Men's Iconic Essentials Wicking Boxer Briefs vs Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs): which is safer?
Champion Men's Iconic Essentials Wicking Boxer Briefs is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Champion
Men's Iconic Essentials Wicking Boxer Briefs
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes and synthetic dye residues
PossibleAntimony in polyester catalyst residue
PossibleFormaldehyde in finish resins
Puma
Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs)
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes
PossibleFormaldehyde resins (finishing agents)
ReportedMicroplastic shedding
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Azo dyes and synthetic dye residues, Antimony in polyester catalyst residue and Formaldehyde in finish resins on the Champion and not on the Puma.
- We flag Azo dyes, Formaldehyde resins (finishing agents) and Microplastic shedding on the Puma and not on the Champion.
- The Champion is polyester/elastane blend, moisture-wicking synthetic 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: 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 sports performance undergarments: see the full ranking