Men's Legend Gloves vs Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's: which is safer?
Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's is the clear pick. Black Diamond Men's Legend Gloves carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Black Diamond
Men's Legend Gloves
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possiblewater-repellent coating chemistry (PFAS status)
PossibleAzo dyes in colored textiles
PossibleCoating degradation and re-treatment needs
Our pick
Patagonia
Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes and heavy metal pigments
PossibleMicroplastic shedding during wash
Where these two actually differ
- We flag DWR coating chemistry (PFAS status), Azo dyes in colored textiles and Coating degradation and re-treatment needs on the Black Diamond and not on the Patagonia.
- We flag Azo dyes and heavy metal pigments and Microplastic shedding during wash on the Patagonia and not on the Black Diamond.
- The Black Diamond is Leather/synthetic upper with DWR-treated exterior where the Patagonia is Polyester fleece (recycled), which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 70 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Patagonia is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the Black Diamond grade, at 35% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.
Both products run through the same public rubric: 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 waterproof winter gloves: see the full ranking