TaylorMade · Golf Balls & Golf Equipment
TaylorMade Men's Stratus Tech Golf Glove
Golf glove with water treatment; TaylorMade provides no PFAS disclosure.
TaylorMade's Stratus Tech glove uses synthetic materials with moisture-wicking treatment, likely water-repellent coating-coated. Brand offers no transparency on PFAS use or absence. Contact manufacturer for specific coating details.
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Material
Synthetic leather/microfiber 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
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
The Stratus Tech glove uses synthetic microfiber leather, a polyurethane-based engineered material that mimics leather feel without animal products. Microfiber itself is chemically inert once manufactured. However, the moisture-wicking treatment applied to the glove, almost certainly a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating, is where chemical exposure risk concentrates. TaylorMade does not publicly disclose whether this coating contains PFAS (fluorinated compounds), which are common in golf glove water treatments but carry bioaccumulation concerns. The microfiber base may also contain minor amounts of plasticizers or dispersants from manufacturing.
The brand's record and disclosure
TaylorMade, a major golf equipment manufacturer owned by KPS Capital Partners, has made no public commitment to PFAS transparency or phase-out in apparel or glove lines. The company does not publish material safety data, restricted substance lists, or third-party certifications (such as bluesign or OEKO-TEX) for most golf gloves. This silence is typical in golf equipment but notable given consumer-facing safety standards in other apparel sectors. No product recalls or toxicity incidents specific to Stratus Tech gloves are on record.
How it compares in its category
Golf gloves occupy a niche where PFAS disclosure is sparse across the market; most premium brands (Callaway, Ping, FootJoy) do not publish treatment composition. Synthetic microfiber gloves are safer than leather gloves treated with heavier metal tannins, but the water-repellent finish remains a hidden variable. Gloves certified by environmental standards (e.g., made with eco-water-repellent coating) are rare but available from smaller brands; mainstream options like Stratus Tech rely on industry-standard fluorinated treatments with minimal accountability.
If you buy it
Wash the glove by hand in cool water before first wear to rinse any loose finish or manufacturing residues. Avoid prolonged skin contact if you have sensitive hands; the moisture-wicking treatment can irritate with sweat accumulation over hours of play. Replace after 12-18 months of regular use, as the water-repellent coating degrades with washing and sun exposure, reducing water resistance and potentially releasing coating particles. Store in a dry place away from direct heat, which can accelerate breakdown of the polyurethane base and any fluorinated topcoat.
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.”
PFAS in water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating treatment)
Moisture-wicking golf gloves typically rely on fluorinated water-repellent coating finishes for durability. TaylorMade's silence on treatment chemistry combined with industry practice suggests PFAS presence; these compounds accumulate in skin and blood with repeated contact over years of play.
Polyurethane microfiber degradation and microplastic shedding
Synthetic microfiber gloves shed microscopic fibers during washing and wear, especially as the water-repellent coating breaks down. Hand-worn items like gloves shed directly onto skin; long-term exposure data is limited, but microfiber shedding is documented in synthetic textiles.
Plasticizers or processing aids in synthetic leather base
Modern polyurethane microfiber used by major brands typically avoids phthalate plasticizers, but TaylorMade does not confirm formulation. Minor exposure to phthalates or other softening agents is possible but not reported for this product line.
Irritant potential from moisture-wicking chemical residues
water-repellent coating coatings and moisture-wicking finishes can leave chemical residues on the glove surface that may irritate sensitive or sweaty skin, particularly on the palm and between fingers where contact is prolonged and occlusive.
Lack of material transparency and third-party certification
No OEKO-TEX, bluesign, or equivalent safety certification is listed for Stratus Tech gloves. This absence means no independent testing for restricted substances, making it impossible to verify absence of heavy metals, formaldehyde, or other regulated compounds.
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
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.