Premium Wool Trail Low Cut Sock vs Men's Mountaineer Classic Edition Maximum Cushion Crew Socks: which is safer?
These two grade almost identically. Pick on price and preference; neither has a PFAS edge.
Merrell
Premium Wool Trail Low Cut Sock
PFAS grade
Good 65/100
Overall grade
analysis pending
Verdict
pending
Hazard flags
none flagged
Material
Merino wool blend, no known water-repellent coating treatment disclosed
Confidence
72%
Smartwool
Men's Mountaineer Classic Edition Maximum Cushion Crew Socks
PFAS grade
Good 65/100
Overall grade
analysis pending
Verdict
pending
Hazard flags
none flagged
Material
Merino wool blend (primary natural fiber)
Confidence
72%
Where these two actually differ
- Neither product has a hazard flagged against it, which is uncommon and is why both grade as well as they do.
- The Merrell is Merino wool blend, no known DWR treatment disclosed where the Smartwool is Merino wool blend (primary natural fiber), which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
Both products run through the same public rubric: 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 hiking socks: see the full ranking