All 15 wetsuits we scored fail our PFAS screen
We scored 15 wetsuits 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 wetsuits we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free wetsuits we have scored
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
The wetsuits we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
O'Neill
Epic Back Zip Full Wetsuit
Neoprene with water-repellent coating-treated nylon exterior
water-repellent coating surface coating degradation and leaching
High concern
Neoprene off-gassing and volatile organic compounds
Limited concern
Nylon microfiber shedding during wear and washing
Limited concern
High PFAS risk from waterproof treatment; no brand transparency available.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
O'Neill
Reactor 3/2mm Back Zip Full Wetsuit
Neoprene wetsuit with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
PFAS
Limited concern
Neoprene manufacturing byproducts and off-gassing
Limited concern
Skin irritation from finish treatments or latex sensitivity
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding during wear and laundering
Limited concern
Unknown PFAS risk in water-repellent coating; no brand disclosure of treatment specifics.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
O'Neill
Hyperfreak Fire 4/3 Chest Zip Wetsuit
Neoprene/synthetic rubber with water-repellent coating
PFAS
High concern
Neoprene degradation and microplastic shedding
Limited concern
Bacterial or fungal growth if not maintained
Limited concern
High PFAS risk typical of sealed wetsuits; no O'Neill commitment to PFAS-free water-repellent coating.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
What we check on wetsuits
- 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 wetsuits 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.
O'Neill, Patagonia, Rip Curl, Xcel.
Common questions about PFAS-free wetsuits
Is wetsuits PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 15 wetsuits we have scored, 100% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 0 that pass. The lowest is O'Neill O'Neill Epic Back Zip Full Wetsuit at 20.
Which wetsuits should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are O'Neill O'Neill Epic Back Zip Full Wetsuit at 20, O'Neill O'Neill Reactor 3/2mm Back Zip Full Wetsuit at 20, O'Neill O'Neill Hyperfreak Fire 4/3 Chest Zip Wetsuit at 20. The problem with the first is that high PFAS risk from waterproof treatment; no brand transparency available.
Which wetsuits brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
4 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including O'Neill, Patagonia, Rip Curl, Xcel. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test wetsuits?
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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