Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs) vs Men's Run Targeted Cushion Mid Crew Socks: which is safer?

Smartwool Men's Run Targeted Cushion Mid Crew Socks is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

PUMA Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs)

Puma

Women's Quarter Crew Socks (6 Pairs)

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 47/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Cotton/polyester blend socks, no waterproofing

Confidence

82%

PossibleAzo dyes

PossibleFormaldehyde resins (finishing agents)

ReportedMicroplastic shedding

Our pick

Smartwool Men's Run Targeted Cushion Mid Crew Socks

Smartwool

Men's Run Targeted Cushion Mid Crew Socks

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 53/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Merino wool blend with synthetic nylon reinforcement

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes and heavy metals in dyes

PossibleNylon degradation and microfiber shedding

PossibleLanolin allergenicity

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Azo dyes, Formaldehyde resins (finishing agents) and Microplastic shedding on the Puma and not on the Smartwool.
  • We flag Azo dyes and heavy metals in dyes, Nylon degradation and microfiber shedding and Lanolin allergenicity on the Smartwool and not on the Puma.
  • The Puma is Cotton/polyester blend socks, no waterproofing where the Smartwool is Merino wool blend with synthetic nylon reinforcement, 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, 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 sports performance undergarments, see the full ranking