Midweight Running Crew Women Socks vs 4-Pack Everyday Athletic Crew Socks: which is safer?
Smartwool 4-Pack Everyday Athletic Crew Socks is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Nike
Midweight Running Crew Women Socks
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes and colorant residues
PossibleFormaldehyde-based dye fixatives and finishing resins
ReportedMicroplastic shedding during use and wash
Our pick
Smartwool
4-Pack Everyday Athletic Crew Socks
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes (aniline-derived synthetic colorants)
PossibleElastane (spandex) degradation and skin contact
PossibleDurable-water-repellent (water-repellent coating) coating composition
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Azo dyes and colorant residues, Formaldehyde-based dye fixatives and finishing resins, Microplastic shedding during use and wash and Elastane degradation and skin sensitivity on the Nike and not on the Smartwool.
- We flag Azo dyes (aniline-derived synthetic colorants), Elastane (spandex) degradation and skin contact and Durable-water-repellent (DWR) coating composition on the Smartwool and not on the Nike.
- The Nike is polyester/nylon blend with elastane where the Smartwool is merino wool blend (primary 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 performance socks: see the full ranking