Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER vs Men's Fresh Foam X Hierro Hiker GORE-TEX Running Shoes: 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
New Balance
Men's Fresh Foam X Hierro Hiker GORE-TEX Running Shoes
PFAS grade
Bad 20/100
Overall grade
Bad 2/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
Textile upper with GORE-TEX membrane waterproofing
Confidence
45%
ReportedPFAS in waterproof membrane
PossibleAzo dyes in colored upper fabric
PossibleAdhesive off-gassing during break-in
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Volatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing from adhesives on the Mephisto and not on the New Balance.
- We flag PFAS in waterproof membrane, Azo dyes in colored upper fabric and Adhesive off-gassing during break-in on the New Balance and not on the Mephisto.
- The Mephisto is leather, textile, rubber sole where the New Balance is Textile upper with GORE-TEX membrane 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 Mephisto is the one to buy.
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 waterproof boots, see the full ranking