Men's StormSock Waterproof Heavyweight Boot Socks vs Men's Mountaineer Classic Edition Maximum Cushion Crew Socks: which is safer?
Smartwool Men's Mountaineer Classic Edition Maximum Cushion Crew Socks is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Bridgedale
Men's StormSock Waterproof Heavyweight Boot Socks
PFAS grade
Bad 20/100
Overall grade
Bad 0/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 4
Material
Merino wool blend with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
Confidence
62%
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in synthetic blend
PossibleAzo dyes and heavy metals in pigmentation
LikelyDegradation and microfiber shedding during washing
Our pick
Smartwool
Men's Mountaineer Classic Edition Maximum Cushion Crew Socks
PFAS grade
Good 65/100
Overall grade
analysis pending
Verdict
pending
Hazard flags
none flagged
Material
Merino wool blend (primary natural fiber)
Confidence
72%
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Formaldehyde resins in synthetic blend, Azo dyes and heavy metals in pigmentation, Degradation and microfiber shedding during washing and Undisclosed water repellent chemistry (PFAS family assumed) on the Bridgedale and not on the Smartwool.
- The Bridgedale is Merino wool blend with durable water repellent (DWR) finish where the Smartwool is Merino wool blend (primary natural fiber), which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Smartwool is the one to buy.
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 hiking socks: see the full ranking