Salomon · Sports Performance Undergarments
Salomon Pulse Race Flag Crew Socks
Lower concern. Standard athletic socks lack typical PFAS-trigger features.
Racing socks are synthetic blends without water-resistant or stain treatments typical of PFAS-risk items. Salomon discloses nothing about PFAS, but the product category poses minimal risk.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Polyester, nylon, elastane blend
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
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
Salomon Pulse Race Flag Crew Socks are a polyester-nylon-elastane blend typical of performance athletic socks. Polyester is a synthetic polymer that does not leach chemicals into skin under normal wear conditions. Elastane (spandex) provides stretch; in socks, elastane content is usually 5-20% and poses minimal direct contact risk since it sits on the inner surface or blended throughout, not in direct mouth contact like some children's apparel.
The brand's record and disclosure
Salomon, owned by Amer Sports, does not publicly disclose detailed chemical composition or testing data for their socks on their website. The brand has no published recalls specific to this sock line for chemical contamination. Salomon does not hold Bluesign certification or OEKO-TEX Standard 100 for this product line, which would provide third-party assurance of restricted substances.
How it compares in its category
Polyester-elastane blends dominate mid-market athletic socks and are chemically comparable across brands. Unlike some specialty socks (merino wool blends, bamboo viscose), this product avoids cellulosic fiber processing chemicals. Socks as a category carry lower chemical exposure risk than bras, underwear, or activewear with heavy dyes because they are non-breathable by design and worn on feet, distant from mouth and mucous membranes.
If you buy it
Wash in warm water before first wear to remove any residual dyes or finishes. Avoid high-heat drying, which can degrade elastane; use low heat or air dry. Replace after 6-12 months of regular use or when elastane visibly loses stretch, as degraded elastic fibers may shed microfibers more readily. Standard household laundering poses no known hazard; no special precautions needed.
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.”
Azo dyes
No recalls or public safety alerts exist for Salomon socks citing azo dye contamination. Polyester socks can be dyed with azo or non-azo colorants; without material transparency, azo presence cannot be ruled in or out, but typical athletic brands use regulated dye lots.
Formaldehyde resins
Polyester-elastane blends sometimes receive formaldehyde-based finishing treatments for wrinkle resistance or dye fixation. Salomon does not disclose finishing processes. Residual formaldehyde is minimal in finished socks worn on feet and typically off-gasses during first wash, but is a standard textile processing concern.
Antimony in polyester
Polyester fiber production may involve antimony catalysts; antimony levels in finished garments are typically low and do not migrate to skin. No specific safety alert exists for Salomon socks. Antimony is not a primary hazard in socks due to low surface area and fabric architecture.
Microplastic shedding
All synthetic fiber garments shed microplastics during washing. A polyester-elastane sock will contribute microfiber to wastewater over its lifecycle. This is an environmental hazard rather than direct toxicity to the wearer, but relevant to overall product impact.
Elastane degradation
Elastane loses elasticity and integrity with heat, sweat, and UV exposure. Degraded elastane may shed fibers more readily when worn or laundered. Replace when visible bagging or loss of compression occurs to minimize microfiber release and maintain foot support.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% 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.
More sports performance undergarments 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.