Men's DynaSoft Nitrel v6 Gore Tex vs Women's Fresh Foam Arishi v4 Shoes: which is safer?

New Balance Women's Fresh Foam Arishi v4 Shoes is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

New Balance Men's DynaSoft Nitrel v6 Gore Tex

New Balance

Men's DynaSoft Nitrel v6 Gore Tex

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 5

Material

Textile with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane

Confidence

55%

PossibleAzo dyes in textile colorants

PossibleFormaldehyde-releasing resins in fabric finishes and adhesives

PossibleHeavy metals in synthetic pigments (antimony, cadmium in colorants)

Our pick

New Balance Women's Fresh Foam Arishi v4 Shoes

New Balance

Women's Fresh Foam Arishi v4 Shoes

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 57/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Mesh upper, Fresh Foam midsole, rubber outsole

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes and color-based toxins

PossibleAntimony in polyester

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Azo dyes in textile colorants, Formaldehyde-releasing resins in fabric finishes and adhesives, Heavy metals in synthetic pigments (antimony, cadmium in colorants) and Microplastics and fiber shedding on the New Balance and not on the New Balance.
  • We flag Azo dyes and color-based toxins and Antimony in polyester on the New Balance and not on the New Balance.
  • The New Balance is Textile with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane where the New Balance is Mesh upper, Fresh Foam midsole, rubber outsole, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the New Balance is the one to buy.

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 running & athletic shoes: see the full ranking