All 47 waterproof boots we scored fail our PFAS screen
We scored 47 waterproof boots for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.
100% of the 47 waterproof boots we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free waterproof boots we have scored
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
The waterproof boots we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
La Sportiva
TX5 GTX Men's
synthetic textile with Gore-Tex membrane waterproof layer
Azo dyes
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
TX5 GTX likely uses PFOA-free Gore-Tex, but brand confirms nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
La Sportiva
Women's Nucleo High II GTX
Gore-Tex membrane (polytetrafluoroethylene-based waterproof layer)
Microplastic shedding from Gore-Tex membrane
High concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from adhesives and coatings
Limited concern
Azo dyes in synthetic textile uppers
Limited concern
Gore-Tex hiking boots carry inherent PFAS concerns; no brand disclosure available.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
La Sportiva
Men's Eclipse GTX Hiking Boots
Nubuck leather upper, Gore-Tex lining, synthetic sole
Leather tanning chemicals and finishes
Limited concern
Teflon-type coating/Teflon-family coating off-gassing (Gore-Tex membrane)
High concern
Adhesive and laminate off-gassing (upper-lining bond)
Limited concern
Synthetic sole degradation and microplastic shedding
Limited concern
Gore-Tex lining likely contains PFAS; La Sportiva silent on disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
What we check on waterproof boots
- Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
- Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
- Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
- Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The waterproof boots brands that will not say
11 of the brands here publish nothing about PFAS at all. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is why none of them score well on disclosure.
, Adidas, La Sportiva, Merrell, New Balance, Nike, Oboz, SOREL, Salomon, The North Face, Vasque.
Common questions about PFAS-free waterproof boots
Is waterproof boots PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 47 waterproof boots we have scored, 100% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 0 that pass. The lowest is La Sportiva La Sportiva TX5 GTX Men's at 20.
Which waterproof boots should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are La Sportiva La Sportiva TX5 GTX Men's at 20, La Sportiva La Sportiva Women's Nucleo High II GTX at 20, La Sportiva La Sportiva Men's Eclipse GTX Hiking Boots at 20. The problem with the first is that tX5 GTX likely uses PFOA-free Gore-Tex, but brand confirms nothing.
Which waterproof boots brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
11 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including , Adidas, La Sportiva, Merrell, New Balance, Nike. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test waterproof boots?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
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Does a particular brand of waterproof boots have PFAS?
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Waterproof Boots: Which Brands Grade Best and Worst
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 47 waterproof boots.