Brooks · Synthetic Athletic Insoles & Orthotics
Brooks Men's Adrenaline GTS 25
Running shoe with likely water-repellent coating, lacks transparency.
Mesh and foam shoe with rubber outsole treated for water repellency, but Brooks won't say if PFAS is in the water-repellent coating finish. No lab testing or brand confirmation available.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
mesh textile upper, foam midsole, rubber outsole with water-repellent coating treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Brooks Men's Adrenaline GTS 25 is made of, ingredients and materials
The Adrenaline GTS 25 upper is primarily mesh textile, which carries minimal inherent chemical risk compared to synthetic leather or coated fabrics. The foam midsole (likely polyurethane or similar) is chemically stable during normal wear. The water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment on the mesh and rubber outsole is the point of concern, these coatings typically contain PFAS compounds to achieve water shedding, though Brooks does not specify the chemistry publicly. Rubber outsoles are generally low-risk once cured, with minimal leaching during foot contact.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Water-repellent treatment on mesh and outsole almost certainly contains perfluorinated compounds; Brooks provides no technical data, and water-repellent coating is standard in this category. PFAS bioaccumulates with repeated contact and environmental persistence.
Source, ATSDR ↗Polyurethane midsole off-gassing
Polyurethane foams can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including isocyanates during and shortly after production; off-gassing typically dissipates within days to weeks of opening. Risk is minimal during wear; greatest exposure is during factory storage and unboxing in enclosed spaces.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No recalls or public complaints specific to the Adrenaline GTS 25; mesh construction typically avoids heavy finish resins. Brooks does not publicly test for formaldehyde on apparel.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes in fabric
No specific data available for this model. Mesh uppers are often undyed or use disperse dyes with lower azo risk than solid-color synthetics, but Brooks offers no certification.
Adhesive and solvent residues
No established recalls; shoe assembly uses standard footwear adhesives. Minimal systemic exposure during wear, but solvent smell (if present on new pair) indicates incomplete curing or off-gassing.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Brooks does not publish detailed chemical disclosure or PFAS phase-out timelines on this model or brand-wide. The company has not issued public statements on PFAS in footwear as of recent records, contrasting with some competitors who have committed to PFAS-free water-repellent coating alternatives. Brooks holds no prominent third-party certifications (Bluesign, OEKO-TEX, etc.) that would signal rigorous chemical screening. This silence makes independent verification of water-repellent coating chemistry impossible.
How it compares in its category
Running shoes across brands typically use water-repellent coating coatings, making PFAS a category-wide issue rather than a Brooks-specific flaw. However, some competitors (Salomon, certain Altra lines) have begun marketing PFAS-free water treatments. The Adrenaline GTS 25 sits in the mid-performance, high-volume segment where chemical transparency lags behind ultra-premium or eco-focused brands. Mesh uppers are less chemically volatile than synthetic leather alternatives, giving this shoe a relative advantage within its class.
If you buy it
Machine wash on cold gentle cycles; avoid high heat and dryers that can degrade foam and potentially off-gas volatile compounds from the midsole. Replace when cushioning compresses noticeably (typically 300-500 miles) or upper seams fail, both signs of structural wear rather than chemical degradation. Store in cool, dry conditions away from direct sunlight to slow foam aging. Avoid prolonged soaking or aggressive scrubbing of the water-repellent coating-treated areas, as this may mobilize surface coatings.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 55% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Brooks has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Brooks Men's Adrenaline GTS 25?
Cotton Insole
- Cotton with possible latex or synthetic backing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Adhesive/backing composition (unknown)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
Addias Men's Ortholite Comfort Insoles
- Ortholite cushioning foam, polyurethane base
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from polyurethane
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- EVA foam, mesh textile lining
- Azo dyes in mesh textile
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore synthetic athletic insoles & orthotics grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.