TX-Direct Spray-On vs Suede & Nubuck Protector: which is safer?
Scotchgard Suede & Nubuck Protector is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Nikwax
TX-Direct Spray-On
PFAS grade
Poor 40/100
Overall grade
analysis pending
Verdict
pending
Hazard flags
none flagged
Material
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish on textiles
Confidence
45%
Our pick
Scotchgard
Suede & Nubuck Protector
PFAS grade
Poor 45/100
Overall grade
analysis pending
Verdict
pending
Hazard flags
none flagged
Material
Proprietary liquid spray coating (composition unspecified)
Confidence
35%
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 Nikwax is Durable water repellent (DWR) finish on textiles where the Scotchgard is Proprietary liquid spray coating (composition unspecified), which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are 5 points apart, 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 shoe waterproofing sprays: see the full ranking