All 35 activewear we scored fail our PFAS screen
We scored 35 activewear for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.
100% of the 35 activewear we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free activewear we have scored
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
The activewear we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
Fabletics
Women's On-The-Go PowerHold High-Waisted Leggings
nylon blend with performance moisture-wicking coating
PFAS
Limited concern
Coating degradation and microplastic shedding
Limited concern
Skin sensitization from finish residues
Limited concern
Skip until brand discloses water-repellent coating treatment chemistry
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Everlane
Perform Flare Legging
Nylon blend with water-repellent coating water-resistant treatment
PFAS
High concern
Azo dyes and synthetic colorants
Limited concern
Nylon microfiber shedding
Moderate concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Typical activewear with water-repellent coating; PFAS risk unclear without material disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Everlane
Perform Legging
nylon/polyester blend with moisture-wicking treatment
Microplastics
Moderate concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Moisture-wicking coating off-gassing and degradation
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Skip until brand discloses water-repellent coating chemistry or removes water treatment.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
What we check on activewear
- Formaldehyde / VOCs. Off-gassing chemicals from some finishes, textiles, and pressed wood. ATSDR
- Endocrine disruptors. Chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormone system. NIEHS
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The activewear brands that will not say
8 of the brands here publish nothing about PFAS at all. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Adidas, Carbon38, Everlane, Fabletics, Koral, Lululemon, Nike, Reebok.
Common questions about PFAS-free activewear
Is activewear PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 35 activewear we have scored, 100% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 0 that pass. The lowest is Fabletics Fabletics Women's On-The-Go PowerHold High-Waisted Leggings at 20.
Which activewear should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Fabletics Fabletics Women's On-The-Go PowerHold High-Waisted Leggings at 20, Everlane Everlane Perform Flare Legging at 20, Everlane Everlane Perform Legging at 20. The problem with the first is that skip until brand discloses DWR treatment chemistry
How can you tell if activewear contain PFAS?
In this category we check for formaldehyde / vocs, endocrine disruptors. Off-gassing chemicals from some finishes, textiles, and pressed wood. Language like stain resistant, water repellent or easy release usually means fluorinated chemistry even when PFAS is never printed on the box.
Which activewear brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
8 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Adidas, Carbon38, Everlane, Fabletics, Koral, Lululemon. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test activewear?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
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