Repel + Revive + Refresh Shoe Care Kit vs Waterproofing Wax for Leather: which is safer?

Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Jason Markk Repel + Revive + Refresh Shoe Care Kit

Jason Markk

Repel + Revive + Refresh Shoe Care Kit

PFAS grade

Poor 40/100

Overall grade

Bad 10/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

proprietary shoe care formulations with water/stain repellent treatments

Confidence

45%

LikelyFormulation opacity and undisclosed active ingredients

PossibleInhalation exposure from spray application

PossibleVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) from propellants and solvents

Our pick

Nikwax Waterproofing Wax for Leather

Nikwax

Waterproofing Wax for Leather

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 51/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

wax-based waterproofing

Confidence

78%

PossibleRespiratory irritation or fume inhalation during application

ReportedPFAS in water repellency treatment

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Formulation opacity and undisclosed active ingredients, Inhalation exposure from spray application, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from propellants and solvents and Skin or eye contact irritation from concentrate on the Jason Markk and not on the Nikwax.
  • We flag Respiratory irritation or fume inhalation during application and PFAS in water repellency treatment on the Nikwax and not on the Jason Markk.
  • The Jason Markk is proprietary shoe care formulations with water/stain repellent treatments where the Nikwax is wax-based waterproofing, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 25 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Nikwax is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Jason Markk grade, at 45% confidence against 78%, 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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