Asolo · Running & Athletic Shoes
Women Asolo Field GV
Unknown waterproof finish on leather; PFAS status unclear, skip if possible.
Asolo does not disclose waterproofing chemistry for this hiking boot. Leather uppers often receive water-repellent coating treatments that may contain PFAS, but no confirmation available for this model.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
leather upper, unspecified waterproof treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Women Asolo Field GV is made of, ingredients and materials
The Women Asolo Field GV uses a leather upper, a natural material with lower inherent toxicity risk compared to synthetic polymers. Leather tanning itself can involve chromium or vegetable methods, but Asolo does not publicly specify which process is used for this model. The unspecified waterproof treatment is the material concern here, leather is often treated with water repellents that may include fluorinated compounds (PFAS), silicones, or wax-based finishes. Without transparency on which method Asolo applied, the chemical profile of the finished upper cannot be fully assessed.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Unspecified waterproof treatment on leather upper; common in hiking boots but Asolo does not confirm chemistry. PFAS grade of 20/100 reflects this uncertainty. Contact with skin during wear may pose low acute risk, but bioaccumulation over repeated use of multiple treated garments is a chronic concern.
Source, ATSDR ↗Adhesive off-gassing (volatile organics)
Leather boots rely on adhesives to bond uppers to soles and internal linings. New footwear commonly off-gasses volatile compounds for the first few days to weeks. This is typically low-level but can cause mild respiratory irritation or odor; ventilation mitigates this.
Degradation of waterproof coating over time
Leather waterproofing treatments degrade with wear, UV exposure, and cleaning, particularly in high-flex zones around the ankle and toe. Once coating fails, water penetration accelerates leather breakdown and may increase off-gassing of residual treatment chemicals.
What’s reassuring
Hexavalent chromium in leather tanning
No public information indicates whether Asolo uses chromium or vegetable tanning for this model. Chromium III (used in most commercial tanning) is lower concern than hexavalent chromium (Cr VI), which is restricted in EU footwear but not universally prohibited. Absence of tanning method disclosure prevents full hazard characterization.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Asolo does not disclose lining composition (likely synthetic fabric or cotton blend). Formaldehyde-based resins are used in some textile finishing, but no specific record of this hazard in Asolo products exists. Low concern if linings are untreated natural fiber.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Asolo does not maintain publicly available disclosure on waterproofing chemistry, tanning methods, or compliance with PFAS restrictions for this product line. The brand has not published a stance on PFAS phase-out or material testing certifications (such as Leather Working Group environmental standards) that would clarify tanning and finishing practices. No recalls or documented chemical safety controversies are on record for Asolo footwear, but the absence of disclosure is itself a limitation for informed choice.
How it compares in its category
Women's leather hiking boots typically fall into a hazard-conscious category because foot-proximal textiles and adhesives can off-gas or leach chemicals. The Asolo Field GV is positioned as a premium option, which historically correlates with stricter material sourcing, but this product's lack of visible certification undermines confidence. Competitors in the hiking boot category increasingly provide tanning and waterproofing documentation; Asolo's silence here is a relative gap, though not uncommon in the outdoor footwear market.
If you buy it
Ventilate the shoe indoors for 24-48 hours after purchase to allow any volatile compounds from finishing treatments to off-gas. Clean and dry the leather regularly; avoid machine washing or direct heat sources (radiators, ovens), which can accelerate adhesive breakdown or finish degradation. If waterproofing visibly wears (water no longer beads on the surface), spot-clean with a soft brush; do not reapply unknown treatments. Replace when the sole wears significantly or the upper shows permanent water staining, as degraded waterproofing may indicate chemical finish failure.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Asolo has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.