Honma · Golf Balls & Equipment
Malbon Golf X Honma Men Performance Glove
Golf glove waterproofing likely contains water-repellent coating; PFAS undisclosed by brand.
Performance golf glove with synthetic leather or polyurethane and moisture-wicking treatment, typically using water-repellent coating water-repellent coatings. Honma provides no PFAS disclosure.
The better-graded swap
Spalding
Spalding Top Flite Xl High Trajectory Golf Balls Set Of 12 - In Box
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 blend with moisture-wicking 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
Polyurethane synthetic leather water-proofing in golf gloves routinely uses fluorinated PFAS compounds (e.g., C6/C8 PFOA analogs) to achieve quick-dry and moisture-barrier performance. Honma has not disclosed the specific formulation or PFAS class used; this is graded separately at 20/100 safety.
Source, ATSDR ↗Polyurethane Degradation and Leachable Additives
Over time, polyurethane can break down, especially with moisture and heat exposure, potentially releasing plasticizers or residual monomers (isocyanates). Honma does not disclose stabilizer or plasticizer chemistry; risk is low during normal wear but increases if glove is subjected to high heat or prolonged wet storage.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis from Treatment Chemicals
Users with sensitive skin may react to residual treatment chemicals, dyes, or adhesives on the glove surface. No cases are documented for Honma products specifically; risk is typical for synthetic leather apparel.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Synthetic leather bonding sometimes uses formaldehyde-based adhesives; however, no public testing or recalls document formaldehyde release in Honma gloves. Dermal contact exposure would be minimal during normal wear unless glove is heated.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo Dyes in Color/Pigment
Synthetic leather is dyed, and azo dyes are common in apparel; no specific testing or concern has been reported for Honma golf gloves. Risk of dermal sensitization exists only if dyes are non-compliant with EU/REACH restrictions, which is not documented.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This glove uses a polyurethane-synthetic leather blend, which mimics leather durability without animal sourcing. The moisture-wicking treatment is standard for golf gloves to manage grip and sweat in humid play conditions. Polyurethane itself is chemically stable during normal wear, but the water-repellent finish applied to synthetic leather almost certainly relies on fluorinated compounds (PFAS) to achieve durability and fast-drying performance, a common practice across sports and outdoor apparel that brands rarely disclose.
The brand's record and disclosure
Honma is a Japanese golf equipment manufacturer with limited public transparency on chemical composition or safety certifications. The brand has not issued statements regarding PFAS use, PFOA phase-out timelines, or restricted substance lists. No major safety recalls or chemical controversies are on public record for Honma apparel products, but the silence on water-repellent treatment ingredients reflects an industry-wide pattern of non-disclosure rather than assurance of safety.
How it compares in its category
Most performance golf gloves use synthetic leather with similar moisture-management treatments; Honma's product is typical in this respect, not notably better or worse on transparency. Leading outdoor apparel brands (Arc'teryx, Patagonia) now disclose PFAS use or commit to phase-out; Honma has made no such statements. For golfers seeking lower-chemical alternatives, leather gloves treated only with wax or silicone (without fluorinated water-repellent coating) exist but are less common and may dry slower.
If you buy it
Wash gently by hand in cool water after use to extend life and reduce potential leaching of treatment chemicals; avoid machine washing and hot water, which can degrade polyurethane and release more additives. Replace the glove when synthetic leather shows cracking, peeling, or loss of grip, typically after 12-18 months of regular play. Store dry in a ventilated space; avoid prolonged sunlight exposure, which can accelerate polyurethane degradation and color fading.
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
- Honma has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Golf Balls & Equipment
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PFAS unlikely. Brand silent on composition details.
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Bridgestone
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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.