All 103 waterproof boots we scored fail our PFAS screen
All 103 waterproof boots PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, as of October 2026.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Are waterproof boots non-toxic?
None of the 103 waterproof boots we graded clear our screen. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on waterproof boots in this category are microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, heavy metals, formaldehyde, artificial dyes.
Why Mephisto Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER grades highest here, and why that is not a pass
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 1 product it beats, so you can see exactly where the 45 points between the top and the bottom of this waterproof boots ranking come from. Nothing in this category reaches our 70 point pass mark, so this is the shape of the field rather than a recommendation.
Top graded, and still below our pass mark
Made of leather, textile, rubber sole.
- +30Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
35risk points in total, which is a grade of 65
What the grade does not fix. It still carries one risk factor, No PFAS disclosure. See the full breakdown.
What it still grades above, and why
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The top-graded product carries no such factor.
Made of Gore-Tex membrane (Teflon-family coating-based waterproof laminate).
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +30Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure
80risk points, a grade of 20
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in waterproof boots
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 103 waterproof boots in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- Microplastics
Plastic fragments small enough to shed from a product into food, water or air without anyone seeing it.
Found on 16 of these waterproof boots. Plausible but unconfirmed on 17 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- VOCs and off-gassing
Volatile compounds that evaporate out of a material at room temperature, which is what a new product smell is.
Found on 4 of these waterproof boots. Plausible but unconfirmed on 34 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Heavy metals
Metals such as antimony, nickel and chromium migrating from a material into what touches it.
Found on 2 of these waterproof boots. Plausible but unconfirmed on 37 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. ATSDR
- Formaldehyde
A preservative and resin ingredient that is also released slowly by a group of chemicals used in its place.
Found on 1 of these waterproof boots. Plausible but unconfirmed on 60 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NCI
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 63 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
The safest waterproof boots we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
See PFAS-free waterproof boots on AmazonThe waterproof boots we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 20Salomon Men's X Ultra 360 Mid Gore-TexBad
Formaldehyde / VOCs
- 20Bad
- 20Bad
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 we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 18 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Altra, Asolo, Danner, Garmont, HOKA, Hanwag, La Sportiva, Lowa, Mephisto, Merrell, New Balance, Oboz.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in waterproof boots
Are waterproof boots PFAS free?
All 103 waterproof boots PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, as of October 2026. The lowest graded is Salomon Men's X Ultra 360 Mid Gore-Tex at 20 out of 100.
Are waterproof boots non-toxic?
None of the 103 waterproof boots we graded clear our screen. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on waterproof boots in this category are microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, heavy metals, formaldehyde, artificial dyes.
Which waterproof boots should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Salomon Men's X Ultra 360 Mid Gore-Tex at 20, The North Face Men's Hedgehog GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes at 20, The North Face Men's Offtrail Hike LT Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Boots at 20. The problem with the first is that gore-Tex carries inherent PFAS risk. Salomon silent on composition.
Which waterproof boots brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 18 of the brands we scored in this category, including Altra, Asolo, Danner, Garmont, HOKA, Hanwag. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. 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.
More food and water categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to waterproof boots.
- Best non-toxic water filters507 graded
- Best non-toxic smart rings256 graded
- Best non-toxic food packaging186 graded
- Best non-toxic lunch boxes175 graded
- Best non-toxic waterproof bags122 graded
- Best non-toxic waterproof phone cases119 graded
- Best non-toxic waterproof mascara82 graded
- Best non-toxic portable water bottles78 graded
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The products we score each week, and the best-graded alternative in every category.
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Does a particular brand of waterproof boots have PFAS?
Brands we grade across the catalogue
Everything we have scored from these brands, not just waterproof boots.
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Waterproof Boots, 103 Share One Grade and One Breaks the Pattern
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 103 waterproof boots.