FootJoy · Golf Balls & Equipment
FootJoy Women's RainGrip Golf Gloves
Golf glove water-repellent coating PFAS risk not stated.
RainGrip gloves use water-repellent coating water-repellent coating, a common PFAS application, without any brand disclosure about chemicals used.
The better-graded swap
Top Flite
Top Flite XL Distance Golf Balls
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
synthetic leather/polyurethane with water-repellent coating water-repellent treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Water-repellent coatings on textiles frequently contain PFAS compounds, though some brands now use PFAS-free alternatives. Cleveland Golf has not disclosed whether this glove uses traditional fluorochemicals or lower-concern alternatives; risk is plausible but unconfirmed.
Source, ATSDR ↗Polyurethane degradation and microplastic shedding
Synthetic leather polyurethane can flake, crack, or shed particles over months to years of use, especially in wet conditions or with abrasion. This is a wear-and-tear hazard rather than acute toxicity, but prolonged use of degraded gloves may increase inhalation or skin contact with synthetic debris.
Skin irritation from coating or accelerators in polyurethane
Residual solvents, accelerators, or uncrosslinked polymer chains in the polyurethane backing can occasionally trigger contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. This is a minority concern, and most users report no issues, but hand-washing before first use may help.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyurethane-based synthetic leather can be manufactured with formaldehyde resins or reactive dyes, but no specific recalls or warnings for FootJoy gloves on this basis exist in public records. Standard textile industry controls typically limit these exposures in finished consumer goods.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
No documented issue with FootJoy gloves or synthetic leather golf gloves in general regarding lead, cadmium, or other heavy metals in colorants. Industry standards for apparel limit these, and there is no evidence of violation here.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
FootJoy RainGrip uses polyurethane-based synthetic leather, a petroleum-derived plastic that mimics leather performance without animal hide. The glove includes a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the surface, typically a fluorochemical or silicone-based coating designed to shed water without compromising breathability. Polyurethane itself is stable when intact, but the water-repellent coating treatment is where PFAS-class compounds often hide, though specific chemistry for this glove is not publicly disclosed by Cleveland Golf.
The brand's record and disclosure
Cleveland Golf (parent, Srixon/Dunlop Sports) has not publicly committed to PFAS elimination or transparency in gear materials, nor released material safety data sheets for this specific product. The brand does not appear on major PFAS disclosure initiatives or certifications like Greenguard or bluesign. No established recalls or controversies specific to FootJoy gloves are on record, but silence on chemical composition is itself a yellow flag for products with water-repellent coatings.
How it compares in its category
Golf gloves in this price tier typically use either genuine leather (natural but less durable in wet conditions) or polyurethane synthetics with water-repellent coating finishes. FootJoy's synthetic approach is standard for all-weather performance gloves; competitors like Titleist and Callaway use similar constructions. The lack of transparency from all major brands makes direct safety comparison difficult, this glove is neither better nor worse disclosed than peers, but the category as a whole carries unresolved PFAS questions.
If you buy it
Wash the glove by hand in cool water after use to minimize accumulation of sweat and salt, which can degrade the water-repellent coating and polyurethane backing over time. Avoid heat drying or direct sunlight; air dry flat. Replace when the synthetic leather begins to peel, crack, or feel tacky, signs the polyurethane is breaking down. If concerned about PFAS exposure, contact Cleveland Golf directly requesting material composition data; their silence suggests they have not tested for or eliminated PFAS, so a glove from a brand with explicit PFAS-free claims may offer more confidence.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 55% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- FootJoy 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.