FootJoy · Golf Balls & Equipment
FootJoy WeatherSof Women's Golf Glove
Golf glove water treatment likely contains PFAS, unverified.
FootJoy WeatherSof gloves use water-resistant treatment common in golf apparel, frequently PFAS-based, with no disclosure available.
The better-graded swap
Bridgestone
Golf Gear Mint-Grade Bridgestone Yellow Mix 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 or polyurethane with water-resistant coating
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.
Azo dyes
If the glove is dyed black or dark colors (standard for golf gloves), synthetic leather may incorporate azo dyes. These are legal in most markets but can release carcinogenic amines under specific conditions; direct skin contact with dyed synthetic leather is not a known vector of harm, though sensitivity is theoretically possible in individuals with dye allergies.
Coating degradation and microplastic shedding
All water-resistant-coated textiles shed microscopic particles over their lifespan, especially after repeated washing and flexing. WeatherSof gloves will gradually release fragments of polyurethane and coating polymers during use; this is not unique to this product but is inherent to the material class and worsens with poor care.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Synthetic leather and polyurethane coatings do not typically require formaldehyde-based resins in their production or finishing. No evidence of formaldehyde use or off-gassing in FootJoy glove manufacturing is on record.
Source, ATSDR ↗Antimony in polyester base fabric (if used)
Antimony trioxide is used as a catalyst in some polyester polyol production for polyurethane, but residual levels in finished gloves are typically below detection or regulatory concern. No specific data on FootJoy glove antimony content is available.
Skin irritation from synthetic material or residual processing chemicals
Polyurethane synthetic leather is generally well-tolerated on skin. No pattern of allergic reactions or irritation specific to FootJoy WeatherSof gloves is documented. Risk is substantially lower than with latex or certain textile dyes.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
FootJoy WeatherSof gloves use synthetic leather (polyurethane or polyester-polyurethane blend) with a water-resistant topcoat, standard for golf gloves claiming durability in wet conditions. The water-resistant finish is almost certainly a PFAS-based Teflon-family coating, applied to repel moisture without heavy material layering. Polyurethane itself is inert once cured, but the finishing treatment is the primary chemical concern. Synthetic leather avoids the heavy metals and chrome tanning issues of genuine leather, but introduces reliance on plastic polymers and their processing chemistries.
The brand's record and disclosure
FootJoy (owned by Acushnet Holdings) has not published specific PFAS content declarations for apparel lines and does not highlight PFAS-free or reduced-PFAS water treatments in marketing or technical specs. The brand does not appear on independent PFAS-transparency initiatives such as the Cradle to Cradle certification program for this product line. No documented recalls or regulatory action specific to FootJoy gloves have been identified. The broader golf industry (Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade) similarly lacks public PFAS disclosure, suggesting an industry-wide silence rather than single-brand negligence.
How it compares in its category
Golf gloves as a category face identical PFAS exposure via water-resistant coatings; WeatherSof is not an outlier in this regard. Non-synthetic alternatives (genuine leather with wax or oil treatments) avoid Teflon-family coating coatings but introduce heavy-metal tanning and sourcing concerns. Uncoated synthetic or cotton-blend gloves are not a material linked to PFAS but sacrifice water resistance, which is the primary functional demand. WeatherSof occupies the mainstream middle, proven durability and performance in exchange for undisclosed chemical inputs.
If you buy it
Wash by hand in cool water after use to remove sweat and salts that degrade the coating faster; avoid hot water, bleach, and machine drying, which accelerate synthetic leather breakdown and potential leaching of coating additives. Replace when the palm shows cracks, peeling, or loss of grip, typically after 1-2 seasons of regular play. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to slow polymer aging. Do not use solvents or harsh cleaners, which can strip the water-resistant layer and expose underlying polyurethane.
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
- 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.