New Balance Review, Is New Balance Non-Toxic?
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Across 10 graded products, New Balance averages Poor (25/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. None of its products grade Good or better yet. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
New Balance
Women's Fresh Foam Arishi v4 Shoes
Mesh upper, Fresh Foam midsole, rubber outsole
Azo dyes and color-based toxins
Colored mesh and foam components may use azo dyes, which can break down into carcinogenic…
Antimony in polyester
If the mesh or lining contains polyester (likely), antimony trioxide catalyst residues…
Standard athletic shoe with no known PFAS triggers, but no brand disclosure.
⚠Risky category by default
New Balance
Men's Fresh Foam Arishi v4 GTX Running
Mesh/textile upper with GTX waterproof membrane
PFAS
Gore-Tex is a Teflon-family coating matrix; PFAS compounds are chemically inherent to the…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester and nylon mesh uppers may be treated with formaldehyde-based dyes or…
Azo dyes in colored mesh
The mesh upper is dyed; if azo dyes are used, they can break down under sweat or UV…
Antimony in polyester
Polyester components may contain antimony trioxide as a catalyst; it is not typically a…
GTX membrane likely contains PFAS; New Balance discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
New Balance
Men's DynaSoft Nitrel v6 Gore Tex
Textile with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane
Azo dyes in textile colorants
Polyester and nylon uppers may be dyed with azo dyes, some of which are regulated as…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Textile finishes for wrinkle resistance or water-repellency (non-PFAS treatments) and…
Cadmium
Polyester textiles may contain trace antimony (catalyst residue) or cadmium in certain…
Microplastics
Polyester and nylon fibers shed during wear and washing, releasing microplastics into…
Gore-Tex membranes historically use PFAS; New Balance discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
New Balance
Men's Fresh Foam X Hierro v9
Knit textile with water-repellent coating treatment
PFAS
Trail shoe upper carries a water-repellent coating treatment typical of the category…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Shoe construction involves adhesives and finish treatments that may contain or release…
Microplastic shedding from knit upper
Synthetic knit textiles shed microfibers during wear and washing, a known environmental…
Trail shoe with likely water-repellent coating; PFAS status unclear from brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
New Balance
Men's Fresh Foam X Hierro Hiker GORE-TEX Running Shoes
Textile upper with GORE-TEX membrane waterproofing
PFAS
GORE-TEX is manufactured from fluorocarbon polymers (Teflon-type coating) that inherently…
Azo dyes in colored upper fabric
Synthetic textile uppers (especially in black or brown colorways) may use azo dyes that…
Adhesive off-gassing during break-in
Bonded GORE-TEX membranes use polyurethane or epoxy adhesives that may emit volatile…
GORE-TEX contains PFAS; New Balance discloses nothing about treatment.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
New Balance
Women's Fresh Foam X Hierro Mid Gore-Tex
Gore-Tex membrane with textile upper
PFAS
Gore-Tex waterproof membrane is made of expanded Teflon-type coating and is treated with…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester or nylon upper may contain formaldehyde-based finish resins for wrinkle…
Azo dyes in synthetic textiles
Upper textiles may be dyed with azo colorants; some azo dyes degrade into carcinogenic…
Antimony in polyester
If polyester upper uses antimony trioxide as catalyst (standard in polyester production)…
Gore-Tex waterproofing likely contains PFAS; New Balance silent on PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
New Balance
Women's Fresh Foam Garoé Midcut Gore-Tex
Textile upper with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane
PFAS
Gore-Tex waterproofing relies on Teflon-type coating and fluorochemical processing…
Azo dyes in textile upper
Textile uppers typically use synthetic dyes; azo dyes are restricted under EU regulations…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Textile finishes (wrinkle resistance, water repellency pretreatment) may contain…
Microplastic shedding from synthetic textile and membrane
Gore-Tex laminates and polyester uppers shed microfibers during wear and washing…
Gore-Tex likely contains PFAS; New Balance discloses nothing about PFAS treatment.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
New Balance
Men's Made in USA Cycling Jacket
polyester with water-repellent finish (water-repellent coating treatment unspecified)
PFAS
Polyester cycling jackets almost universally require water-repellent treatment. Without…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester textiles may be treated with formaldehyde-based resins for wrinkle resistance…
Azo dyes in color fastness
Polyester apparel sometimes uses azo dyes that can break down into carcinogenic amines if…
Microfiber shedding during washing
All synthetic textiles, including polyester, shed microfibers when laundered. While not a…
Made in USA claim adds credibility; water-repellent coating chemistry unknown.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
New Balance
Men's Fast Days Jacket
Synthetic shell with water-repellent coating, lining unspecified
PFAS
The jacket carries a 'Bad' PFAS grade (20/100). Synthetic water-repellent coating…
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and off-gassing
New synthetic shells and dyes can release VOCs during manufacturing and early wear. No…
water-repellent coating degradation and reapplication
Over time, water-repellent coating finishes wear off with washing and wear. Reapplication…
Typical athletic jacket; no PFAS disclosure or testing available.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
New Balance
Women's RC Jacket
Synthetic textile with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
PFAS
Synthetic jackets with water-repellent coating finishes typically use PFAS-based…
Antimony in polyester base fabric
If the jacket base fabric is polyester (likely for this category), antimony trioxide may…
Microfiber shedding during washing
Synthetic jackets shed microfibers when washed; frequency and quantity increase as the…
No public PFAS disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →