All 30 synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics we scored fail our PFAS screen
We scored 30 synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.
100% of the 30 synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics we have scored
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
The synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
Keen
Men's Outdoor K-20 Plus Insole
foam/gel insole with moisture-wicking treatment
PFAS
High concern
Foam microparticles from degradation
Limited concern
Allergic sensitization from treatment chemicals
Limited concern
Insole likely waterproofed; KEEN does not disclose PFAS status.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Powerstep
Pulse Performance Insoles
EVA foam, gel, fabric blend
Azo dyes in fabric blend
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
These insoles likely skip PFAS, but the brand says nothing about it.
⚠Risky category by default
Powerstep
PULSE E
foam insoles, textile upper
Azo dyes in textile coloring
Limited concern
Foam degradation and microparticle shedding
Limited concern
No PFAS risk data exists; products like this usually pose lower concern if untreated.
⚠Risky category by default
What we check on synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics
- Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
- Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
- Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
- Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics brands that will not say
4 of the brands here publish nothing about PFAS at all. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Keen, Powerstep, Spenco, Vionic.
Common questions about PFAS-free synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics
Is synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 30 synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics we have scored, 100% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 0 that pass. The lowest is Keen KEEN Men's Outdoor K-20 Plus Insole at 20.
Which synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Keen KEEN Men's Outdoor K-20 Plus Insole at 20, Powerstep PowerStep Pulse Performance Insoles at 65, Powerstep POWERSTEP PULSE E at 65. The problem with the first is that insole likely waterproofed; KEEN does not disclose PFAS status.
Which synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
4 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Keen, Powerstep, Spenco, Vionic. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
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