All 122 insoles we scored fail our PFAS screen
All 122 insoles PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, as of October 2026.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Are insoles non-toxic?
None of the 122 insoles we graded clear our screen. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on insoles in this category are microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, artificial dyes, formaldehyde, undisclosed fragrance.
Why Cotton Insole grades highest here, and why that is not a pass
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 3 products it beats, so you can see exactly where the 45 points between the top and the bottom of this insoles ranking come from. Nothing in this category reaches our 70 point pass mark, so this is the shape of the field rather than a recommendation.
Top graded, and still below our pass mark
Made of Cotton with possible latex or synthetic backing.
- +30Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
35risk points in total, which is a grade of 65
What the grade does not fix. It still carries one risk factor, No PFAS disclosure, and our graders recorded 2 other hazards on it. See the full breakdown.
What it still grades above, and why
What puts it behind. Unknown / proprietary coating, +25 points. A coating is recorded with no disclosed chemistry. The top-graded product carries no such factor.
Made of Gel compound with synthetic polymers, unspecified coatings.
- +30Category baseline
- +25Unknown / proprietary coating
- +15No PFAS disclosure
70risk points, a grade of 30
What puts it behind. Unknown / proprietary coating, +25 points. A coating is recorded with no disclosed chemistry. The top-graded product carries no such factor.
Made of Unknown polymer foam/gel insole with proprietary F3D coating.
- +30Category baseline
- +25Unknown / proprietary coating
- +15Vague safety claims only. Uses vague language ("eco-friendly", "clean") without a specific PFAS statement.
70risk points, a grade of 30
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The top-graded product carries no such factor.
Made of foam, gel, fabric with moisture-wicking treatment.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +30Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure
80risk points, a grade of 20
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in insoles
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 122 insoles in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- Microplastics
Plastic fragments small enough to shed from a product into food, water or air without anyone seeing it.
Found on 9 of these insoles. Plausible but unconfirmed on 62 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- VOCs and off-gassing
Volatile compounds that evaporate out of a material at room temperature, which is what a new product smell is.
Found on 2 of these insoles. Plausible but unconfirmed on 57 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 48 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- Formaldehyde
A preservative and resin ingredient that is also released slowly by a group of chemicals used in its place.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 41 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NCI
- Undisclosed fragrance
A single word on a label that can stand for dozens of undeclared ingredients, protected as trade secret.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 12 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
The safest insoles we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
See PFAS-free insoles on AmazonThe insoles we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 20Bad
- 20Bad
- 20Dr. Scholl's Performance Sized to Fit Running InsolesBad
Coating leachates (fluorinated or non-fluorinated polymers)
What we check on insoles
- 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 insoles brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 18 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Archmolds, Brooks, Dr. Scholl's, Footminders, Footprint Insoles, Keen, KingFoam, McKesson, Orthofeet, Pedag, Pinnacle, Powerstep.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in insoles
Are insoles PFAS free?
All 122 insoles PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, as of October 2026. The lowest graded is Dr. Scholl's Dr. Scholls Women's Athletic Series Sport Insoles at 20 out of 100.
Are insoles non-toxic?
None of the 122 insoles we graded clear our screen. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on insoles in this category are microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, artificial dyes, formaldehyde, undisclosed fragrance.
Which insoles should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Dr. Scholl's Dr. Scholls Women's Athletic Series Sport Insoles at 20, Brooks Men's Adrenaline GTS 25 at 20, Dr. Scholl's Performance Sized to Fit Running Insoles at 20. The problem with the first is that higher concern. Moisture-wicking treatment chemistry is not stated.
Which insoles brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 18 of the brands we scored in this category, including Archmolds, Brooks, Dr. Scholl's, Footminders, Footprint Insoles, Keen. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. It is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test insoles?
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.
More everyday goods categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to insoles.
- Best non-toxic fabric protector spray468 graded
- Best non-toxic golf balls352 graded
- Best non-toxic butcher paper202 graded
- Best non-toxic pizza stones152 graded
- Best non-toxic laundry detergent30 graded
- Best non-toxic pet food bags29 graded
- Best non-toxic compostable bowls27 graded
- Best non-toxic under-sink ro systems24 graded
Get the graded list, free.
The products we score each week, and the best-graded alternative in every category.
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Does a particular brand of insoles have PFAS?
Brands we grade across the catalogue
Everything we have scored from these brands, not just insoles.
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Synthetic Athletic Insoles and Orthotics, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 122 insoles.