Active Quarter Socks 6 Pack vs Men's Cushioned Low Cut Moisture Wicking Socks: which is safer?

These two grade almost identically. Pick on price and preference; neither has a PFAS edge.

New Balance

Active Quarter Socks 6 Pack

PFAS grade

D 65/100

Overall grade

F 53/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Cotton blend athletic socks, no coating mentioned

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes (synthetic colorants)

PossibleFormaldehyde resins (finishing agents)

PossibleElastic degradation and microfiber shedding

Why this grade

New Balance

Men's Cushioned Low Cut Moisture Wicking Socks

PFAS grade

D 65/100

Overall grade

F 53/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Cotton blend with synthetic moisture-wicking fibers, no stated water-resistant treatment

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes in synthetic fibers

PossibleFormaldehyde resins in fabric finishing

PossibleMicroplastic shedding during wear or wash

Why this grade

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More sports performance undergarments: see the full ranking