Men's Hiker Encounter 2-Pack vs Premium Wool Trail Crew Socks: which is safer?
Darn Tough Men's Hiker Encounter 2-Pack is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Darn Tough
Men's Hiker Encounter 2-Pack
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAntimony in synthetic fibers (nylon reinforcement)
PossibleMicrofiber shedding (synthetic blend durability)
Merrell
Premium Wool Trail Crew Socks
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes (synthetic reinforcement and color)
PossibleSynthetic fiber shedding and microplastics
PossibleWool allergies and skin irritation
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Antimony in synthetic fibers (nylon reinforcement) and Microfiber shedding (synthetic blend durability) on the Darn Tough and not on the Merrell.
- We flag Azo dyes (synthetic reinforcement and color), Synthetic fiber shedding and microplastics and Wool allergies and skin irritation on the Merrell and not on the Darn Tough.
- The Darn Tough is Merino wool blend, no water-repellent treatment applied where the Merrell is Merino/premium wool blend, no water-resistant coating mentioned, 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 waterproof hiking socks, see the full ranking