All 15 quick-dry shorts we scored fail our PFAS screen
We scored 15 quick-dry shorts 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 quick-dry shorts we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free quick-dry shorts we have scored
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
The quick-dry shorts we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
Quiksilver
Men's Union Heather Amphibian Hybrid Shorts
Polyester blend with water-resistant treatment
PFAS
Limited concern
Azo dyes and synthetic colorants
Limited concern
Microfiber shedding from polyester blend
Limited concern
Hybrid shorts likely water-treated; PFAS risk unconfirmed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Quiksilver
Men's Waterman Strands Regular-Fit Shorts
Polyester blend with water-repellent coating treatment
PFAS
Limited concern
Wait for brand to disclose water-repellent coating chemistry or switch to PFAS-free.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Quiksilver
Men's Taxer Amphibian Hybrid Shorts
polyester/nylon blend with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
water-repellent coating degradation and residue
High concern
Microplastics
Limited concern
Hybrid shorts likely have water-repellent coating; Quiksilver does not disclose PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
What we check on quick-dry shorts
- 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 quick-dry shorts 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.
Adidas, Quiksilver, Reebok, Under Armour.
Common questions about PFAS-free quick-dry shorts
Is quick-dry shorts PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 15 quick-dry shorts we have scored, 100% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 0 that pass. The lowest is Quiksilver Quiksilver Men's Union Heather Amphibian Hybrid Shorts at 20.
Which quick-dry shorts should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Quiksilver Quiksilver Men's Union Heather Amphibian Hybrid Shorts at 20, Quiksilver Quiksilver Men's Waterman Strands Regular-Fit Shorts at 20, Quiksilver Quiksilver Men's Taxer Amphibian Hybrid Shorts at 20. The problem with the first is that hybrid shorts likely water-treated; PFAS risk unconfirmed by brand.
Which quick-dry shorts brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
4 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Adidas, Quiksilver, Reebok, Under Armour. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test quick-dry shorts?
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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