Running & Athletic Shoes, ranked by PFAS safety
24 products graded from Bad to Excellent, safest first. None grade Good or better yet, so we show the full ranking and the least-concerning options first.
Start here
The best non-toxic running & athletic shoes, ranked safest first
Buyer’s guide
What to look for in running & athletic shoes, and which brands grade best and worst
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
New Balance
Women's Fresh Foam Arishi v4 Shoes
Mesh upper, Fresh Foam midsole, rubber outsole
Azo dyes and color-based toxins
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
Standard athletic shoe with no known PFAS triggers, but no brand disclosure.
⚠Risky category by default
Diadora
Atomo V7000-2
Textile fabric, likely polyester or nylon blend
Azo dyes and synthetic dyes
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester fibers
Limited concern
Adhesive and rubber off-gassing
Limited concern
No public PFAS disclosure; lower concern but unverified.
⚠Risky category by default
New Balance
Men's Fresh Foam Arishi v4 GTX Running
Mesh/textile upper with GTX waterproof membrane
PFAS
High concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Azo dyes in colored mesh
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
GTX membrane likely contains PFAS; New Balance discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
New Balance
Men's DynaSoft Nitrel v6 Gore Tex
Textile with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane
Azo dyes in textile colorants
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Cadmium
Limited concern
Microplastics
Limited concern
Gore-Tex membranes historically use PFAS; New Balance discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
New Balance
Men's Fresh Foam X Hierro v9
Knit textile with water-repellent coating treatment
PFAS
High concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from knit upper
Limited concern
Trail shoe with likely water-repellent coating; PFAS status unclear from brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
ASICS
Men's GEL-VENTURE 11 WATERPROOF
Textile upper with unspecified waterproof coating/water-repellent coating treatment
Coating degradation and leachates from water-repellent coating
Limited concern
Waterproof hiking shoe; water-repellent coating likely contains PFAS, but unconfirmed.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
ASICS
Men's Gel-Sonoma 8 GTX Running Shoes
Textile upper with Gore-Tex GTX waterproof membrane
PFAS
High concern
Azo dyes in synthetic textile upper
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
GTX waterproofing likely contains PFAS; ASICS discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
ASICS
Men's Trail Scout 3
Mesh textile upper with synthetic overlays, rubber outsole; water-repellent coating treated
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Azo dyes in mesh or overlay textiles
Limited concern
water-repellent coating durability and reapplication chemicals
High concern
Trail shoe with likely water-repellent coating.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
ASICS
Men's GT-1000 15 GTX
Mesh/synthetic upper with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Synthetic lining microfiber shedding and inhalation
Limited concern
Gore-Tex membrane delamination releasing particles
Limited concern
Adhesive volatiles (VOC off-gassing) from sole-to-upper bonding
Limited concern
GTX waterproofing likely contains PFAS; ASICS discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
On Running
Women's Waterproof Cloudrunner 2
textile with waterproof water-repellent coating
Antimony in polyester components
Limited concern
Degradation of water-repellent coating releasing microparticles or additives
Limited concern
Waterproof running shoe, waterproofing often uses PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
On Running
On Men's Cloud 6 Waterproof
Textile with waterproof coating
Waterproof coating degradation and leaching
High concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Azo dyes in synthetic fabrics
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
Waterproof treatment likely used; PFAS status undisclosed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Puma
Men's Velocity Nitro 4 GTX
textile upper with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane
PFAS
High concern
Adhesive and glue off-gassing
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from sole and upper degradation
Moderate concern
GTX membrane raises PFAS concern; Puma silent on chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Puma
Fast-Trac Nitro 4 Gore-tex Men's Waterproof Trail Running Shoes
Gore-tex membrane with textile upper, unspecified water-repellent coating treatment
PFAS
High concern
Azo dyes in synthetic textiles
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
Gore-tex waterproofing likely contains PFAS; Puma makes no disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Puma
Velocity Nitro WTR Men's Running Shoes
Synthetic mesh/knit upper with water-repellent coating-treated waterproof coating
water-repellent coating degradation and potential leachates
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester and synthetic blends
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from synthetic mesh wear
Limited concern
Running shoes with waterproof coating; PFAS risk unclear without disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Puma
Men's Fast-Trac NITRO 3 GTX
Synthetic textile with GTX waterproof membrane
PFAS
High concern
Azo dyes in synthetic fabric upper
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Adhesive and glue off-gassing
Limited concern
GTX waterproofing typical PFAS vector; Puma silent on chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
On Running
Men's On Cloud 5
Knit textile upper with foam/rubber midsole; waterproof treatment likely applied
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Azo dyes in knit upper
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from foam midsole degradation
Moderate concern
Glue and solvent residues in midsole-upper bonding
Limited concern
Running shoe with likely water-repellent coating treatment; On Running does not disclose PFAS status.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
On Running
On Men's Running Cloudultra Pro
Textile upper with water-repellent coating treatment, CloudTec sole
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating chemistry
Limited concern
Polyurethane foam off-gassing (CloudTec sole)
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from sole and upper wear
Limited concern
Running shoe with water-resistant coating; PFAS status unclear.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Diadora
Men's Mythos Blushield Vigore 3
Mesh textile upper with waterproof treatment
Azo dyes in synthetic mesh and overlays
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Synthetic polymer degradation and microfiber shedding
Moderate concern
water-repellent coating durability and reapplication safety
Limited concern
Running shoe with waterproofing, PFAS risk unclear from brand disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Diadora
Women's running shoes Diadora Mythos Blushield 9 Vortice
Textile upper with synthetic/mesh, water-repellent coating-treated
Azo dyes in synthetic overlays and mesh
Limited concern
water-repellent coating degradation and re-application risks
Moderate concern
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from synthetic adhesives
Limited concern
Diadora makes no PFAS claims; water-repellent coating treatment raises concern.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Diadora
Sestriere-XT 2
Textile upper with likely water-repellent coating finish
Azo dyes in synthetic textile dyeing
Limited concern
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing from synthetic materials
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Coating degradation and microparticle shedding from water-repellent coating finish
Limited concern
Unknown PFAS risk; no brand transparency on water-repellent treatment.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Mizuno
Men Running shoes Mizuno Neo Lumina Gtx
Mesh/synthetic upper with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane
PFAS
High concern
Antimony in polyester fiber
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from synthetic upper
Limited concern
Gore-Tex waterproofing likely contains PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Mizuno
Women's Neo Vista 2
Synthetic mesh upper, likely with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
PFAS
High concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Azo dyes in synthetic mesh colorants
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester textile
Limited concern
Running shoe with water-resistant coating; Mizuno discloses no PFAS position.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Mizuno
Wave Mujin TL GTX Sports Style Sneaker
Textile upper with Gore-Tex GTX waterproof membrane
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from membrane degradation
Moderate concern
Chemical leaching from GTX adhesives and coatings
High concern
GTX membrane raises PFAS concern; Mizuno discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Mizuno
Men's Mizuno Wave Rider 29
Mesh/synthetic textile upper with rubber sole, likely water-repellent coating treated
PFAS
High concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from mesh and synthetic upper
Moderate concern
Running shoe with likely water-repellent coating treatment, PFAS status unconfirmed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
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