TX5 GTX Men's vs Men's X Ultra Forces Mid GTX Boots: 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
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes
PossibleFormaldehyde-releasing resins in finishing
PossibleAntimony in polyester
Salomon
Men's X Ultra Forces Mid GTX Boots
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleTeflon-type coating membrane microfiber shedding
PossibleSynthetic upper off-gassing (VOC)
Likelywater-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) fluorochemical content
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 Salomon.
- We flag PTFE membrane microfiber shedding, Synthetic upper off-gassing (VOC), Durable water repellent (DWR) fluorochemical content and Adhesive residues and off-gassing on the Salomon and not on the La Sportiva.
- The La Sportiva is synthetic textile with Gore-Tex membrane waterproof layer where the Salomon is Synthetic textile upper with GTX (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