Move Game Day vs. Game Day Pro: Which One Should YOU Get?

 Co-founded by the one and only Damian Lillard, the Move performance insoles have been getting a ton of praise and attention. For what’s supposed to be a versatile solution from casual wearers all the way to high-level athletes – let’s quickly go over both versions of these insoles if you’re in the middle of choosing.

I’ll break down the specifications and differences between the Move Game Day and Game Day Pro options, compare my basketball experiences with both, detail the pros & cons, and evaluate which one is better for YOU.

MOVE INSOLES: THE SPECS

Here are the defining specifications of both versions & main differences

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Both the Game Day and the Game Day Pro have a similar set of core features that make them both suitable for a lot of different wearers.

Either of the insoles share details such as an anti-friction cloth surface to prevent slippage, an EVA heel crash pad that adds some heel cushion but also reinforces heel stability, and also the same grippy forefoot portion that makes sure the insole or your foot doesn’t budge inside the shoe.

You’ll also get the same anti-odor properties with each variant, and you’ll be able to freely choose the size based on your shoes with both options.

However, there are a few defining differences between the Move Game Day and the Move Game Day Pro.

The regular Game Day insole is priced at $39.99 which is the more affordable option, while the Pro ups the ante with its $59.99 price tag.

For cushioning, both insoles feature a dual-density foam setup but it’s not entirely the same.

The regular Game Day offers the so-called DS37 Energyfoam for the top layer and Shockfree foam as the bottom layer of cushion.

The top layer is where most of the step comfort comes from, while the bottom layer of Shockfree foam mostly handles impact protection, as well as making the insole a bit more resilient.

The Game Day Pro, however, yields an altered setup in terms of cushion.

The top portion utilizes Pulsion Energyfoam, while the bottom layer features Shockfree. Overall, this is a slightly firmer setup with less air inside the foam which means it’ll last longer, and provide a bit more stability.

The shape is another difference between the two insoles. While the framework of both options is nearly identical, the Game Day Pro has a noticeably more pronounced arch area.

But the most defining area of difference is the midfoot plate that takes care of torsional rigidity and movement propulsion.

The Game Day insole features a very lightweight & flexible midfoot plate that’s made of EVA foam, so expect minimal structure.

The Game Day Pro steps things up here: the plate is mostly made of nylon in a way that mimics carbon fiber.

The end result is stronger torsional rigidity, and more aggressive step propulsion but also a stiffer sensation underfoot.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE GAME DAY

Here’s how I felt during my time with the Move Game Day insoles on the basketball court

I’m a wide footer who’s got a thick foot in general but my arch is neutral. I primarily tested the Move Game Day insole for about a week of outdoor basketball, and the two shoes I’ve hooped in were the adidas Dame 8 and the Nike Kyrie Low 4.

Honestly, shoving the insole into the shoes and stepping on the court for the first time felt natural right away.

The insole isn’t overly structured, it’s lightweight, it barely needed an hour or so for the shape to conform to my feet, and the overall experience was great. Nothing super special or revolutionary but still really damn nice.

Granted, the Dame 8 is already a fantastic basketball sneaker in my book, so it’s not like it needed much of a boost in terms of cushion or support.

But I did immediately start noticing the added plushness of each step and each heel-to-toe stride feeling even smoother than it was without the insole.

The materials did their job in making sure my feet are staying in place and my socks aren’t shifting on top of the insole. My feet weren’t getting any hotter than they would without the Game Day inside either.

For a well-rounded shoe such as the Dame 8, the Game Day insole was merely a slight comfort booster than anything else.

For the Kyrie Low 4 which is a much more minimal sneaker – that’s where the added benefits became much clearer.

I’m not a fan of the Kyrie Low 4’s almost dead-feeling cushion, so the Game Day insole worked wonders here.

Don’t expect the ride to go from minimal to mad bouncy though – this isn’t what the insole is about. It’s supposed to complement the performance of your footwear and it’s exactly what it did for me here.

Each step felt more pleasant, and the addition of a bit more shock absorption also helped my feet and legs feel fresher during longer sessions. But again, we’re not talkin’ night-and-day differences here.

The Kyrie Low 4 is also a pretty minimal shoe in terms of support.

They lack a proper midfoot plate but even though the regular Game Day insole offers some extra torsional rigidity, I barely felt a difference that would mean something on the court.

The main benefits here are undoubtedly comfort and upgraded impact absorption. If you feel like your shoes are lacking in these areas and you’re not able to purchase another pair – this is where the Game Day could prove beneficial to you.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE GAME DAY PRO

Here’s how I felt during my time with the Move Game Day Pro insoles on the basketball court

For the Pro version of the Move insole, the premise was the same: about a week of playing time in the Nike PG 6 & Kyrie Low 4 (mainly outdoors).

I can tell you that the Pro version immediately felt different from the regular one. In a nutshell, I could actually feel that it’s there sitting inside the shoe vs. the Game Day kind of feeling as an extension of the shoe.

Now, before I could constructively judge the performance of this insole, I should mention it took a bit longer to break in the torsional plate as well as soften up the slightly denser foam compounds.

A few hours were needed for the insoles to start feeling as intended but the end result still differed from the original variant.

The Move Game Day Pro didn’t offer as much plushness, so while each step I took still felt a tad bit comfier, it wasn’t as noticeable.

What did remain intact is shock absorption. Despite not really feeling as much cushion, my legs weren’t any more fatigued than they would with the original Game Day, even during a drawn-out game or session.

But the added structure of the Game Day Pro is where things were shaken up the most.

I can definitely appreciate the focus on providing movement propulsion thanks to the midfoot plate but I felt like the added torsional rigidity got in the way for me.

For a 175 lbs player like myself, I felt like the insole was a bit too stiff for my liking. Even with the Kyrie Low 5(which has weak torsional coverage), I didn’t think things were as comfy as they were with the Game Day.

Another slight caveat was the altered fit. This wasn’t apparent with the Dame 8 but the Kyrie Low 4 was already feeling tight for my thick feet. Shoving a fairly beefy insole only added fuel to the fire.

I was feeling more foot suffocation laterally and medially and while the shoe’s materials stretched out further, the experience wasn’t ideal. I’m sure it would be much better for someone with a more neutral foot shape though.

Make sure to pick the right pair of kicks for the Game Day Pro as it does add a bit more bulk.

MOVE INSOLES: WHICH ONE IS FOR YOU

A cheat sheet of who I think will benefit from either version the most

Having played in both versions of the Move insole, I still stand by the fact that it’s a well-rounded product.

But the regular Game Day option is likely the more versatile choice if we’re talking about recreational hoopers or amateur athletes like myself.

The Game Day is best for those who are looking to upgrade the performance of their footwear, mainly in the cushion & comfort departments since there’s not a lot going on in terms of support.

In terms of foot shape, the regular option is best for a neutral arch or a flatter one. I don’t think either insole is an ideal solution for severe plantar fasciitis (check out the Superfeet insoles for that) but the Game Day will do better here.

Also, those with mild cases of heel tendinitis could benefit from both insoles since the heel crash pad definitely reinforces shock absorption in that area. You’ll be stable and well-cushioned.

Now, the Game Day Pro is definitely more suitable for heavier and/or more explosive hoopers who generate a lot of force to the ground.

I think anyone that’s lighter and plays in a low-profile manner will find the torsional plate getting in the way.

Those with a higher foot arch than usual could also think about the Pro option since it has a more pronounced arch portion that’ll be stable and well-supported.

And lastly, this could be applied to just about any cushioned insole: if you’re looking to preserve your basketball shoe midsoles intact for as long as possible, shoving a high-quality aftermarket insole will absolutely do the trick in shielding the midsole from excessive shock.

CONCLUSIONS

The Move Game Day & Game Day pro insoles are awesome, but are they worth your $$$?

The Move Game Day insoles are one of the products that are filling the gap in the market.

We simply don’t have many well-rounded performance insoles for basketball shoes with this much value, at the fraction of the cost that you’d pay for a custom orthotic.

It’s not for everyone (especially the Pro version) but higher-level athletes or experienced hoopers that fit the criteria could absolutely benefit from the 60-dollar Game Day Pro.

For just about anyone else, the Game Day is a great addition to any hoop shoe if you’re looking for more comfort and supplemental cushion.

I personally really enjoyed my time with the original Game Day as I felt it was a natural extension of the shoe.

You might not notice a dramatic difference if you’re already very much satisfied with your sneakers but if you feel like you want to get a bit more uuumph from your kicks – this is a very solid addition.

You can get your own pair of Move insoles exclusively on the brand’s page.