All 15 sports bras we scored fail our PFAS screen
We scored 15 sports bras 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 15 sports bras we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free sports bras we have scored
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
The sports bras we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
Nike
Women's Dri-FIT Padded Sports Bra
nylon/polyester blend with Dri-FIT moisture-wicking treatment
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding during wash
Moderate concern
PFAS
High concern
Avoid until Nike reveals water-repellent coating chemistry, Dri-FIT's water-repellent finish often relies on PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Medium Support Sports Bra Nike Women's Swoosh
Nylon/polyester blend fabric, no waterproofing or stain treatment disclosed
Lower PFAS concern; standard sports bra with no waterproofing or chemical finishes typical of PFAS use.
⚠Risky category by default
Lululemon
Flow Y Sports Bras | Women's Bra Nulu Light Support, A–C Cups | Size 8 | Pink
Nulu (nylon blend)
Lower PFAS concern; natural fiber blend without performance coatings, but brand lacks transparency.
⚠Risky category by default
What we check on sports bras
- Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
- Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
- Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
- Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The sports bras brands that will not say
4 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.
Allbirds, Athleta, Lululemon, Nike.
Common questions about PFAS-free sports bras
Is sports bras PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 15 sports bras we have scored, 100% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 0 that pass. The lowest is Nike Nike Women's Dri-FIT Padded Sports Bra at 20.
Which sports bras should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Nike Nike Women's Dri-FIT Padded Sports Bra at 20, Nike Medium Support Sports Bra Nike Women's Swoosh at 65, Lululemon lululemon Flow Y Sports Bras | Women's Bra Nulu Light Support, A–C Cups | Size 8 | Pink at 65. The problem with the first is that avoid until Nike reveals DWR chemistry—Dri-FIT's water-repellent finish often relies on PFAS.
Which sports bras brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
4 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Allbirds, Athleta, Lululemon, Nike. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test sports bras?
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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Does a particular brand of sports bras have PFAS?
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 15 sports bras.