All 15 hiking socks we scored fail our PFAS screen
All 15 hiking socks 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 hiking socks non-toxic?
None of the 15 hiking socks 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 hiking socks in this category are microplastics, undisclosed fragrance, artificial dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals.
Why Darn Tough Men's Hiker Encounter 2-Pack 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 hiking socks 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 Merino wool blend, no water-repellent treatment applied.
- +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, and our graders recorded 2 other hazards on it. 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 Merino wool blend with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish.
- +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 hiking socks
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 15 hiking socks 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 2 of these hiking socks. Plausible but unconfirmed on 8 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Undisclosed fragrance
A single word on a label that can stand for dozens of undeclared ingredients, protected as trade secret.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 6 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 5 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- Formaldehyde
A preservative and resin ingredient that is also released slowly by a group of chemicals used in its place.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 4 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NCI
- Heavy metals
Metals such as antimony, nickel and chromium migrating from a material into what touches it.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 3 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. ATSDR
The safest hiking socks 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 hiking socks on AmazonThe hiking socks we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 20Bridgedale Men's StormSock Waterproof Heavyweight Boot SocksBad
Formaldehyde / VOCs
- 20Bridgedale StormSock Midweight KneeBad
water-repellent coating degradation and leachables
- 20Merrell Moab Hiker Crew Hiking SocksBad
water-repellent coating chemistry (fluorinated or non-fluorinated, unspecified)
What we check on hiking socks
- Formaldehyde / VOCs. Off-gassing chemicals from some finishes, textiles, and pressed wood. ATSDR
- Endocrine disruptors. Chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormone system. NIEHS
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The hiking socks brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 4 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.
Bridgedale, Darn Tough, Merrell, Smartwool.
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 hiking socks
Are hiking socks PFAS free?
All 15 hiking socks PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, as of October 2026. The lowest graded is Bridgedale Men's StormSock Waterproof Heavyweight Boot Socks at 20 out of 100.
Are hiking socks non-toxic?
None of the 15 hiking socks 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 hiking socks in this category are microplastics, undisclosed fragrance, artificial dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals.
Which hiking socks should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Bridgedale Men's StormSock Waterproof Heavyweight Boot Socks at 20, Bridgedale StormSock Midweight Knee at 20, Merrell Moab Hiker Crew Hiking Socks at 20. The problem with the first is that high PFAS risk. Waterproofing likely contains PFAS. No public disclosure or testing available.
How can you tell if hiking socks contain PFAS?
In this category we check for formaldehyde / VOCs, endocrine disruptors. Off-gassing chemicals from some finishes, textiles, and pressed wood. Language like stain resistant, water repellent or easy release usually means fluorinated chemistry even when PFAS is never printed on the box.
Which hiking socks brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 4 of the brands we scored in this category, including Bridgedale, Darn Tough, Merrell, Smartwool. 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 hiking socks?
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 hiking socks.
- 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 whole-house filters18 graded
- Best non-toxic waterproof earbuds16 graded
- Best non-toxic coffee cups15 graded
- Best non-toxic countertop filters15 graded
Get the graded list, free.
The products we score each week, and the best-graded alternative in every category.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Does a particular brand of hiking socks have PFAS?
Brands we grade across the catalogue
Everything we have scored from these brands, not just hiking socks.
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Waterproof Hiking Socks, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 15 hiking socks.