Men's Hiker Encounter 2-Pack vs Men's Hike Classic Edition Full Cushion Crew Socks: which is safer?
These two grade almost identically. Pick on price and preference; neither has a PFAS edge.
Darn Tough
Men's Hiker Encounter 2-Pack
PFAS grade
Good 65/100
Overall grade
Good 57/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
Merino wool blend, no water-repellent treatment applied
Confidence
78%
PossibleAntimony in synthetic fibers (nylon reinforcement)
PossibleMicrofiber shedding (synthetic blend durability)
Smartwool
Men's Hike Classic Edition Full Cushion Crew Socks
PFAS grade
Good 65/100
Overall grade
Good 57/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
Merino wool blend (primary fiber); no reported water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) or stain treatment disclosed
Confidence
78%
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in synthetic fibers
PossibleElastane (spandex) degradation and leaching
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 Smartwool.
- We flag Formaldehyde resins in synthetic fibers and Elastane (spandex) degradation and leaching on the Smartwool and not on the Darn Tough.
- The Darn Tough is Merino wool blend, no water-repellent treatment applied where the Smartwool is Merino wool blend (primary fiber); no reported durable water repellent (DWR) or stain treatment disclosed, 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