Cobra · Golf Balls & Equipment
Cobra Microgrip Flex Mens Golf Glove
Likely lower concern; water-repellent coating treatment source unclear, no disclosure.
Golf glove with leather and synthetic materials featuring water-resistant finish. Cobra makes no PFAS statements about water-repellent coating source.
The better-graded swap
Honma
Honma Golf D1 Speed MONSTER
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 and synthetic with water-repellent coating 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.
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish, fluorinated chemistry
Cobra has not disclosed whether the water-repellent coating treatment uses legacy PFOA/PFOS-class chemicals, GenX, or newer short-chain alternatives. water-repellent coating on golf-glove synthetic panels typically does not migrate to skin under normal use, but the chemical class and manufacturing residues remain undisclosed.
What’s reassuring
Leather tanning residues
No specific tanning method is disclosed. Chrome tanning (most common) leaves residual chromium(III), which is not acutely toxic in leather at resting state but can leach into sweat under acidic, prolonged contact. Golf-glove contact is brief and intermittent, minimizing this risk. Vegetable tanning eliminates this concern but is rare in performance gloves.
Azo dyes in synthetic or leather coloring
No product testing or recall data exists for azo-dye contamination in this glove. Golf gloves are typically colored with standard industrial dyes; if black or dark synthetic overlays are present, azo-dye use is plausible but unconfirmed. Skin contact is brief and localized.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Golf gloves may receive formaldehyde-containing durable-press or stiffness-retention treatments on synthetic components. No specific disclosure or testing data is available for the Cobra Microgrip. Off-gassing risk is very low given the product's indoor/outdoor mixed use and hand-only contact area.
Source, ATSDR ↗Synthetic shedding and microplastic release
Polyamide or polyester overlays on the palm do not shed microplastics under normal hand-use wear. Abrasion against golf clubs or grip material does not generate visible fiber loss. Risk is negligible compared to synthetic textiles subject to washing and mechanical stress.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Cobra Microgrip Flex combines leather (likely sheepskin or goat leather typical of golf gloves) with synthetic overlays on the palm and fingers for grip and durability. Leather itself carries low inherent chemical toxicity when tanned with chrome or vegetable methods, but the water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the synthetic portions is the material wild card, this finish often relies on fluorinated compounds, though Cobra has not disclosed the specific chemistry. The synthetic materials are typically polyamide or polyester blends, which under normal hand-use conditions do not leach or shed microplastics.
The brand's record and disclosure
Cobra (owned by Puma/Sumitomo) does not publicly disclose chemical composition, tanning method, or water-repellent coating chemistry for its golf gloves. No product-specific recalls or safety controversies are on record for this glove. The brand has not signed major chemical transparency pledges like ZDHC or Cradle to Cradle for apparel. Silence on water-repellent coating sourcing is typical across golf-glove manufacturers but reflects a gap in consumer transparency rather than evidence of hazard.
How it compares in its category
Golf gloves as a category are lower-risk than many textiles because hand-contact time is brief and intermittent, and they are worn outdoors with minimal skin contact duration. The Cobra sits in the mainstream golf-glove market, leather with synthetic reinforcement and water-repellent coating treatment, placing it alongside Titleist, TaylorMade, and Callaway offerings. Alternatives made entirely of leather without water-repellent coating would eliminate the fluorochemical question but lose water resistance; fully synthetic gloves present equivalent water-repellent coating uncertainty. This product's risk profile is typical for the segment.
If you buy it
Wash the glove by hand in cool water with mild soap after use, especially if exposed to moisture or heavy sweat, to avoid buildup of salt and skin oils that degrade the leather. Avoid hot water, machine washing, and direct heat drying, which can crack leather and degrade the water-repellent coating finish. Replace the glove when the palm synthetic shows visible wear or loss of grip; leather typically outlasts synthetic overlays by 1-2 seasons. Store dry and flat to prevent mildew and mold growth.
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
- Cobra 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
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synthetic polymer core with urethane/elastomer cover
PFAS unlikely. Brand silent on composition details.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Bridgestone
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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
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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.