Callaway Review, Is Callaway Non-Toxic?
Across 21 graded products, Callaway averages Good (50/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. 4 of its products grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Does Callaway have PFAS, by category
Worth buying from Callaway Good or better, best-graded first
Callaway
Men's Chev Soft Golf Glove
leather and synthetic materials
Heavy metals
Leather is conventionally chrome-tanned; residual chromium (typically Cr III, lower…
Heavy metals
Leather dyeing may involve azo dyes (potential allergens and carcinogens) or pigments…
Contact dermatitis or sensitization from residual chemicals
Anecdotal reports of skin irritation from leather gloves exist across the golf market…
Lower PFAS risk; no high-risk coating technology identified.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Callaway
Golf Gloves 3-Pack Premium Cabretta Leather
Cabretta leather, likely tannin-tanned
Heavy metals
Tannin-tanned leather is lower-risk than chrome tanning, but leather dyes and finishing…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Leather finishing may involve formaldehyde-based resins for water resistance or…
Azo dyes and colorant allergens
Cabretta leather is typically dyed during tanning. Azo dyes banned in many textiles are…
Skin sensitization from leather residues or sizing agents
New leather gloves may contain sizing agents, salt, or tanning residue that irritate…
Lower concern; Cabretta leather requires no PFAS treatment.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Callaway
Men's Apex Tour Shamrock Golf Glove
Leather and synthetic leather glove
Heavy metals
Leather tanning traditionally uses chromium salts; residual chromium or cadmium in dyes…
Azo dyes in colored leather or synthetic backing
The Shamrock colorway suggests synthetic dyes in the leather finish. Azo dyes are…
Allergic contact dermatitis from leather tanning agents or dyes
Chromium, nickel, or formaldehyde-release tanning agents used in leather processing can…
Lower PFAS risk; basic leather glove without water-repellent coating finish.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Callaway
Supersoft Golf Balls
Synthetic polymer core, elastomer cover
Elastomer cover degradation and leaching
Elastomer covers may leach trace amounts of processing residues (antioxidants…
PFAS
Golf ball covers are sometimes treated with hydrophobic coatings; PFAS compounds are a…
Golf ball PFAS risk unclear.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Callaway
Chrome Soft Golf Balls
Synthetic elastomer cover, multi-layer core
Elastomer cover degradation and microparticle shedding
Scuffing and peeling of the synthetic cover during use may generate small plastic…
No PFAS data available. Golf balls lack clear risk signals.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Callaway
Chrome Soft 360 Triple Track Golf Balls
Synthetic rubber/polymer core, surlyn cover, proprietary paint
Polymer degradation and microplastic shedding
Surlyn cover may develop surface wear over extended play (100+ rounds), producing…
No public PFAS disclosure.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Callaway
2024 Chrome Tour Triple Track 360 Golf Balls
Surlyn cover, rubber core with unspecified coating
Unspecified coating toxicity
The Triple Track alignment coating composition is proprietary and not publicly disclosed.…
PFAS
Golf ball manufacturers have not publicly disclosed whether Surlyn formulations or…
Golf ball PFAS risk unclear.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Callaway
Golf Opticolor Glove
Leather palm, synthetic back with water-resistant finish
PFAS
Water-resistant finish composition is undisclosed by Callaway. If water-repellent coating…
Water-resistant glove; PFAS status unknown from brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway
Men's X-Tech Golf Glove
Synthetic leather, microfiber, moisture-wicking fabric with water-resistant treatment
PFAS
Callaway does not disclose whether the water-resistant treatment uses perfluorinated…
Coating degradation under heat or sweat
Repeated washing, sweat exposure, and UV during outdoor play may cause the…
Allergic contact dermatitis from finish or dyes
Sensitive skin may react to uncertified dyes, adhesives, or finish chemicals in the…
Water-resistant glove likely using water-repellent coating; PFAS risk unconfirmed.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway
Men's Opti Color Golf Gloves
Leather palm with synthetic back, water-resistant treatment
PFAS
Water-resistant finish chemistry is undisclosed; golf glove repellency typically requires…
Microplastic shedding from synthetic back
Synthetic fabrics shed microfibers with wear and washing, particularly if the material…
Water-treated glove; brand silent on PFAS composition.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway
Fusion Golf Glove
Leather or synthetic leather with water-resistant treatment
PFAS
Water-repellent coating chemistry is undisclosed. If Teflon-family coating-based, skin…
Degradation of water-treatment coating over time
Water-repellent treatments degrade with use and washing, typically becoming less…
Water-resistant glove; PFAS risk unknown without disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway
Men's Thermal Grip Golf Gloves
Leather palm, synthetic backing with thermal grip treatment
Thermal grip coating composition (undisclosed)
The thermal grip treatment is not publicly characterized by Callaway. Water-resistant…
Coating degradation and microparticle shedding
As the thermal grip coating wears or is damaged, small flakes may shed onto hands or into…
Thermal grip coating raises concerns; brand discloses nothing on PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway
Women's Rain Spann Golf Gloves
Synthetic leather/polyurethane with water-resistant treatment
PFAS
Water-repellent golf gloves almost universally rely on fluorinated compounds for…
Polyurethane microparticle shedding
Repeated flexing and friction degrade synthetic leather coatings over time, potentially…
Skin irritation from coating adhesives or accelerators
Polyurethane gloves may contact skin via finger padding or inner seams. Residual…
Golf glove with water-repellent coating.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway
Golf Weather Spann Glove
synthetic leather or microfiber with water-resistant coating
water-repellent coating composition (fluorinated or fluorine-free unknown)
The glove's water-resistant finish almost certainly contains some fluorinated compound…
Coating degradation and product lifespan
The water-repellent coating will gradually degrade with use and laundering, potentially…
Golf glove with water-repellent coating; Callaway discloses no PFAS details.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway
Women's Weather Spann Golf Glove
synthetic leather or polyurethane with water-resistant finish
Water-resistant coating degradation and off-gassing
The specific chemistry of the Weather Spann's water-resistant finish is undisclosed. If…
Polyurethane synthetic leather off-gassing
Synthetic leather (PU) can off-gas plasticizers and isocyanate residues, especially in…
Likely lower concern, but water-resistant coating source unclear.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway
Chrome Tour TruTrack Golf Balls
Synthetic polymer core, proprietary paint/coating
PFAS
Proprietary urethane or polyurethane-based paint likely contains fluorinated additives…
Coating degradation and microparticle shedding
Premium golf balls endure repeated impact and abrasion. As the coating wears, small…
Skip until Callaway discloses coating formula or confirms PFAS-free.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway
Chrome Soft Triple Track Personalized Golf Balls
Synthetic polymer core with proprietary cover coating
PFAS
Callaway does not disclose whether the proprietary cover coating contains PFAS compounds.…
Microplastic shedding from cover degradation
Synthetic polymer cover will fragment over time and with use, releasing microparticles…
Skip until Callaway discloses coating formula or confirms PFAS-free.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway
Chrome Tour Triple Diamond Personalized Golf Balls
Surlyn cover with waterproof/durable finishes
Coating composition (waterproof finish)
Callaway does not disclose the chemical identity of waterproofing agents applied to the…
UV and heat degradation
Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or extreme heat may cause surface cracking or…
Microplastic shedding
Over repeated play, the cover may shed microscopic particles, particularly if cracked or…
Golf ball coating composition unclear.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway
Chrome Tour Triple Track Golf Balls
Synthetic cover (likely Surlyn or ionomer), urethane waterproof coating
PFAS
Golf ball manufacturers typically use fluorinated polymers or PFAS-containing…
Synthetic cover degradation over time
Ionomer and Surlyn covers can crack, peel, or delaminate with extended play, especially…
Microplastic shedding from worn covers
As synthetic covers degrade on course or during storage, small polymer fragments may…
Golf ball durability coatings often contain PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway
Men's Rain Spann Golf Gloves
Synthetic leather/microfiber with water-resistant treatment
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Synthetic microfiber bonding and durable water-resistant finishes commonly employ…
Water-resistant coating degradation and leachables
The proprietary water-repellent treatment will degrade with use and washing; degradation…
Contact dermatitis from coating or dye residues
Individual sensitivity to water-resistant coatings or finishing chemicals is uncommon but…
Golf glove water treatment composition not disclosed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway
Tour Authentic Golf Glove Men
Leather palm, synthetic/textile back with water-repellent coating treatment
PFAS
Callaway/Odyssey has not disclosed whether the water-repellent coating treatment uses…
Probable water-repellent coating present; PFAS risk unconfirmed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Callaway and PFAS, common questions
- Does Callaway have PFAS?
- We graded 21 Callaway products, averaging Good (50/100). 4 grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests.
- Is Callaway non-toxic?
- Callaway Men's Chev Soft Golf Glove is the highest-graded Callaway product we have scored, at 85/100. It depends on the product line rather than the brand, so check the grade of the exact item you are buying.
- Which Callaway products are lower concern for PFAS?
- The highest-graded Callaway products we have scored are Callaway Men's Chev Soft Golf Glove, Callaway Golf Gloves 3-Pack Premium Cabretta Leather, Callaway Men's Apex Tour Shamrock Golf Glove. That is our model-based estimate from materials and public disclosure, not a lab test.
- Which Callaway products should I avoid?
- The lowest-graded Callaway products we have scored are Callaway Tour Authentic Golf Glove Men, Callaway Men's Rain Spann Golf Gloves, Callaway Chrome Tour Triple Track Golf Balls. Each one links to the evidence behind its grade.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →