Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER vs Women's VECTIV Fastpack Insulated 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
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
The North Face
Women's VECTIV Fastpack Insulated Waterproof Hiking Boots
PFAS grade
Bad 20/100
Overall grade
Bad 0/100
Verdict
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Hazard flags
⚑ 4
Material
Synthetic uppers with waterproof membrane and water-repellent coating-treated fabric
Confidence
35%
LikelyPFAS in water-repellent coating
PossibleAzo dyes in synthetic uppers
PossibleHeavy metals in dyes or pigments
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Volatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing from adhesives on the Mephisto and not on the The North Face.
- We flag PFAS in DWR coating, Azo dyes in synthetic uppers, Heavy metals in dyes or pigments and Formaldehyde in waterproof finish on the The North Face and not on the Mephisto.
- The Mephisto is leather, textile, rubber sole where the The North Face is Synthetic uppers with waterproof membrane and DWR-treated fabric, 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