Pulse Performance Insoles vs Active Full Insole: 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

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

EVA foam, gel, fabric blend

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes in fabric blend

PossibleFormaldehyde resins in fabric finishing

Active Full Insole

Vionic

Active Full Insole

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 31/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 5

Material

Foam cushioning, textile upper

Confidence

72%

PossibleFormaldehyde resins in textile finishing

LikelyFoam degradation and microparticle shedding

PossibleAdhesive residues between foam and textile

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 Vionic.
  • We flag Formaldehyde resins in textile finishing, Foam degradation and microparticle shedding, Adhesive residues between foam and textile and Azo dyes in textile coloring on the Vionic and not on the Powerstep.
  • The Powerstep is EVA foam, gel, fabric blend where the Vionic is Foam cushioning, textile upper, 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