Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER vs Women's Fresh Foam X Hierro Mid Gore-Tex: 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
Women's Fresh Foam X Hierro Mid Gore-Tex
PFAS grade
Bad 20/100
Overall grade
Bad 0/100
Verdict
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Hazard flags
⚑ 5
Material
Gore-Tex membrane with textile upper
Confidence
45%
LikelyTeflon-type coating/PFAS in Gore-Tex membrane
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in textile bonding
PossibleAzo dyes in synthetic textiles
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 PTFE/PFAS in Gore-Tex membrane, Formaldehyde resins in textile bonding, Azo dyes in synthetic textiles and Antimony in polyester on the New Balance and not on the Mephisto.
- The Mephisto is leather, textile, rubber sole where the New Balance is Gore-Tex membrane with textile upper, 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 →
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