Salomon · Sports Performance Undergarments
Salomon Quest Forces Knee Socks with Moisture-Wicking Merino
Merino wool is lower concern; water-repellent coating treatment details unknown.
Merino wool is inherently PFAS-resistant. Salomon does not disclose whether the moisture-wicking treatment uses fluorinated water-repellent coating chemicals. No lab data available for verification.
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Material
Merino wool 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 product is primarily merino wool, a protein fiber that naturally resists microbial growth and odor without chemical antimicrobials. The moisture-wicking treatment applied to the merino adds a hydrophobic (water-repelling) finish, likely a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating. Salomon has not publicly disclosed the specific chemistry of this treatment. Merino itself carries minimal inherent chemical hazard compared to synthetic fibers, but the applied finish is the relevant unknown.
The brand's record and disclosure
Salomon, owned by Amer Sports, does not publicly disclose detailed chemical inventories or water-repellent coating formulations for its textile products. The brand has not published substantive statements on PFAS avoidance or third-party testing for apparel. No major recall or confirmed toxicity incident is on public record for Salomon socks. The lack of transparency on treatment chemicals is typical for outdoor brands but limits consumer assessment.
How it compares in its category
Merino wool base is a safer choice than synthetic performance socks, which often use polyester blends treated with multiple chemical finishes. Many competitors (Smartwool, Icebreaker) similarly do not disclose water-repellent coating chemistry but market merino as a natural alternative. Untreated or lightly treated merino socks exist but sacrifice moisture-wicking performance; this product trades transparency for function.
If you buy it
Wash in warm water (not hot) to preserve the water-repellent coating and avoid triggering any thermal off-gassing from the treatment. Replace when elastic degrades or fibers felt, typically after 1-2 years of regular use. Do not machine dry on high heat. If you have sensitivity to synthetic finishes or fragrance residue from manufacturing, request a pre-wear rinse or test on a small area first.
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 chemistry
Moisture-wicking treatment is not specified by Salomon. Traditional water-repellent coating coatings have historically used PFAS compounds (scored separately); modern alternatives vary widely. Without disclosure, the specific resin and any fluorine content cannot be assessed.
Formaldehyde-releasing resins in fabric finishes
Merino wool socks are unlikely to undergo formaldehyde-heavy finishing steps typical of cotton blends. No recall or test report for Salomon Quest socks indicates formaldehyde presence, but manufacturing data is not publicly available.
Azo dyes
Salomon does not disclose dye chemistry for this product. Merino wool can be dyed with both azo and non-azo dyes; high-end outdoor brands increasingly use restricted azo classes, but confirmation is unavailable for this SKU.
Antimony in synthetic fibers
This product is primarily wool, not synthetic polyester, so antimony catalyst residue is not a concern. Relevant only if the product contains undisclosed polyester content.
Microplastic shedding
Natural merino wool does not shed microplastics. Synthetic blend socks with nylon or polyester elastics can shed fibers; the merino composition of this sock reduces but does not eliminate this risk depending on elastic material.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 62% 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 Sports Performance Undergarments
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High Performance Max Cushion Tab Socks
Merino wool blend, synthetic fibers
Lower concern socks; no PFAS-prone features identified.
⚠Risky category by default
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.