Hiking Shoes & Trail Runners, ranked by PFAS safety
26 products graded A to F, safest first. None have earned a C or better yet, so we show the full ranking and the least-concerning options first.
Graded and flagged D and F, we’d swap these
Timberland
Men's Killington Trekker Sneaker Boots
Leather, nubuck, rubber sole with waterproof treatment
Waterproofed leather boot; PFAS risk unclear without brand disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Women's White Ledge Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot
leather upper with waterproof treatment, rubber sole
Waterproof hiking boot; PFAS use in treatment unconfirmed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Timberland
Men's Killington Trekker Mid Sneaker
Leather/textile upper with water-repellent coating-treated finish
Unknown waterproofing chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Garmont
Men's Dragontail MNT GTX
Gore-Tex membrane with nylon upper
Gore-Tex likely contains legacy PFAS; Garmont silent on PFAS use.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Garmont
Men's T8 Bifida Boots
Leather, synthetic, waterproof water-repellent coating treatment
Waterproof boots likely water-repellent coating treated; PFAS risk unclear without brand disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Garmont
Women's Dragontail G-Dry Hiking Shoes
Textile upper with G-Dry waterproof membrane
Hiking shoes with waterproof treatment, PFAS status unclear from brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Garmont
Men's Pinnacle Trek Gore-Tex Hiking Boots
Gore-Tex membrane, leather, synthetic uppers
Gore-Tex traditionally uses Teflon-type coating; Garmont does not disclose PFAS status.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Garmont
Men Hiking shoes Garmont 9.81 Onyx GTX
textile upper with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane
Gore-Tex likely contains PFAS; Garmont does not disclose treatment.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Garmont
Men's Groove G-Dry Hiking Shoes
Textile upper with G-Dry waterproof treatment
Waterproof hiking shoe; PFAS risk unclear without treatment disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Garmont
Dragontail MNT Evo GTX Approach Shoes
Textile upper with Gore-Tex waterproof membrane
Gore-Tex likely contains PFAS; brand silent on composition.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Merrell
Kid Merrell Moab Speed 2 Low Waterproof
Textile upper with waterproof coating/membrane
Waterproof kids shoe; Merrell silent on PFAS in water-repellent coating treatment.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Merrell
Women's Moab 3
Mesh textile upper, rubber sole, likely water-repellent coating-treated
Popular hiking shoe; no PFAS disclosure from Merrell
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Merrell
Men's Moab 3 Waterproof
Nubuck leather upper, proprietary waterproof lining
Waterproof hiking shoe; PFAS coating unspecified.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Merrell
Men's Moab 3
Nubuck leather upper, polyurethane midsole, waterproof membrane
Hiking shoe with waterproof treatment; PFAS status unclear from brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Merrell
Men's Speed Strike 2 Mid Waterproof
textile upper with waterproof coating
Waterproof hiking boot, PFAS status undisclosed by Merrell.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Merrell
Men's Agility Peak 6 GTX
textile upper with GORE-TEX waterproof membrane
GORE-TEX likely contains PFAS; Merrell discloses nothing about it.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Merrell
Men's Moab Adventure 3 Waterproof
Synthetic leather/nubuck upper with water-repellent coating waterproof coating
Unknown waterproof coating; Merrell does not disclose PFAS status.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Merrell
Women's Siren Edge 3 Waterproof
Textile upper with water-repellent coating waterproof treatment
Waterproof hiking shoe; PFAS use in water-repellent coating finish not disclosed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Women's Pegasus Trail 5 GORE-TEX
Textile with GORE-TEX waterproof membrane and water-repellent coating finish
GORE-TEX traditionally used PFAS; Nike lacks public disclosure on this model
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Men's Pegasus Trail 5 GORE-TEX
Textile with GORE-TEX waterproof membrane
GORE-TEX likely contains PFAS; Nike silent on alternatives.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Men's SFB Air Field Ukiah R GTX
Textile upper with GTX waterproof membrane
Unknown PFAS risk. GTX waterproofing commonly uses fluorochemicals.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Walking Shoes Nike Women's Motiva Gore-Tex
Gore-Tex waterproof membrane with textile upper
Gore-Tex typically contains PFAS; Nike discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Air Max SNDR Nike Women's
synthetic textile upper, foam/rubber sole with water-repellent coating finish
Skip until Nike discloses water-repellent coating treatment chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
ACG Pegasus Trail Running Shoes
Mesh, synthetic leather, foam midsole with water-repellent coating
Trail shoes likely treated with water-repellent coating, Nike silent on PFAS
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Men's SFB 6" Leather Boot
Leather upper with waterproof/water-resistant treatment
Military boot likely treated for water resistance; Nike silent on PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Terrex Ax4 Mid Gore Tex Hiking Shoes - US9
Gore-Tex waterproof membrane with synthetic uppers and rubber sole
Gore-Tex likely contains PFAS; Nike discloses nothing publicly.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
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