Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER vs Men's Crosstrak Powder Waterproof: 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
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 1
Material
leather, textile, rubber sole
Confidence
55%
PossibleVolatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing from adhesives
Salomon
Men's Crosstrak Powder Waterproof
PFAS grade
Bad 20/100
Overall grade
Bad 0/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 4
Material
Polyester with waterproof water-repellent coating (unspecified chemistry)
Confidence
35%
Likelywater-repellent coating degradation and re-exposure
PossiblePolyester fiber microplastic shedding
PossibleAdhesive and solvent off-gassing from glued seams
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Volatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing from adhesives on the Mephisto and not on the Salomon.
- We flag DWR coating degradation and re-exposure, Polyester fiber microplastic shedding, Adhesive and solvent off-gassing from glued seams and Undisclosed PFAS in DWR finish (pending separate grade) on the Salomon and not on the Mephisto.
- The Mephisto is leather, textile, rubber sole where the Salomon is Polyester with waterproof DWR coating (unspecified chemistry), 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