PFAS in Synthetic Athletic Insoles and Orthotics, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst

Based on available materials and data, Powerstep and Spenco insoles consistently earn the highest marks in our database at a "Good" grade with a 65 out of 100 safety score, while Dr. Scholl's athletic and running insoles, the Keen K-20 Plus insole, and the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 all land in "Bad" territory at 20 out of 100. These scores are model-based estimates built from materials disclosure and public data, not laboratory certainty, but the pattern across our database is consistent enough to guide a purchase.

If you are shopping for synthetic athletic insoles or orthotic inserts today, the clearest lower-concern path in our database runs through the Powerstep and Spenco lineups, including the Powerstep POWERSTEP PULSE E and the Spenco Propel Performance Insoles. Neither brand has been verified PFAS-free by an independent lab in the sources we reviewed, and "Good" is not the same as "no PFAS whatsoever." It means the materials profile and disclosure record we could find gave fewer red flags than the alternatives graded here. For a broader look at how footwear-adjacent products stack up, see our waterproof boots guide and use the PFAS Authority finder to compare individual products side by side.

Summary Comparison Table

Product	PFAS Grade	Verdict
Powerstep POWERSTEP PULSE E	Good, 65/100	Lower concern, our top-tier pick for daily training
Powerstep PULSE Maxx Orthotic Running Shoe Insert	Good, 65/100	Lower concern, solid runner-focused option
Powerstep Pulse Thin Insoles	Good, 65/100	Lower concern, good for tight-fit shoes
Powerstep Pinnacle Orthotic Insoles	Good, 65/100	Lower concern, best for arch support needs
Powerstep Pinnacle Low Insoles	Good, 65/100	Lower concern, low-profile alternative
Spenco Propel Performance Insoles	Good, 65/100	Lower concern, strong performance pick
Spenco Trim To Fit Sport Cushion Insole	Good, 65/100	Lower concern, budget-friendly cushioning
Spenco Polysorb Cross Trainer Insole	Good, 65/100	Lower concern, cross-training focus
Powerstep Bridge Insoles	Good, 65/100	Lower concern, semi-rigid support option
Spenco Propel + Carbon Performance Insoles	Good, 65/100	Lower concern, carbon plate performance
Spenco Plantar Fascia Insole	Good, 65/100	Lower concern, targeted plantar support
Powerstep Pulse Performance Insoles	Good, 65/100	Lower concern, all-around athletic use
Dr. Scholl's Women's Athletic Series Sport Insoles	Bad, 20/100	Higher concern, avoid if minimizing PFAS exposure
Dr. Scholl's Performance Sized to Fit Running Insoles	Bad, 20/100	Higher concern, avoid if minimizing PFAS exposure
Keen Men's Outdoor K-20 Plus Insole	Bad, 20/100	Higher concern, avoid if minimizing PFAS exposure
Brooks Men's Adrenaline GTS 25	Bad, 20/100	Higher concern, avoid if minimizing PFAS exposure

Why insoles and orthotics are a PFAS blind spot

Most shoppers think about PFAS in the context of rain jackets, carpets, or nonstick cookware, but the foam, moisture-wicking fabric, and odor-control treatments used in athletic insoles are another common entry point. Manufacturers sometimes use fluoropolymer-based durable water repellent finishes or fluorinated surfactants during foam production to control moisture and reduce friction. Because insoles sit against skin for hours at a time and absorb sweat, the question of what is in that foam and fabric layer deserves the same scrutiny you would give a waterproof jacket or a nonstick pan. If you are also auditing your closet or kitchen for similar risks, our guides to waterproof boots and cast iron skillets cover related material categories.

Product by product breakdown

Powerstep lineup, grade Good, 65/100

Powerstep's Pulse and Pinnacle families, including the POWERSTEP PULSE E, the PULSE Maxx Orthotic Running Shoe Insert, the Pulse Thin Insoles, the Pinnacle Orthotic Insoles, the Pinnacle Low Insoles, the Bridge Insoles, and the Pulse Performance Insoles, all use a molded polyurethane foam base topped with a moisture-wicking top cloth and a semi-rigid support shell. Powerstep markets these products around orthopedic support and durability rather than water or stain repellency, which is a meaningful distinction, brands chasing a "never stains, always dry" marketing angle are more likely to lean on fluorochemical treatments than brands focused on cushioning and arch support.

Brand claims, Powerstep states its products are built for foot pain relief and long-lasting cushioning. We found no explicit PFAS-free claim from the brand in the materials we reviewed, and no third-party lab verification either. That absence of an aggressive water-repellent marketing claim, combined with the materials profile on file, is part of why this line scores as it does.

Pros, Consistent Good grade across nearly the entire product line, semi-rigid arch support suited to running and cross-training, widely available replacement sizing.

Cons, A 65 out of 100 score is a relative win, not a clean bill of health. No independent lab confirmation of PFAS absence was found in the sources reviewed, so treat this as lower concern rather than PFAS-free.

Spenco lineup, grade Good, 65/100

Spenco's Propel and Polysorb technologies appear across the Propel Performance Insoles, the Propel + Carbon Performance Insoles, the Trim To Fit Sport Cushion Insole, the Polysorb Cross Trainer Insole, and the Plantar Fascia Insole. These insoles use Spenco's proprietary Polysorb cushioning material, a polymer foam distinct from standard EVA, paired with fabric top covers marketed for odor and moisture management.

Brand claims, Spenco emphasizes shock absorption, odor control, and all-day comfort. Odor control claims can sometimes signal antimicrobial or fluorochemical fabric treatments, so this is a category worth watching even within a "Good" grade. We did not find a brand statement claiming the line is PFAS-free, nor independent lab data confirming it.

Pros, Strong, consistent Good grade across the full product range, dedicated plantar fasciitis and carbon-plate performance options, widely sold at major retailers.

Cons, The odor-control marketing angle warrants more scrutiny than Powerstep's support-first positioning. As with every product on this list, the grade reflects available materials and disclosure data, not a certified lab result.

Dr. Scholl's Athletic and Performance insoles, grade Bad, 20/100

The Dr. Scholl's Women's Athletic Series Sport Insoles and the Dr. Scholl's Performance Sized to Fit Running Insoles both use gel and foam cushioning layers with a synthetic moisture-management top cloth. Dr. Scholl's markets these lines heavily around all-day shock absorption and sport-specific fit.

Brand claims, Dr. Scholl's promotes "massaging gel" and moisture control performance benefits. We found no PFAS-free claim from the brand for these specific SKUs, and no independent lab verification confirming an absence of PFAS. The 20 out of 100 score reflects a materials and disclosure profile that raised more concern in our model than the Powerstep and Spenco lines.

Pros, Widely available, inexpensive, easy universal trim-to-fit sizing.

Cons, Lowest grade tier in this comparison. Based on available materials and data, these products carry higher estimated concern than every Powerstep or Spenco insole listed here. Anyone actively trying to reduce PFAS exposure through footwear should treat these as a lower priority purchase.

Keen K-20 Plus Insole, grade Bad, 20/100

The Keen Men's Outdoor K-20 Plus Insole is built for hiking and outdoor footwear, using a firmer EVA foam base with a synthetic antimicrobial top layer aimed at multi-day wear. Keen positions this insole around durability and odor resistance for trail use.

Brand claims, Keen advertises odor control and long-term durability for outdoor conditions. No PFAS-free claim was found for this specific insole in the materials we reviewed, and no third-party lab data was available to verify one way or the other.

Pros, Firm support suited to hiking boots, reinforced heel cup for outdoor stability.

Cons, Bad grade in our model, the antimicrobial and odor-resistant fabric treatment is a plausible contributor to that lower score, though we cannot confirm the exact chemical source without lab testing. If you are also worried about PFAS in outdoor gear generally, our waterproof boots guide covers related concerns in hiking footwear.

Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25, grade Bad, 20/100

The Brooks Men's Adrenaline GTS 25 is a running shoe rather than a standalone insole insert, but its factory-installed sockliner is graded here because it is the synthetic foam layer runners interact with directly. Brooks markets the GuideRails support system and DNA LOFT cushioning as the shoe's core technology.

Brand claims, Brooks emphasizes cushioning technology and support stability rather than water repellency. No explicit PFAS-free claim was located for this model, and no independent lab verification was found in the sources reviewed.

Pros, Strong stability platform for overpronation, well-reviewed cushioning for daily mileage.

Cons, Bad grade in our model at 20 out of 100. Because the sockliner and upper fabric are integrated into the shoe rather than swappable, runners concerned about PFAS exposure have fewer easy mitigation options beyond swapping in a third-party insole graded Good, such as one of the Powerstep or Spenco options above.

What to avoid

• Aggressive odor-control or antimicrobial marketing with no ingredient transparency. Odor-resistant fabric treatments are one of the more common places fluorochemicals show up in footwear, and a brand that touts odor control without naming its treatment chemistry deserves extra scrutiny.
• Any product graded Bad in our database without a documented reason to trust it more than the data shows. The Dr. Scholl's Women's Athletic Series Sport Insoles, the Dr. Scholl's Performance Sized to Fit Running Insoles, the Keen K-20 Plus Insole, and the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25 all sit at 20 out of 100 in our model.
• Marketing language that implies "PFAS-free" without a cited independent lab result. A brand's own claim is not the same as third-party verification. Treat unverified brand statements as a starting point, not a conclusion.
• Heavily marketed waterproofing or stain resistance on a soft-goods product like an insole. Insoles do not typically need durable water repellency the way a jacket or boot exterior does, so a strong water-repellent claim on an insole is worth questioning.

Our pick

Based on available materials and data, the Powerstep and Spenco lines are the more defensible choice among the products in our database, all graded Good at 65 out of 100. Within that group, the Powerstep POWERSTEP PULSE E and the Spenco Propel Performance Insoles stand out for combining that Good grade with mainstream availability and athletic-specific support. This is a model-based estimate from materials and public disclosure, not a lab test, and "Good" should be read as lower concern relative to the alternatives graded here, not as a guarantee of zero PFAS content. If you want to compare these against other categories in your gear closet, the PFAS Authority finder lets you search by product, and our waterproof boots and carpets and rugs guides cover other high-friction categories where fluorochemical treatments are common.

Frequently asked questions

Are Powerstep and Spenco insoles guaranteed PFAS-free?

No. Both brands earn a Good grade at 65 out of 100 in our database, which reflects a lower-concern materials and disclosure profile based on available data, not a certified lab result confirming zero PFAS content. Neither brand's marketing materials that we reviewed made an explicit, independently verified PFAS-free claim for these specific products.

Why do Dr. Scholl's, Keen, and Brooks products grade lower here?

These products, including the Dr. Scholl's Women's Athletic Series Sport Insoles, the Keen K-20 Plus Insole, and the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 25, scored 20 out of 100 in our model based on their materials and disclosure profile as reviewed. This is a relative estimate built from public information, not a definitive lab finding, and it can change if brands update formulations or disclose new testing.

Does PFAS exposure from insoles actually affect health?

Some research has linked certain PFAS chemicals to health concerns, but that research shows association, not proven causation, and it typically involves broader, cumulative PFAS exposure across many sources, not a single insole. Skin contact through footwear is only one small potential pathway among many, including water, food packaging, and household dust. If you are trying to reduce overall exposure, insoles are a reasonable place to start but should be considered alongside other categories like waterproof boots cookware, and cosmetics.