Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's vs Ridgeway Lined Mitten: which is safer?
Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's is the clear pick. Smartwool Ridgeway Lined Mitten carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Our pick
Patagonia
Better Sweater Gloves Patagonia Women's
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes and heavy metal pigments
PossibleMicroplastic shedding during wash
Smartwool
Ridgeway Lined Mitten
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possiblewater-repellent coating treatment chemistry (unspecified fluorochemicals or alternatives)
PossibleFleece lining microfiber shedding or pilling
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Azo dyes and heavy metal pigments and Microplastic shedding during wash on the Patagonia and not on the Smartwool.
- We flag DWR treatment chemistry (unspecified fluorochemicals or alternatives) and Fleece lining microfiber shedding or pilling on the Smartwool and not on the Patagonia.
- The Patagonia is Polyester fleece (recycled) where the Smartwool is Merino wool with fleece lining; DWR treatment unspecified, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 70 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Patagonia is the one to buy.
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 winter gloves: see the full ranking