PFAS score
Keen · Performance Socks
Women's Hiker Micro Crew Midweight with Cushion
Moderate PFAS risk due to water-repellent coating treatment; Keen does not disclose details.
This hiking sock uses a merino-blend fabric with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish. Keen does not publicly disclose whether their water-repellent coating treatment contains PFAS or PFAS-free alternatives.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
merino wool blend, water-repellent coating-treated upper
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.
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 Performance Socks
Smartwool
4-Pack Everyday Athletic Crew Socks
merino wool blend (primary fiber)
Lower PFAS concern for basic merino socks, but Smartwool does not publicly disclose water-repellent coating chemistry.
⚠Risky category by default
Smartwool
Men's Hike Medium Crew Socks
Merino wool blend (primary), elastic, synthetic dyes
Lower PFAS concern for basic wool socks, but no transparency from Smartwool.
⚠Risky category by default
Darn Tough
Men's Run No Show Tab Ultra Lightweight
Merino wool blend
Lower concern; natural fiber socks unlikely to contain PFAS, but brand makes no transparency claim.
⚠Risky category by default
More performance socks 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.