Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER vs Men's X Ultra 360 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

Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER

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

Salomon Men's X Ultra 360 Mid Gore-Tex

Salomon

Men's X Ultra 360 Mid Gore-Tex

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 8/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Gore-Tex membrane (Teflon-family coating-based waterproof laminate)

Confidence

62%

PossibleFormaldehyde in synthetic adhesives/finishes

PossibleRubber and adhesive off-gassing (VOCs)

PossibleMicroplastic shedding from synthetic uppers

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 Formaldehyde in synthetic adhesives/finishes, Rubber and adhesive off-gassing (VOCs) and Microplastic shedding from synthetic uppers on the Salomon and not on the Mephisto.
  • The Mephisto is leather, textile, rubber sole where the Salomon is Gore-Tex membrane (fluoropolymer-based waterproof laminate), 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