TX5 GTX Men's vs Men's Fresh Foam X Hierro Hiker GORE-TEX Running Shoes: 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
Bad 20/100
Overall grade
Bad 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
New Balance
Men's Fresh Foam X Hierro Hiker GORE-TEX Running Shoes
PFAS grade
Bad 20/100
Overall grade
Bad 2/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
Textile upper with GORE-TEX membrane waterproofing
Confidence
45%
ReportedPFAS in waterproof membrane
PossibleAzo dyes in colored upper fabric
PossibleAdhesive off-gassing during break-in
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Azo dyes, Formaldehyde-releasing resins in finishing and Antimony in polyester on the La Sportiva and not on the New Balance.
- We flag PFAS in waterproof membrane, Azo dyes in colored upper fabric and Adhesive off-gassing during break-in on the New Balance and not on the La Sportiva.
- The La Sportiva is synthetic textile with Gore-Tex membrane waterproof layer where the New Balance is Textile upper with GORE-TEX membrane 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 waterproof boots: see the full ranking