Merrell · Running & Athletic Shoes
Men's Merrell Agility Trail
Skip until Merrell discloses waterproof treatment chemistry.
Merrell does not publicly disclose PFAS use or avoidance in this trail shoe. The water-repellent finish on synthetic uppers likely contains water-repellent coating, commonly PFAS-based, but brand silence prevents verification.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Mesh, synthetic leather, polyester with water-repellent treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Men's Merrell Agility Trail is made of, ingredients and materials
The Agility Trail combines mesh (breathable, typically nylon or polyester), synthetic leather overlays, and polyester webbing with an applied water-repellent treatment. The mesh and polyester are baseline synthetic materials with low inherent toxicity at rest. The water-repellent finish is the material-chemistry wildcard, Merrell has not publicly disclosed whether this uses PFAS-based hydrophobic compounds or newer non-PFAS alternatives like polyurethane or wax-based systems. This opacity is the primary concern.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
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.
Azo dyes in colored mesh and synthetic leather
Synthetic uppers and mesh are routinely dyed. No brand-specific testing or recalls are public. EU and US footwear regulations restrict certain azo dyes, but enforcement and testing vary. Risk of dye transfer to skin is low but possible, especially if shoe gets wet and material is rubbed repeatedly on skin.
Antimony in polyester components
Polyester webbing and mesh can contain antimony trioxide as a catalyst residue. Levels in finished products are typically trace and not migrating, but antimony is a known concern in synthetic textiles. No specific data for Merrell Agility Trail; applies to polyester content as a class hazard.
Microplastic shedding from mesh and polyester during wear and washing
Synthetic mesh and polyester textiles are documented sources of microplastic fiber release during mechanical abrasion and laundering. This is a known environmental and indirect health concern; direct toxicity to the wearer is not clearly established but repeated inhalation of fibers is not recommended. Washing in a mesh bag and air-drying reduces shedding.
PFAS
If Merrell uses non-PFAS hydrophobic agents (e.g., polyurethane, silicone, wax-based), these typically have lower hazard profiles but can off-gas volatile organics during curing or heating. Without disclosure, hazard cannot be ruled out or confirmed. Assumption is that newer treatments carry lower acute risk than legacy PFAS products, but this is not guaranteed.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No specific recalls or test results on record for Merrell Agility Trail. Standard synthetic leather and mesh are not inherently high-formaldehyde products, and major footwear brands are typically under pressure to minimize such residues. New shoes may have some off-odor but acute hazard is not established for this model.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Merrell is owned by Wolverine World Wide, a company under scrutiny for PFAS contamination at manufacturing sites but has not committed to brand-level PFAS phase-out or ingredient transparency. Merrell's website does not disclose water-repellent treatment chemistry for any footwear line, nor has the brand published certifications for PFAS-free or restricted-use formulations. No major recalls related to hazardous textile dyes or formaldehyde finishes are on record for this model, suggesting standard industry compliance.
How it compares in its category
Men's trail shoes in this price and performance tier typically use similar polyester-mesh-synthetic-leather construction with water treatments. Competitors like Salomon and La Sportiva also rarely disclose PFAS status, making this product typical rather than outlier. Brands with published PFAS commitments (e.g., Patagonia, some premium outdoor lines) remain minority in mass-market trail footwear. The Agility Trail's lack of disclosure reflects broad industry practice, not unique negligence.
If you buy it
Wash before first wear to rinse loose dyes and finish residues. Store in cool, dry conditions to avoid accelerated breakdown of water-repellent coating, which typically degrades in 12-24 months of regular use. Do not machine-wash or expose to heat above 40°C, as this can strip or off-gas the treatment. Replace the shoes or retreat when water beading diminishes; disposal should follow local textile recycling guidelines to minimize microplastic shedding.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Merrell has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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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.