Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER vs Men's X Ultra Snowpilot Waterproof Hiking Boots: 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 Snowpilot Waterproof Hiking Boots

Salomon

Men's X Ultra Snowpilot Waterproof Hiking Boots

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Synthetic upper with water-repellent coating-treated waterproof membrane/lining

Confidence

42%

LikelyPFAS in water-repellent coating

PossibleAzo dyes in synthetic textiles

PossiblePolyurethane lining off-gassing

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 PFAS in DWR coating, Azo dyes in synthetic textiles and Polyurethane lining off-gassing on the Salomon and not on the Mephisto.
  • The Mephisto is leather, textile, rubber sole where the Salomon is Synthetic upper with DWR-treated waterproof membrane/lining, 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