TX5 GTX Men's vs Sportiva Tx4 La Sportiva Leather Boots La Sportiva TX Hike Mid Leather GTX Hiking Boot Men's Men: which is safer?

La Sportiva TX5 GTX Men's is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Our pick

La Sportiva

TX5 GTX Men's

PFAS grade

F 20/100

Overall grade

F 8/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

synthetic textile with Gore-Tex membrane waterproof layer

Confidence

45%

PossibleAzo dyes

PossibleFormaldehyde-releasing resins in finishing

PossibleAntimony in polyester

Why this grade

La Sportiva

Sportiva Tx4 La Sportiva Leather Boots La Sportiva TX Hike Mid Leather GTX Hiking Boot Men's Men

PFAS grade

F 20/100

Overall grade

F 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

Leather upper with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane

Confidence

45%

PossibleHeavy metals in leather tanning residues (chromium, cobalt)

LikelyVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) and adhesive off-gassing

PossibleAzo dyes in leather and synthetic trim

Why this 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 waterproof boots: see the full ranking