Always In Motion Boxer 5" 7 Pack vs Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs): which is safer?

These two grade almost identically. Pick on price and preference; neither has a PFAS edge.

lululemon Always In Motion Boxer 5" 7 Pack

Lululemon

Always In Motion Boxer 5" 7 Pack

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 47/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Nylon/spandex blend, no documented coating

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes and colorant heavy metals

ReportedMicroplastics generation during use and washing

PossibleElastane (spandex) degradation and breakdown products

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

Skip

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 and colorant heavy metals, Microplastics generation during use and washing and Elastane (spandex) degradation and breakdown products on the Lululemon and not on the Puma.
  • We flag Azo dyes, Formaldehyde resins (finishing agents) and Microplastic shedding on the Puma and not on the Lululemon.
  • The Lululemon is Nylon/spandex blend, no documented coating 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