.

Blumaka foam went through Heeluxe's "Hulk" mechanical impact tester, the industry-standard ASTM F1976 method for footwear cushioning. The independent testing lab measured how much force each insole absorbs, how much energy it returns, and how much of that cushioning survives real mileage.

17%
More cushioning

Blumaka insoles absorb 17% more impact force than the average insole in Heeluxe's testing database.

14%
Higher energy return

Blumaka insoles return 14% more energy than the average insole in Heeluxe's testing database. That's a combination Heeluxe's own data shows most foams can't achieve at once.

Cushioning retained after heavy mileage

Two separate Heeluxe durability tests pushed Blumaka foam against other common midsole materials through simulated running miles, tracking how much cushioning height and force-absorption survived.

Blumaka foam
Comparison foam
0% 50% 100% 96.6% 27% vs. Super Critical Foam @ 750 mi 85% 73% vs. Premium EVA @ 675 mi
Percent of original cushioning performance retained after simulated-mileage impact testing. The comparison foam broke down entirely at 150 miles in the Super Critical Foam test; Blumaka was still performing at 750 miles.
93%

of cushioning retained after 800 miles, worn by a 265-lb runner, per the Heeluxe Hulk Impact Test, Oct. 2024.

~0% loss

of cushioning or energy return after a 1,140-mile Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike.

87%

of cushioning retained after 1,389 miles, the basis for Blumaka's 1,000-mile cushioning guarantee.

Source: Heeluxe Hulk Impact Testing, ASTM F1976 standard (weighted-piston mechanical impact rig, tested on a 12.5mm 40A rubber base). The Super Critical Foam and premium EVA comparisons used two different Blumaka foam formulations tested at different times. They are not a single continuous test, and results shouldn't be read as one uninterrupted mileage curve. The 265-lb runner, 800-mile, 1,140-mile, and 1,389-mile figures come from separate individual mileage tests on specific product variants (Comfort Max Cushion Med Arch and NonSlip Max Cushion).
Pressure Mapping & Wear Testing

Less pressure.
More comfort, confirmed by testers.

Every shoe pushes back somewhere, and plantar pressure mapping shows exactly where. Lower peak pressure at the heel and forefoot generally means a more comfortable, less fatiguing stride.

Forefoot Pressure

Blumaka23.5 psi
Standard PU insole41.8 psi

Heel Pressure

Blumaka34.3 psi
Standard PU insole40.4 psi
5.17/7

In an 8-person Heeluxe wear test rating five Blumaka insole formulations on a 7-point comfort scale, the top-scoring formulation posted the highest overall comfort rating and the lowest heel and forefoot pressure of every variant tested, the data that led Blumaka to select it for production.

Sources: Plantar pressure comparison, Blumaka vs. a standard PU insole, average of test population (sample size and equipment not specified in source report). Heeluxe insole comfort wear test, 8 testers, men's size 9, walking protocol, 7-point subjective comfort scale (1 = Extremely Poor, 7 = Excellent).
On the Course

41 golfers. Two independent tests.
One insole change.

Thirty-nine club members ran the same test at Harbour Plaza Golf Club, led by PGA instructor Kevin Smeltz alongside a second PGA-affiliated instructor: their own clubs and shoes, first with stock insoles, then with Blumaka insoles swapped in. A launch monitor and dual force plates tracked what changed across all 41 golfers, and the results were independently reviewed.

Kevin Smeltz, PGA golf instructor who led the testing at Harbour Plaza Golf Club
Kevin Smeltz
PGA Golf Instructor
91%of golfers improved at least one measured performance metric
83%saw increased ball speed off the driver
80%saw increased driver carry distance
73%of measured swings produced more ground-reaction force
“All differences were statistically significant.” Human Rithm, independent review of testing results. No payment or sponsorship was provided by Blumaka to either party.
Sources: Two related studies at Harbour Plaza Golf Club: (1) an independent review by Human Rithm of pairwise-t-test results across 34 analyzed golfers (Jan. 2026 report), and (2) a launch-monitor and dual-force-plate study led by PGA-affiliated instructors Kevin Smeltz and Jason Wu (Nov. 2025 report), using a Foresight GCQuad launch monitor and Smart2Move force plates. Both compared each golfer's own shoes/insoles against the same shoes fitted with Blumaka insoles. Reported percentages reflect the share of golfers or swings that improved on a given metric; some improvement magnitudes (yards, mph) were reported only for the subset who improved, not the full sample.
In Their Own Words

Field notes from real use.

Personal case study · self-reported · single athlete

Connor Moore, M.S., PhD, logged his own driver and fairway-wood distances for three months before switching to Blumaka insoles, then three months after. He adjusted each shot for weather and altitude using on-course tracking technology.

296 → 323 ydsAverage driver distance (+9%)
262 → 280 ydsAverage 3-wood distance (+7%)

He also reported that insoles which previously needed replacing 4–5 times a year now last him a full season.

Connor Moore, M.S., PhDSelf-tracked, 100 shots before / 100 shots after, Feb.–May 2023
Connor Moore lining up a putt on the green
Connor Moore
PhD Bioengineer & Pro Golfer
Full Transparency

Where our numbers
come from.

This page draws only from the reports below. Click any report name to download the full source document.

ReportTester / AuthorMethodSampleDate
Biomechanics Performance Study Independent biomechanics lab 3D motion capture + force plates, cleated turf 10 athletes / 190 trials Sept. 2022
Hulk Impact Testing (multiple reports)Max Cushion report →Thin & Used report → Heeluxe, ASTM F1976 Weighted-piston mechanical impact rig New & used insole samples, multiple variants 2021–2025
Plantar Pressure Comparison Independent pressure mapping Foot pressure sensor testing Test population average Not stated
Golf Performance Review Human Rithm (independent, unpaid) Statistical review of on-course results 41 golfers (34 analyzed) Jan. 2026
Golf Performance Study Kevin Smeltz & Jason Wu, PGA-affiliated instructors Launch monitor + dual force plates 41 golfers Nov. 2025
Insole Comfort Wear Test Heeluxe Pressure mapping + 7-point subjective survey 8 testers 2021–2022
Personal Driving-Distance Case Study Connor Moore, M.S., PhD Self-tracked, on-course distance log 1 athlete, 100 shots pre / post 2023–2024
The Products These Tests Used

See the insoles behind the numbers.

Every result on this page was measured on a Blumaka insole you can buy today. If you are not sure which one fits your sport or your feet, the quiz takes about a minute.