All 15 water-resistant swimwear we scored fail our PFAS screen
We scored 15 water-resistant swimwear 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 water-resistant swimwear we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free water-resistant swimwear we have scored
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
The water-resistant swimwear we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
Lands' End
Women's DD-Cup Tummy Control Square Neck Underwire Tankini Swimsuit Top
nylon/spandex blend with tummy-control panel; likely water-resistant treatment
PFAS
High concern
Azo dyes
Limited concern
Spandex degradation and skin contact
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
High PFAS risk from likely water-repellent coating finish.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Lands' End
Women's Tugless Monokini Swim Dress Swimsuit
Nylon/polyamide blend with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
PFAS
Moderate concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Microplastics
Limited concern
High PFAS risk. Avoid if you're concerned. Lands' End won't discuss water-repellent coating chemicals.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Lands' End
Women's DD-Cup Tummy Control Chlorine Resistant Soft Cup Tugless One Piece Swimsuit
Nylon/polyester blend with chlorine-resistant treatment (water-repellent coating likely)
PFAS
High concern
Synthetic fiber microfiber shedding
Limited concern
Elastic degradation and material leaching
Limited concern
High PFAS risk. Chlorine-resistant swimwear typically uses PFAS-based water-repellent coating finishes.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
What we check on water-resistant swimwear
- 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 water-resistant swimwear brands that will not say
3 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.
J.Crew, Lands' End, Nike.
Common questions about PFAS-free water-resistant swimwear
Is water-resistant swimwear PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 15 water-resistant swimwear we have scored, 100% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 0 that pass. The lowest is Lands' End Lands' End Women's DD-Cup Tummy Control Square Neck Underwire Tankini Swimsuit Top at 20.
Which water-resistant swimwear should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Lands' End Lands' End Women's DD-Cup Tummy Control Square Neck Underwire Tankini Swimsuit Top at 20, Lands' End Lands' End Women's Tugless Monokini Swim Dress Swimsuit at 20, Lands' End Lands' End Women's DD-Cup Tummy Control Chlorine Resistant Soft Cup Tugless One Piece Swimsuit at 20. The problem with the first is that high PFAS risk from likely DWR finish. Lands' End silent on chemical details.
Which water-resistant swimwear brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
3 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including J.Crew, Lands' End, Nike. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test water-resistant swimwear?
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.
Get the safe list, free
The products we score each week, and the safest alternative in every category.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Does a particular brand of water-resistant swimwear have PFAS?
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 15 water-resistant swimwear.