The Best Non-Toxic Waterproof Winter Gloves of 2026
72 of the 75 waterproof winter gloves PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 96% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 3 that pass. The highest graded is Patagonia Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's at 90 out of 100.
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 winter gloves non-toxic?
3 of the 75 waterproof winter gloves we graded clear our screen and 72 do not. 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 winter gloves in this category are microplastics, artificial dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals, undisclosed fragrance. The highest graded here is Patagonia Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's at 90 out of 100.
Quick picks
Best overall
Patagonia Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women'sHighest PFAS grade in the category
90 Excellent
Brand states its position
Patagonia R4 Yulex Regulator Three Finger MittsThe brand has published a PFAS statement we can quote
90 Excellent
Why Patagonia Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia wins, and what it beats
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 3 products it beats, so you can see exactly where the 70 points between the top and the bottom of this waterproof winter gloves ranking come from.
The winner
Made of Polyester fleece (recycled).
- +30Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- -10Brand-stated PFAS-free. The brand states this product is PFAS-free. We have not verified the claim.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
10risk points in total, which is a grade of 90
What the grade does not fix. Nothing specific to this product adds risk, so what remains is the category baseline that every product here starts from, and our graders recorded 2 other hazards on it. See the full breakdown.
What it beats, and why
What puts it behind. No PFAS disclosure, +15 points. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Fleece (recycled polyester/polyester blend).
- +30Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS
35risk points, a grade of 65
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Recycled nylon with water-repellent coating water-resistant treatment.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +30Category baseline
- -10Brand-stated PFAS-free
55risk points, a grade of 45
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Synthetic textile with water-resistant coating (type unspecified).
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +30Category baseline
- +15Vague safety claims only. Uses vague language ("eco-friendly", "clean") without a specific PFAS statement.
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 winter gloves
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 75 waterproof winter gloves 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 6 of these waterproof winter gloves. Plausible but unconfirmed on 40 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 20 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 12 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 7 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. ATSDR
- Undisclosed fragrance
A single word on a label that can stand for dozens of undeclared ingredients, protected as trade secret.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 4 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
The safest waterproof winter gloves we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Highest grade here
- Polyester fleece (recycled)
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 2
- Yulex (synthetic rubber), neoprene-free alternative
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Allergic contact dermatitis (rubber/guayule sensitivity)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 3
- Polyester fleece (Synchilla®); no water-repellent treatment disclosed
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Microplastics
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Questions people ask about waterproof winter gloves
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Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
All the waterproof winter gloves that pass, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk.
| # | Waterproof Winter Gloves | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patagonia Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's | 90 | Excellent | Polyester fleece (recycled) | Heavy metals |
| 2 | Patagonia R4 Yulex Regulator Three Finger Mitts | 90 | Excellent | Yulex (synthetic rubber), neoprene-free alternative | Allergic contact dermatitis (rubber/guayule sensitivity) |
| 3 | Patagonia Synchilla Gloves | 90 | Excellent | Polyester fleece (Synchilla®); no water-repellent treatment disclosed | Microplastics |
The verdict on waterproof winter gloves
Patagonia Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's grades 90 out of 100, the highest here. It is polyester fleece (recycled). The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified.
Choose Patagonia R4 Yulex Regulator Three Finger Mitts instead if you want a second option at 90 out of 100, yulex (synthetic rubber), neoprene-free alternative.
We hold no price data, so nothing here is a budget recommendation. Grades are model-based assessments from published materials and disclosures, not laboratory tests.
The waterproof winter gloves we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 20Bad
- 20Bad
- 20Bad
What we check on waterproof winter gloves
- 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 winter gloves brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 16 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.
Black Diamond, Carhartt, Fjallraven, Glacier Glove, Gordini, Hestra, Icebreaker, Jack Wolfskin, Klattermusen, Mammut, Norrona, Outdoor Research.
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 winter gloves
Are waterproof winter gloves PFAS free?
72 of the 75 waterproof winter gloves PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 96% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 3 that pass. The highest graded is Patagonia Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's at 90 out of 100. The lowest graded is Waterproof Ski Gloves at 20 out of 100.
Are waterproof winter gloves non-toxic?
3 of the 75 waterproof winter gloves we graded clear our screen and 72 do not. 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 winter gloves in this category are microplastics, artificial dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals, undisclosed fragrance. The highest graded here is Patagonia Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's at 90 out of 100.
Which are the safest waterproof winter gloves to buy?
On our grades, Patagonia Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's at 90 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. Then Patagonia R4 Yulex Regulator Three Finger Mitts at 90. These are model-based assessments from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and disclosures, not laboratory tests, so treat them as the lowest risk we can evidence rather than a safety guarantee.
Which waterproof winter gloves grade best for PFAS?
Patagonia Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's, at 90 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is polyester fleece (recycled). The runner up is Patagonia R4 Yulex Regulator Three Finger Mitts at 90.
Which waterproof winter gloves should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Waterproof Ski Gloves at 20, Icebreaker Sierra Gloves Men's at 20, Icebreaker unisex sierra gloves - BLACK xl at 20. The problem with the first is that a water-repellent or grease-resistant treatment of unstated chemistry, and no PFAS statement from the brand.
Which waterproof winter gloves brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 16 of the brands we scored in this category, including Black Diamond, Carhartt, Fjallraven, Glacier Glove, Gordini, Hestra. 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 winter gloves?
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 winter gloves.
- 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 shower filters15 graded
- Best non-toxic waterproof camera bags15 graded
- Best non-toxic hiking socks15 graded
- Best non-toxic wireless chargers15 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 winter gloves have PFAS?
Brands we grade across the catalogue
Everything we have scored from these brands, not just waterproof winter gloves.
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Waterproof Winter Gloves, 66 of 75 Grade the Same
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 75 waterproof winter gloves.