TX5 GTX Men's vs Women's Fastpack Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots: which is safer?
The North Face Women's Fastpack Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
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
Our pick
The North Face
Women's Fastpack Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossiblePFAS in water-repellent coating (reported in category, not confirmed for this product)
PossibleAdhesive off-gassing (if present in midsole/sole bonding)
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 The North Face.
- We flag PFAS in DWR coating (reported in category, not confirmed for this product) and Adhesive off-gassing (if present in midsole/sole bonding) on the The North Face and not on the La Sportiva.
- The La Sportiva is synthetic textile with Gore-Tex membrane waterproof layer where the The North Face is Synthetic upper (likely nylon/polyester blend) with DWR waterproof treatment, rubber/synthetic sole, 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