Men's Athletic Series Running Insoles vs Pulse Performance Insoles: which is safer?
These two grade almost identically. Pick on price and preference; neither has a PFAS edge.
Dr. Scholl's
Men's Athletic Series Running Insoles
PFAS grade
Good 65/100
Overall grade
Good 57/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
Foam cushioning, gel, textile cover
Confidence
72%
PossiblePolyurethane foam off-gassing and degradation
PossibleAllergens in textile or adhesives
Powerstep
Pulse Performance Insoles
PFAS grade
Good 65/100
Overall grade
Good 57/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
EVA foam, gel, fabric blend
Confidence
72%
PossibleAzo dyes in fabric blend
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in fabric finishing
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Polyurethane foam off-gassing and degradation and Allergens in textile or adhesives on the Dr. Scholl's and not on the Powerstep.
- We flag Azo dyes in fabric blend and Formaldehyde resins in fabric finishing on the Powerstep and not on the Dr. Scholl's.
- The Dr. Scholl's is Foam cushioning, gel, textile cover where the Powerstep is EVA foam, gel, fabric blend, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics: see the full ranking