By PFAS Authority · Updated August 29, 2026
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Model-based grades, not lab tests. We flunk more than we pass. How grading works
PFAS in Athletic Shoes, Why the Waterproof Version Is the One to Check
We graded 83 running shoes, trail shoes and sneakers from Brooks, ASICS, Mizuno, On, New Balance, Salomon, Puma, Converse, The North Face, Diadora and Li-Ning. They split cleanly in two. 20 regular mesh, knit and canvas shoes grade 65 out of 100, with no treatment on record. 24 waterproof versions grade 20, because they carry a GORE-TEX membrane or a water-repellent treatment whose chemistry is not stated.
Often the difference is inside a single model. The Brooks Adrenaline GTS grades 65, and its Weatherized version grades 20. If PFAS is your concern, the non-waterproof shoe is the easier choice.
Summary comparison table
| Product | PFAS grade | Upper as recorded |
|---|---|---|
| Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10 | Good, 65/100 | Mesh textile, no treatment on record |
| Mizuno Wave Rider 29 | Good, 65/100 | Mesh textile, no treatment on record |
| On Cloud 5 | Good, 65/100 | Knit textile, no treatment on record |
| New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v9 | Good, 65/100 | Knit textile, no treatment on record |
| Salomon Ultra Glide 4 | Good, 65/100 | Mesh textile, no treatment on record |
| Converse Run Star Trainer | Good, 65/100 | Canvas, no treatment on record |
| Brooks Adrenaline GTS 24 Weatherized | Bad, 20/100 | Water-repellent treated upper |
| On Cloud 6 Waterproof | Bad, 20/100 | Waterproof coating |
| ASICS GT-1000 15 GTX | Bad, 20/100 | GORE-TEX membrane |
| Salomon XT-6 GTX | Bad, 20/100 | GORE-TEX membrane |
| Converse Chuck 70 Hi GTX | Bad, 20/100 | GORE-TEX membrane |
How we graded these
Every grade here is a model-based estimate built from publicly available product information and manufacturer disclosures, not a lab test performed by our team. A high score means lower concern based on reviewed sources, never PFAS-free and never safe. Across the 44 shoes the spread is 26 at 65 and 45 at 20. None of these brands has a PFAS statement on record for the shoes we graded. Look up any shoe in our PFAS product finder.
Why waterproof shoes grade 20
A waterproof shoe gets that way in one of two ways. It has a membrane between the upper and the lining, most often GORE-TEX, or its upper is treated with a durable water repellent. Water-repellent finishes have historically often been fluorinated, and the traditional GORE-TEX membrane is expanded PTFE, a fluoropolymer. Gore has also introduced a membrane made of expanded polyethylene, called ePE, and our records do not say which membrane each of these shoes uses. When a brand does not name the chemistry, our model counts the treatment, and it grades 20.
That covers GTX and waterproof versions from ASICS, Brooks, Mizuno, New Balance, On, Puma, Salomon, Converse, The North Face and Li-Ning. It is not a finding that any one of them contains PFAS.
Why regular running shoes grade 65
A mesh or knit running shoe has no reason to carry a water-repellent finish, and none of the 20 at 65 has one on record. They stop at 65 rather than higher because their makers say nothing about PFAS. Foam midsoles and rubber outsoles are not where PFAS concern sits in a shoe.
A correction to this guide
An earlier version of this guide graded most regular running shoes at 20 alongside the waterproof models. On 17 September 2026 we found that our records had given 14 non-waterproof shoes, including the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10, On Cloud 5, Mizuno Wave Rider 29 and Salomon Ultra Glide 4, a water-repellent treatment none of those listings describes. We removed it, and those shoes now grade 65.
What to avoid
- Waterproof, GTX, Gore-Tex and weatherized versions, if avoiding PFAS matters more to you than dry feet.
- Assuming a shoe is treated because it is sold for running outdoors. Most mesh running shoes are not.
- Re-treating shoes with a waterproofing spray whose chemistry is not named. Our stain guard spray guide covers the sprays.
For boots, see our waterproof boots guide.
Our pick
Based on available materials and data, choose the regular version of the shoe you like. The Brooks Adrenaline GTS 10 Mizuno Wave Rider 29 and On Cloud 5 all grade 65 out of 100 with no treatment on record. These grades are estimates built from disclosed materials, not laboratory proof, and nothing here is being called PFAS-free or safe by us.
FAQ
Do running shoes contain PFAS?
Regular mesh and knit running shoes in our data have no water-repellent treatment on record and grade 65. Waterproof and GTX versions carry a membrane or treatment of unstated chemistry and grade 20.
Is GORE-TEX PFAS?
The traditional GORE-TEX membrane is expanded PTFE, a fluoropolymer in the PFAS family. Gore also makes an expanded polyethylene membrane, ePE, so the specific shoe matters, and our records do not say which one each shoe uses.
Are On or Brooks shoes PFAS-free?
Neither brand has a PFAS statement on record for the shoes we graded. Their regular models grade 65 and their waterproof or weatherized models grade 20. We do not call any product PFAS-free ourselves.
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