Pro Style Shock Absorbing Pad vs Adult Padded Shin Guard: which is safer?
Easton Pro Style Shock Absorbing Pad is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Easton
Pro Style Shock Absorbing Pad
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFormaldehyde in textile finishes
PossibleAzo dyes in shell fabric
PossibleAdhesive volatiles (VOC/off-gassing)
MacGregor
Adult Padded Shin Guard
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possiblewater-repellent coating treatment (fluorinated or non-fluorinated, unspecified)
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in textile bonding
PossibleEVA foam degradation and microparticle release
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Formaldehyde in textile finishes, Azo dyes in shell fabric, Adhesive volatiles (VOC/off-gassing) and Microplastic shedding from foam breakdown on the Easton and not on the MacGregor.
- We flag DWR treatment (fluorinated or non-fluorinated, unspecified), Formaldehyde resins in textile bonding and EVA foam degradation and microparticle release on the MacGregor and not on the Easton.
- The Easton is Foam padding, likely EVA or polyurethane where the MacGregor is Foam padding, EVA/synthetic shell, likely DWR-treated outer layer, 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 Easton is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the MacGregor grade, at 45% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.
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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