Nautica Review, Is Nautica Non-Toxic?
Across 8 graded products, Nautica averages Poor (31/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. None of its products grade Good or better yet. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Nautica
Uniform Stretch Twill Shorts Boys 8-20
cotton/polyester twill, stretch blend
Azo dyes and colorfast potential
Twill shorts in navy, khaki, and other solid colors rely on synthetic dyes. No evidence…
Antimony in polyester
Polyester production may use antimony trioxide as a catalyst; levels in finished fiber…
Loose synthetic fibers and microfiber shedding
Polyester-cotton blends shed microfibers during washing, particularly in the first few…
Basic boys shorts, no water/stain treatment evident.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Nautica
Boys Uniform Polo
100% cotton pique
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Cotton pique may receive durable-press or wrinkle-resistant chemical treatment. Standard…
Heavy metals
The navy, white, or solid colors typical of school uniforms are usually achieved with…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Formaldehyde may be present in dye baths or as a biocide in storage. Washing removes most…
Lower concern. Bare cotton polo unlikely to contain intentional PFAS.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Nautica
Men's Rainbreaker Bomber Jacket
polyester with water-repellent (water-repellent coating) treatment
water-repellent coating degradation and potential release
If this jacket uses conventional PFAS-based water-repellent coating (unconfirmed), normal…
Heat sensitivity of polyester and coatings
Polyester begins to soften above 140-150 degrees Fahrenheit; water-repellent coating…
Rainbreaker likely uses water-repellent coating; PFAS status unconfirmed by brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nautica
Mens Packable Seam-Sealed Jacket
Polyester with seam-sealed water-resistant coating
Azo dyes and synthetic dyes in colored polyester
Polyester textiles are commonly dyed with azo and other synthetic colorants. Nautica does…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Water-resistant coatings and seam tape adhesives may contain residual formaldehyde from…
Microplastic shedding from coating and fiber degradation
The water-repellent coating and polyester fiber itself shed microplastics with washing…
Seam-sealed jackets commonly use water-repellent coating coatings; Nautica discloses nothing about PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nautica
Men's Hooded Rain Jacket
polyester with waterproof coating
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester fabrics often finish with formaldehyde-based resins to improve wrinkle…
Azo dyes and reactive dyes
Polyester textiles commonly use azo and reactive dyes. Most commercial suppliers comply…
Teflon-family coating degradation
Waterproof coatings degrade over time and with washing, releasing microparticles and…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
If jacket is stored in hot conditions or worn during high-exertion activity, residual…
Skip or verify coating composition before purchase.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nautica
Men's Seam-Sealed Jacket
Polyester/nylon with seam-sealed waterproof coating
PFAS
Seam-sealed waterproof jackets overwhelmingly use fluorinated water-repellent coating…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Seam-sealed waterproof coatings may incorporate formaldehyde-releasing resins to improve…
Coating degradation and microplastic shedding
Repeated washing of coated textiles can cause coating flaking and shedding of…
Seam-sealed jackets commonly use water-repellent coating coatings; Nautica does not disclose PFAS status.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nautica
Boys Short Sleeve Performance Polo
polyester blend with water-repellent coating finish
PFAS
Nautica does not disclose whether this polo uses legacy long-chain PFAS, short-chain…
Performance polo likely uses water-repellent coating treatment; PFAS risk unclear, brand silent.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nautica
Girls 4-6x Performance Scooter Skirt
Polyester blend with water-repellent coating finish
PFAS
Water-repellent coating on polyester is typically applied with PFAS chemistry (e.g.…
Azo dyes
Polyester textiles may be dyed with azo dyes, some of which can break down into…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester blends sometimes use formaldehyde-based resins for wrinkle resistance or color…
Antimony in polyester
Polyester may contain antimony as a catalyst residue from production. Levels in finished…
Likely uses water-repellent coating treatment; Nautica does not disclose PFAS use.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nautica and PFAS, common questions
- Does Nautica have PFAS?
- We graded 8 Nautica products, averaging Poor (31/100). None grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests.
- Is Nautica non-toxic?
- No Nautica product we graded reaches Good. The best of them is Nautica Uniform Stretch Twill Shorts Boys 8-20 at 65/100.
- Which Nautica products should I avoid?
- The lowest-graded Nautica products we have scored are Nautica Girls 4-6x Performance Scooter Skirt, Nautica Boys Short Sleeve Performance Polo, Nautica Men's Seam-Sealed Jacket. Each one links to the evidence behind its grade.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →