PowerStep Pinnacle High Insoles vs Pulse Performance Insoles: which is safer?

PowerStep Pulse Performance Insoles is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

PowerStep Pinnacle High Insoles

Pinnacle

PowerStep Pinnacle High Insoles

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 53/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

foam insole, likely EVA or polyurethane core

Confidence

62%

PossibleMicroplastics from foam degradation

PossibleUnreacted isocyanates in polyurethane (if polyurethane core)

PossibleMoisture and bacterial growth in insole

Our pick

PowerStep Pulse Performance Insoles

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 Microplastics from foam degradation, Unreacted isocyanates in polyurethane (if polyurethane core) and Moisture and bacterial growth in insole on the Pinnacle 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 Pinnacle.
  • The Pinnacle is foam insole, likely EVA or polyurethane core 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