Pulse Performance Insoles vs Women's Slim Fit Insoles: 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

Vionic Women's Slim Fit Insoles

Vionic

Women's Slim Fit Insoles

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 53/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

foam cushioning, fabric topcover

Confidence

72%

PossibleVolatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from foam off-gassing

PossibleDegradation and microparticle shedding over time

PossibleBacterial or fungal growth if moisture retained

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 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from foam off-gassing, Degradation and microparticle shedding over time and Bacterial or fungal growth if moisture retained on the Vionic and not on the Powerstep.
  • The Powerstep is EVA foam, gel, fabric blend where the Vionic is foam cushioning, fabric topcover, 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