Always In Motion Boxer 5 vs Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs): which is safer?
PUMA Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs) is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Lululemon
Always In Motion Boxer 5
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possiblewater-repellent coating finish chemical composition (PFAS/fluorinated repellents)
PossibleElastane (spandex) degradation and microfiber shedding
Our pick
Puma
Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs)
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes
PossibleFormaldehyde resins (finishing agents)
ReportedMicroplastic shedding
Where these two actually differ
- We flag DWR finish chemical composition (PFAS/fluorinated repellents) and Elastane (spandex) degradation and microfiber shedding 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 blend with DWR finish where the Puma is Cotton/polyester blend socks, no waterproofing, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Puma is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the Lululemon grade, at 45% confidence against 82%, because it discloses less.
Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers 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