Callaway · Golf Balls & Golf Equipment
Callaway Men's Thermal Grip Golf Gloves
Unknown thermal grip coating raises concern; Callaway silent on PFAS.
Golf gloves with thermal grip coating and water resistance. Brand discloses no PFAS information; coating composition unclear, posing moderate concern.
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, synthetic backing with thermal grip 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
These gloves combine genuine leather on the palm (naturally durable, low chemical leaching risk) with synthetic backing and an applied thermal grip treatment. The thermal grip coating is the chemistry wildcard: Callaway does not publicly disclose whether this treatment contains PFAS, Teflon-family coating, or other performance chemicals. Leather itself is tanned and finished with dyes and resins; reputable golf glove manufacturers typically use chrome or vegetable tanning, but chromium VI contamination is possible if process controls are weak. The synthetic backing is likely polyester or nylon with standard dyeing and finishing.
The brand's record and disclosure
Callaway, a major golf equipment manufacturer, has no published policy on PFAS restriction or chemical transparency for apparel/accessories. The company does not appear to disclose thermal treatment chemistry or third-party testing for golf gloves. No recalls for chemical contamination of Callaway gloves are on record. This silence around functional coatings is common in the golf equipment industry but represents a gap in consumer-facing safety communication.
How it compares in its category
Golf gloves typically use leather palms with synthetic or leather-blend backing; thermal grip treatments are industry-standard for winter gloves but rarely characterized publicly for PFAS or other fluorochemicals. Premium alternatives (e.g., leather-only, uncoated gloves) eliminate the coating uncertainty but sacrifice grip in wet or cold conditions. Budget alternatives from unknown manufacturers carry similar transparency gaps. Callaway's brand reputation and leather sourcing are generally solid; the real differentiator is the lack of thermal treatment disclosure.
If you buy it
Wash gloves in cool water with mild soap; avoid prolonged heat exposure or machine drying, which may accelerate coating breakdown and potential leaching. Inspect the palm and grip coating regularly for peeling, cracking, or deterioration; replace if coating flakes off or grip becomes unreliable. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve the synthetic backing and thermal layer. If you have concerns about PFAS exposure, contact Callaway directly requesting a certificate of analysis or confirmation that the thermal grip does not contain PFAS-based Teflon-family coating.
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.”
Thermal grip coating composition (undisclosed)
The thermal grip treatment is not publicly characterized by Callaway. Water-resistant grip coatings on textiles sometimes use PFAS or other fluorochemicals; without disclosure, residual unbound chemicals could transfer to skin during use.
Chromium in leather tanning
No recalls or reports of chromium VI in Callaway gloves exist. Modern leather tanning for golf gloves typically meets regulatory standards, but poor process control in undisclosed tanneries can yield chromium VI. Callaway does not publish tannery audits.
Synthetic backing and dye residues
Polyester or nylon backing is colored and finished with dyes and resins; azo dyes or heavy metal mordants are regulated in most markets, but non-reported residues on skin contact are theoretically possible, especially if gloves are not rinsed before first use.
Coating degradation and microparticle shedding
As the thermal grip coating wears or is damaged, small flakes may shed onto hands or into the environment. If the coating contains Teflon-family coating or resin binders, shed particles could be ingested or inhaled during handling.
Formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasers in finishing resins
Leather and synthetic finishes may contain formaldehyde-based resins for water resistance or durability. No reports specific to Callaway gloves, but this is a minor concern in the leather apparel category if gloves are not air-dried before first use.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 55% 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.