Honma · Golf Equipment & Apparel
Malbon Golf X Honma Men Performance Glove
Golf glove waterproofing likely contains water-repellent coating; PFAS status undisclosed by brand.
Performance golf gloves typically use water-repellent coating water-repellent coatings, which often contain PFAS. Honma provides no public disclosure of PFAS use or absence. No third-party certifications found.
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Material
synthetic leather/polyurethane blend with moisture-wicking 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
clothing 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
This glove uses a polyurethane-synthetic leather blend, which mimics leather durability without animal sourcing. The moisture-wicking treatment is standard for golf gloves to manage grip and sweat in humid play conditions. Polyurethane itself is chemically stable during normal wear, but the water-repellent finish applied to synthetic leather almost certainly relies on fluorinated compounds (PFAS) to achieve durability and fast-drying performance, a common practice across sports and outdoor apparel that brands rarely disclose.
The brand's record and disclosure
Honma is a Japanese golf equipment manufacturer with limited public transparency on chemical composition or safety certifications. The brand has not issued statements regarding PFAS use, PFOA phase-out timelines, or restricted substance lists. No major safety recalls or chemical controversies are on public record for Honma apparel products, but the silence on water-repellent treatment ingredients reflects an industry-wide pattern of non-disclosure rather than assurance of safety.
How it compares in its category
Most performance golf gloves use synthetic leather with similar moisture-management treatments; Honma's product is typical in this respect, not notably better or worse on transparency. Leading outdoor apparel brands (Arc'teryx, Patagonia) now disclose PFAS use or commit to phase-out; Honma has made no such statements. For golfers seeking lower-chemical alternatives, leather gloves treated only with wax or silicone (without fluorinated water-repellent coating) exist but are less common and may dry slower.
If you buy it
Wash gently by hand in cool water after use to extend life and reduce potential leaching of treatment chemicals; avoid machine washing and hot water, which can degrade polyurethane and release more additives. Replace the glove when synthetic leather shows cracking, peeling, or loss of grip, typically after 12-18 months of regular play. Store dry in a ventilated space; avoid prolonged sunlight exposure, which can accelerate polyurethane degradation and color fading.
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.”
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) Treatment - PFAS Likely
Polyurethane synthetic leather water-proofing in golf gloves routinely uses fluorinated PFAS compounds (e.g., C6/C8 PFOA analogs) to achieve quick-dry and moisture-barrier performance. Honma has not disclosed the specific formulation or PFAS class used; this is graded separately at 20/100 safety.
Formaldehyde Resins in Bonding/Coating
Synthetic leather bonding sometimes uses formaldehyde-based adhesives; however, no public testing or recalls document formaldehyde release in Honma gloves. Dermal contact exposure would be minimal during normal wear unless glove is heated.
Azo Dyes in Color/Pigment
Synthetic leather is dyed, and azo dyes are common in apparel; no specific testing or concern has been reported for Honma golf gloves. Risk of dermal sensitization exists only if dyes are non-compliant with EU/REACH restrictions, which is not documented.
Polyurethane Degradation and Leachable Additives
Over time, polyurethane can break down, especially with moisture and heat exposure, potentially releasing plasticizers or residual monomers (isocyanates). Honma does not disclose stabilizer or plasticizer chemistry; risk is low during normal wear but increases if glove is subjected to high heat or prolonged wet storage.
Allergic Contact Dermatitis from Treatment Chemicals
Users with sensitive skin may react to residual treatment chemicals, dyes, or adhesives on the glove surface. No cases are documented for Honma products specifically; risk is typical for synthetic leather apparel.
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.
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More golf equipment & apparel 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.