Men's Hike Classic Edition Full Cushion Crew Socks 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.
Smartwool
Men's Hike Classic Edition Full Cushion Crew Socks
PFAS grade
Good 65/100
Overall grade
analysis pending
Verdict
pending
Hazard flags
none flagged
Material
Merino wool blend (primary fiber); no reported water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) or stain treatment disclosed
Confidence
78%
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 Smartwool is Merino wool blend (primary fiber); no reported durable water repellent (DWR) or stain 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