Men's Athletic Cushioned Crew 6-Pack Socks vs 4-Pack Everyday Athletic Crew Socks: which is safer?
Smartwool 4-Pack Everyday Athletic Crew Socks is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Adidas
Men's Athletic Cushioned Crew 6-Pack Socks
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFormaldehyde resin finishing agents
ReportedMicrofiber and microplastic shedding
PossibleAllergic reaction to synthetic fibers or dyes
Our pick
Smartwool
4-Pack Everyday Athletic Crew Socks
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes (aniline-derived synthetic colorants)
PossibleElastane (spandex) degradation and skin contact
PossibleDurable-water-repellent (water-repellent coating) coating composition
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Formaldehyde resin finishing agents, Microfiber and microplastic shedding and Allergic reaction to synthetic fibers or dyes on the Adidas and not on the Smartwool.
- We flag Azo dyes (aniline-derived synthetic colorants), Elastane (spandex) degradation and skin contact and Durable-water-repellent (DWR) coating composition on the Smartwool and not on the Adidas.
- The Adidas is Cotton-blend athletic socks, no reported coating where the Smartwool is merino wool blend (primary fiber), which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More performance socks, see the full ranking