Men's Pinnacle Trek Gore-Tex Hiking Boots vs Men's Moab 3 Waterproof: which is safer?
Merrell Men's Moab 3 Waterproof is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Garmont
Men's Pinnacle Trek Gore-Tex Hiking Boots
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyTeflon-type coating/PFAS in Gore-Tex membrane
PossibleLeather tanning residues and heavy metals
PossibleSynthetic dye migration (azo dyes, antimony in polyester)
Our pick
Merrell
Men's Moab 3 Waterproof
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleWaterproof coating composition (unspecified)
PossibleAdhesives and glue off-gassing
ReportedCoating degradation and microplastic release
Where these two actually differ
- We flag PTFE/PFAS in Gore-Tex membrane, Leather tanning residues and heavy metals, Synthetic dye migration (azo dyes, antimony in polyester) and Formaldehyde-based adhesives in lamination on the Garmont and not on the Merrell.
- We flag Waterproof coating composition (unspecified), Adhesives and glue off-gassing and Coating degradation and microplastic release on the Merrell and not on the Garmont.
- The Garmont is Gore-Tex membrane, leather, synthetic uppers where the Merrell is Nubuck leather upper, proprietary waterproof lining, 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 hiking shoes & trail runners, see the full ranking