Callaway · Golf Balls & Equipment
Callaway Men's Opti Color Golf Gloves
Water-treated glove; brand silent on PFAS composition.
Leather palm with synthetic back and water-resistant treatment. Callaway doesn't specify their coating chemistry publicly.
The better-graded swap
Nike Golf
Nike Golf Ball
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Leather palm with synthetic back, water-resistant treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Water-resistant finish chemistry is undisclosed; golf glove repellency typically requires fluorochemicals, but brand confirms nothing. Skin contact during use is intermittent and brief, reducing acute exposure risk, but degraded coating over time may shed particles.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastic shedding from synthetic back
Synthetic fabrics shed microfibers with wear and washing, particularly if the material degrades. Washing golf gloves by hand in cool water minimizes shedding; tumble drying or abrasive cleaning accelerates fiber loss.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in synthetic back fabric
No recalls or reports of hazardous dyes in Callaway gloves. Synthetic polyester/nylon backs in apparel-grade textiles are generally produced to EU REACH standards in major factories, but brand does not certify supplier compliance.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Leather tanning and synthetic fabric finishing can use formaldehyde-based resins, but off-gassing from gloves is minimal due to small surface area and intermittent contact. No complaints on record for this product.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Leather tanning historically used chromium, but modern tanneries in major suppliers (where Callaway likely sources) use controlled processes. No cadmium or lead contamination reported for this product category or brand.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Callaway Opti Color gloves combine genuine leather palms (for grip and durability) with synthetic fabric backs (typically polyester or nylon) and a water-resistant finish. The water-resistant treatment is the primary concern, most golf glove water repellents rely on fluorochemical coatings (PFAS-based) to prevent rain from soaking into the palm and degrading grip. Callaway does not publicly specify whether this glove uses PFAS, fluorine-free hydrophobic treatments, or wax-based repellency. Leather itself has no hazard of this kind on record, but the finish chemistry remains opaque.
The brand's record and disclosure
Callaway (owned by Topgolf Callaway Brands) has not published a PFAS policy or environmental chemistry disclosure for apparel or gloves as of available public records. The brand does not appear on lists of companies with formal commitments to PFAS elimination (e.g., ZDHC Gateway certifications for footwear/textile suppliers). No recalls or safety alerts have been issued for Callaway golf gloves related to chemical hazards. This silence is typical for the golf equipment industry, which lags other apparel sectors in transparency.
How it compares in its category
Golf gloves universally require water-resistant treatment; Callaway's hybrid leather-synthetic design is standard. Most competitors (Titleist, FootJoy, TaylorMade) similarly decline to disclose water-treatment chemistry. Premium alternatives (e.g., uncoated cabretta leather gloves) sacrifice water resistance but eliminate chemical-treatment risk. Budget synthetic gloves avoid leather but often have heavier fluorochemical coatings. Callaway Opti Color occupies the mid-market sweet spot for performance but offers no chemical transparency advantage.
If you buy it
Wash hands thoroughly after wearing to minimize skin contact with any treatment residue. Avoid prolonged direct contact with the inside palm surface, especially if skin is broken or irritated. Replace when the water-repellent finish visibly degrades (beading stops) rather than attempting to re-treat it yourself with unknown chemicals. Store in a dry place away from heat sources; leather and synthetic blends are not heat-sensitive at normal room temperatures but can absorb odors and degrade faster in damp conditions.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Callaway has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Golf Balls & Equipment
Vice Golf
Vice Drip Golf Balls
synthetic polymer core with urethane/elastomer cover
PFAS unlikely. Brand silent on composition details.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Bridgestone
Men's Pair Golf Gloves
Leather, synthetic leather, or textile blend
Chromium in leather tanning residue
Limited concern
Azo dyes in colored leather or synthetic components
Limited concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Lower PFAS concern, but brand provides no transparency.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Bridgestone
Lady Golf Glove
Synthetic leather or leather with standard stitching
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from synthetic leather
Limited concern
Golf glove with typical materials, lower concern profile.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
More golf balls & equipment grades
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.