Callaway · Golf Balls & Golf Equipment
Callaway Men's Opti Color Golf Gloves
Golf glove water treatment type unclear; brand discloses nothing on PFAS.
Callaway Opti Color gloves use water-resistant treatment on leather, standard for golf gloves. No PFAS disclosure from brand; treatment chemistry unspecified publicly.
The safe swap
Mizuno
Mizuno Comp Glove
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned its B.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Leather palm with synthetic back, water-resistant treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Callaway Opti Color gloves combine genuine leather palms (for grip and durability) with synthetic fabric backs (typically polyester or nylon) and a water-resistant finish. The water-resistant treatment is the primary concern: most golf glove water repellents rely on fluorochemical coatings (PFAS-based) to prevent rain from soaking into the palm and degrading grip. Callaway does not publicly specify whether this glove uses PFAS, fluorine-free hydrophobic treatments, or wax-based repellency. Leather itself is generally safe, but the finish chemistry remains opaque.
The brand's record and disclosure
Callaway (owned by Topgolf Callaway Brands) has not published a PFAS policy or environmental chemistry disclosure for apparel or gloves as of available public records. The brand does not appear on lists of companies with formal commitments to PFAS elimination (e.g., ZDHC Gateway certifications for footwear/textile suppliers). No recalls or safety alerts have been issued for Callaway golf gloves related to chemical hazards. This silence is typical for the golf equipment industry, which lags other apparel sectors in transparency.
How it compares in its category
Golf gloves universally require water-resistant treatment; Callaway's hybrid leather-synthetic design is standard. Most competitors (Titleist, FootJoy, TaylorMade) similarly decline to disclose water-treatment chemistry. Premium alternatives (e.g., uncoated cabretta leather gloves) sacrifice water resistance but eliminate chemical-treatment risk. Budget synthetic gloves avoid leather but often have heavier fluorochemical coatings. Callaway Opti Color occupies the mid-market sweet spot for performance but offers no chemical transparency advantage.
If you buy it
Wash hands thoroughly after wearing to minimize skin contact with any treatment residue. Avoid prolonged direct contact with the inside palm surface, especially if skin is broken or irritated. Replace when the water-repellent finish visibly degrades (beading stops) rather than attempting to re-treat it yourself with unknown chemicals. Store in a dry place away from heat sources; leather and synthetic blends are not heat-sensitive at normal room temperatures but can absorb odors and degrade faster in damp conditions.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
PFAS in water-resistant coating
Water-resistant finish chemistry is undisclosed; golf glove repellency typically requires fluorochemicals, but brand confirms nothing. Skin contact during use is intermittent and brief, reducing acute exposure risk, but degraded coating over time may shed particles.
Azo dyes in synthetic back fabric
No recalls or reports of hazardous dyes in Callaway gloves. Synthetic polyester/nylon backs in apparel-grade textiles are generally produced to EU REACH standards in major factories, but brand does not certify supplier compliance.
Formaldehyde in leather finish or synthetic fabric
Leather tanning and synthetic fabric finishing can use formaldehyde-based resins, but off-gassing from gloves is minimal due to small surface area and intermittent contact. No complaints on record for this product.
Microplastic shedding from synthetic back
Synthetic fabrics shed microfibers with wear and washing, particularly if the material degrades. Washing golf gloves by hand in cool water minimizes shedding; tumble drying or abrasive cleaning accelerates fiber loss.
Heavy metals in leather tanning or dyes
Leather tanning historically used chromium, but modern tanneries in major suppliers (where Callaway likely sources) use controlled processes. No cadmium or lead contamination reported for this product category or brand.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Golf Balls & Golf Equipment
Mizuno
Comp Glove
Leather/synthetic leather athletic glove
No known PFAS risk, but Mizuno discloses nothing about treatments.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Mizuno
Cabretta Leather Golf Glove
Cabretta leather, likely with standard leather tanning and finishing
Lower concern. Leather glove lacks water treatment trigger.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Callaway
Men's Chev Soft Golf Glove
leather and synthetic materials
Golf glove with lower PFAS concern; no known high-risk coatings.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
More golf balls & golf 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.