Brothers Men's Supima Cotton Boxer Briefs vs Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs): which is safer?

Brooks Brothers Men's Supima Cotton Boxer Briefs is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Our pick

Brooks Brothers Men's Supima Cotton Boxer Briefs

Brooks

Brothers Men's Supima Cotton Boxer Briefs

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 49/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

Supima cotton, no surface treatment disclosed

Confidence

78%

PossibleFormaldehyde resins in finishing treatments

PossibleAzo dyes and synthetic colorants

PossibleElastane degradation and microfiber shedding

PUMA Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs)

Puma

Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs)

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 47/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Cotton/polyester blend socks, no waterproofing

Confidence

82%

PossibleAzo dyes

PossibleFormaldehyde resins (finishing agents)

ReportedMicroplastic shedding

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Formaldehyde resins in finishing treatments, Azo dyes and synthetic colorants, Elastane degradation and microfiber shedding and Heavy metals in pigments or dyes on the Brooks and not on the Puma.
  • We flag Azo dyes, Formaldehyde resins (finishing agents) and Microplastic shedding on the Puma and not on the Brooks.
  • The Brooks is Supima cotton, no surface treatment disclosed where the Puma is Cotton/polyester blend socks, no waterproofing, 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 →

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