144 players tested these insolesbefore we sold a single pair.
Most brands launch first and collect reviews later. We did it the other way around. Every rating on this site during our pre-order launch comes from a player who spent time using our specialized insoles on-court or off-court before a single sale was made.
Pre-launch field test · Stance, Drive and Apex
How it worked
A real test, run the boring way
No influencer seeding, no one-session first impressions. We wanted to know what these insoles feel like after using tem, because that decides whether you keep wearing them.
Picked for spread, not hype
Testers came from open play, rec leagues, competitive ladders and coaching, plus a group who barely play at all and spend their working day standing. We deliberately included people who had never worn an insole and people who were already loyal to another brand.
Everyone got a pair to use, free
Not samples, not seconds. Testers were fitted for size the same way you will be at checkout, and received the production insole in production packaging. Nobody paid anything, and nobody was paid anything.
Regular use before rated
An insole that feels good on day one and flattens by the first week is a bad insole. We stayed quiet through the honeymoon period. Reviews were only collected once a tester had used them according to their regular pickleball routine.
We published what came back
Testers wrote their own reviews in their own words. We did not write them, script them, or offer anything in return for a good one. We fixed obvious typos and shortened a few for space. We did not delete the critical ones.
By the numbers
What the test actually covered
What it changed
Three things changed because testers complained
The insole you can pre-order today is not the one the test group started with. Each of these came straight out of what players sent back.
The heel cup got deeper
Early testers on outdoor courts reported their foot creeping forward on hard stops. We took the heel cup from 9.4mm to 11.3mm and the reports stopped.
Materials changed
Two testers playing four-plus sessions a week flagged damp underfoot late in long sessions. The original top cloth was replaced with a faster-wicking weave.
Stance got slimmer
The first Stance build was too thick for dress shoes, which was the whole point of it. The profile came down before it went anywhere near a store.
Full disclosure
Read this before you trust a single review
- Every tester either received or borrowedtheir insoles free of charge. That is a material connection and it is the first thing you should know about any review on this site.
- No tester was paid, given commission, or offered a free pair upon public sale for a positive review, and none of them are affiliates.
- Testers are not verified purchasers, because nothing has gone on public sale yet. Reviews from people who actually buy at pre-order will be labeled separately once those orders arrive.
- HeelBase insoles are not a medical device and no review here should be read as a clinical outcome. If you have persistent heel pain, see a podiatrist or physical therapist.
Once pre-orders start being delivered we will switch to collecting reviews from verified buyers, and field test reviews will stay clearly marked as what they are.
The testing is done.Now it's your turn on court.
Pre-order pricing is live across all three insoles, and every pair is covered by the same 30-day guarantee, counted from the day it lands.
30-day money-back guarantee, from delivery. Free US shipping over $79.