Pulse Performance Insoles vs Women's Slim Fit 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

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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

Women's Slim Fit Insole

Vionic

Women's Slim Fit Insole

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 39/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

foam, gel, or textile insole construction

Confidence

68%

PossibleFormaldehyde resins in textile top cover

PossibleAzo dyes in top fabric

LikelyMicrobial and fungal growth in foam

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 top cover, Azo dyes in top fabric and Microbial and fungal growth in foam on the Vionic and not on the Powerstep.
  • The Powerstep is EVA foam, gel, fabric blend where the Vionic is foam, gel, or textile insole construction, 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