Waterproof Boots, ranked by PFAS grade

Are waterproof boots safe?

None of the 103 waterproof boots we graded come back low-concern on our screen. Our grades are model-based assessments built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, not laboratory tests, so they say what we can evidence rather than that anything is safe.

Best graded waterproof boots here

1Mephisto Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER 65 out of 100
2Vasque Hiking shoes Vasque Women's Horizon Mid 65 out of 100
3Salomon Men's X Ultra 360 Mid Gore-Tex 20 out of 100

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The best non-toxic waterproof boots, ranked by grade

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Buyer’s guide

What to look for in waterproof boots, and which brands grade best and worst

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Why Mephisto Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER grades highest here, and why that is not a pass

Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 1 product it beats, so you can see exactly where the 45 points between the top and the bottom of this waterproof boots ranking come from. Nothing in this category reaches our 70 point pass mark, so this is the shape of the field rather than a recommendation.

Top graded, and still below our pass mark

65Good

Mephisto Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER

Made of leather, textile, rubber sole.

+30Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
+15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
-10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.

35risk points in total, which is a grade of 65

What the grade does not fix. It still carries one risk factor, No PFAS disclosure. See the full breakdown.

Full breakdown

What it still grades above, and why

$Salomon Men's X Ultra 360 Mid Gore-Tex$

20Bad45 points behind the winner

Salomon Men's X Ultra 360 Mid Gore-Tex

What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The top-graded product carries no such factor.

Made of Gore-Tex membrane (Teflon-family coating-based waterproof laminate).

+35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
+30Category baseline
+15No PFAS disclosure

80risk points, a grade of 20

No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.

Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these

Mephisto

Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER

65GoodPFAS grade

leather, textile, rubber sole
We found no PFAS statement from the brand
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) off-gassing from adhesives

Waterproof Boots, ranked by PFAS grade

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Are waterproof boots safe?

Why Mephisto Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER grades highest here, and why that is not a pass

What it still grades above, and why

Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these

Men Mephisto Curt Mt SNEAKER

Hiking shoes Vasque Women's Horizon Mid

Men's X Ultra 360 Mid Gore-Tex

Men's Hedgehog GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes

Men's Offtrail Hike LT Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Boots

Summit Fastpack GORE-TEX Hiking Boot

Women's Offtrail Hike LT Mid Gore-Tex Hiking Boots

Men's Eclipse GTX Hiking Boots

Men's Daystorm Horizon GTX

Caribou Horizon GTX Women's

Men's Terrex Freehiker 3 Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes

Men's Terrex Skychaser AX5 GORE-TEX Mid Hiking Shoes

Mens adidas Terrex Anylander Leather Mid Climaproof Hiking Shoes

Men's Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX

Timp Hiker GTX Men's Hiking Boots Grey Brown

Women's Olympus 6 Hike Low GTX

Men's Greenwood Pro GV Boots

Men's Firecamp Boot

Women's Newton Ridge Plus Waterproof Hiking

Men's Mountain Light

Nebraska II GTX

Women's hiking Trainers Garmont Tower GTX

Men's Banks SF Extra GTX

HOKA ONE Men's ONE KAHA GTX

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