Men's Active Microfiber 2.5" Trunk vs Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs): which is safer?

PUMA Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs) is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Jockey Men's Active Microfiber 2.5" Trunk

Jockey

Men's Active Microfiber 2.5" Trunk

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 43/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

polyester microfiber blend

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes (non-regulated in US)

PossibleAntimony catalyst residue

ReportedMicroplastic shedding in wash

Our pick

PUMA Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs)

Puma

Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs)

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 47/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Cotton/polyester blend socks, no waterproofing

Confidence

82%

PossibleAzo dyes

PossibleFormaldehyde resins (finishing agents)

ReportedMicroplastic shedding

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Azo dyes (non-regulated in US), Antimony catalyst residue, Microplastic shedding in wash and Allergenic fragrance or preservatives in dyebaths on the Jockey and not on the Puma.
  • We flag Azo dyes, Formaldehyde resins (finishing agents) and Microplastic shedding on the Puma and not on the Jockey.
  • The Jockey is polyester microfiber blend where the Puma is Cotton/polyester blend socks, no waterproofing, 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: 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 sports performance undergarments: see the full ranking