Pulse Performance Insoles vs Medical RX Insole | Green: which is safer?

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

Our pick

PowerStep Pulse Performance Insoles

Powerstep

Pulse Performance Insoles

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 57/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

EVA foam, gel, fabric blend

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes in fabric blend

PossibleFormaldehyde resins in fabric finishing

Spenco Medical RX Insole | Green

Spenco

Medical RX Insole | Green

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 53/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Foam, rubber, textile composite insole

Confidence

72%

PossibleFoam degradation and microparticle shedding

PossibleAdhesive or bonding agent residues

PossibleMold or bacterial growth if not maintained

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Azo dyes in fabric blend and Formaldehyde resins in fabric finishing on the Powerstep and not on the Spenco.
  • We flag Foam degradation and microparticle shedding, Adhesive or bonding agent residues and Mold or bacterial growth if not maintained on the Spenco and not on the Powerstep.
  • The Powerstep is EVA foam, gel, fabric blend where the Spenco is Foam, rubber, textile composite insole, 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