Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER vs Men's Moab 3 8" Tactical Zip Waterproof Boot: which is safer?
Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Mephisto
Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER
PFAS grade
Good 65/100
Overall grade
Good 59/100
Verdict
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Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
leather, textile, rubber sole
Confidence
55%
PossibleVolatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing from adhesives
Merrell
Men's Moab 3 8" Tactical Zip Waterproof Boot
PFAS grade
Bad 20/100
Overall grade
Bad 0/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 4
Material
Leather/synthetic upper with proprietary waterproof membrane
Confidence
35%
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in synthetic uppers and linings
PossibleWaterproof membrane degradation and microparticle shedding
PossibleAzo dyes in leather or synthetic upper colorants
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Volatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing from adhesives on the Mephisto and not on the Merrell.
- We flag Formaldehyde resins in synthetic uppers and linings, Waterproof membrane degradation and microparticle shedding, Azo dyes in leather or synthetic upper colorants and Waterproof treatment PFAS (separate grade provided) on the Merrell and not on the Mephisto.
- The Mephisto is leather, textile, rubber sole where the Merrell is Leather/synthetic upper with proprietary waterproof membrane, 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 Mephisto is the one to buy.
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