Nike Review, Is Nike Non-Toxic?
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.
Across 28 graded products, Nike averages Poor (46/100). 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.
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Nike
Women's V-Neck Tankini Top
Nylon/polyester blend (typical tankini construction)
Lower PFAS concern for basic tankini.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Women's Nike One High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings
nylon/polyester blend, no waterproof or stain-resist coating disclosed
Antimony in polyester
Polyester synthesis can involve antimony catalysts; levels in finished garments are…
Microplastic shedding during laundry
All synthetic athletic leggings shed microfibers, especially in the first 10 washes and…
Lower concern, PFAS risk appears minimal but Nike discloses nothing.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Women's Pro Sculpt High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings with Pockets
Nylon/spandex blend (no water-repellent coating)
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Uncoated nylon/spandex blends typically use minimal formaldehyde-based shrink-control or…
Microfiber shedding from wear
All synthetic textiles shed microfibers during washing and wear. Nylon/spandex blends…
Lower-concern basic leggings, no PFAS-treatment triggers detected.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Women's Sportswear Classic High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings
Polyester blend (nylon/spandex mix)
Azo dyes and processing residues
Polyester leggings are conventionally dyed with reactive or disperse dyes; untested…
Spandex degradation products (from heat or sweat)
Spandex is polyurethane; prolonged body heat, chlorine (pool wear), or acidic sweat can…
Microplastic shedding from wear and washing
All synthetic fiber garments shed microfibers when washed or worn. Polyester leggings are…
Lower concern, basic stretch leggings with no water repellent finish.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Women's High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings
Nylon/polyester blend knit fabric, no water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating specified
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon and polyester garments may contain formaldehyde-based resins used in dyeing and…
Microplastic shedding from synthetic fibers
Polyester and nylon knits inherently shed microplastics during washing and wear. This…
Antimony in polyester
Antimony trioxide is a standard catalyst used in polyester production. Finished fabrics…
Lower concern, standard leggings without water-repellent treatment or disclosed coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Women's Leggings Nike Pro 365
Polyester blend (primary); elastane/spandex
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastics
Synthetic leggings shed microfibers during washing and wear, a known phenomenon not…
Antimony in polyester fibers
Antimony trioxide is used as a catalyst in polyester production and may remain as trace…
Lower concern, standard athletic leggings with no known PFAS-treatment triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Women's Chill Knit Mid-Rise Ribbed Tights
Nylon/polyester knit blend, no waterproofing or coating disclosed
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Athletic knits may use formaldehyde-releasing resins in dyeing or finishing to set colour…
Heavy metals
Polyester and nylon are typically dyed with reactive or disperse dyes; azo dyes (which…
Microfibre shedding (synthetic textile degradation)
Nylon and polyester knits shed microfibres during washing and wear, a documented…
Antimony in polyester
Polyester is often polymerised using antimony trioxide as a catalyst; residual antimony…
Lower concern, basic athletic knit without water and stain treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Women's One Seamless Front High-Waisted Full-Length Leggings
Nylon/polyester blend, no documented waterproof or stain-resistant coating
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon-polyester blends often use formaldehyde-releasing resins for wrinkle resistance and…
Heavy metals
Polyester and nylon accept synthetic azo dyes readily. Nike does not publicly specify…
Microplastic shedding
All synthetic fiber textiles, including nylon-polyester blends, shed microfibers during…
Allergic reaction to residual dyes or finishes
Individuals with sensitive skin or fragrance/dye sensitivity may experience contact…
Lower concern, standard athletic leggings with no water-repellent coating or special coatings flagged.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Lightweight Running Crew Socks
Polyester/nylon blend, no reported water-resistant or stain-resistant treatment
Heavy metals
Nike uses synthetic dyes in textile manufacturing; while most azo dyes used in apparel…
Microfiber shedding
Polyester and nylon garments shed microfibers during washing and wear; this is documented…
Antimony in polyester
Antimony trioxide is used as a catalyst in polyester production and can leach in trace…
Lower concern for typical lightweight running socks; no water-repellent coating treatment reported.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Everyday Max Crew Socks Men's
Cotton/polyester blend (no water-resistant treatment indicated)
Azo dyes and residual dye contamination
Polyester blended socks routinely use azo dyes for color. While regulated azo dyes are…
Antimony in polyester fiber
Antimony trioxide is a standard catalyst in polyester production. Migration to skin is…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Cotton portions may have residual formaldehyde-based wrinkle-resist or sizing finishes…
Microfiber shedding during laundering
Polyester-blend socks shed microfibers in every wash cycle; this is inherent to the…
Lower PFAS concern, basic crew socks with no water-repellent coating or stain-resistant finish.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Running Women Lightweight Socks
Polyester blend / nylon blend with elastic (typical athletic sock)
Azo dyes and residual dye chemistry
Polyester athletic socks are typically dyed with reactive or disperse dyes; Nike does not…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Lightweight athletic socks may receive wrinkle-resist or shape-retention finishes that…
Elastane (spandex) degradation under heat and UV
Elastane breaks down over time with repeated washing and UV exposure, but this is a…
Lower PFAS concern for basic athletic socks; no evidence of water-repellent coating treatment or Teflon-type coating.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Midweight Running Crew Women Socks
polyester/nylon blend with elastane
Azo dyes and colorant residues
Polyester and nylon require synthetic dyes; some azo dyes (restricted in EU) may be…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester-nylon blends sometimes use formaldehyde-releasing finishing agents to improve…
Microplastic shedding during use and wash
Polyester socks shed microfibers during normal wear and especially washing. Shedding…
Elastane degradation and skin sensitivity
Elastane (spandex) can degrade with heat, chlorine, or sweat and may release degradation…
Lower concern, basic athletic socks with no obvious PFAS triggers, but Nike discloses nothing.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Running Midweight Socks
polyester/nylon blend with elastane
Azo dyes in polyester
Polyester textiles can be dyed with azo colorants, some of which may break down under…
Elastane degradation and microfiber shedding
Elastane (spandex) fibers break down over time with heat, stretching, and washing…
PFAS
If water-repellent coating treatment is present on these socks, Nike's silence means the…
Lower concern for typical use, but Nike doesn't disclose water-repellent coating chemistry.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Wool Micro crew Women socks
wool blend (merino wool primary)
Azo dyes
Wool socks are typically dyed; standard industry practice uses azo dyes unless brand…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Wool blends may include small amounts of formaldehyde-based cross-linking resins in yarn…
Synthetic fiber shedding and microfiber release
Blended socks shed synthetic fibers (nylon, polyester) in wash; merino content reduces…
Antimony in polyester blends
If the synthetic component is polyester (common in performance blends), it may contain…
Lower-concern choice since wool socks rarely require PFAS treatments, but Nike makes no explicit disclosure.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Everyday Elevated Socks
Cotton blend (primary); elastic/synthetic cuffs
Azo dyes in cotton/synthetic blend
Cotton socks routinely use azo dyes for color. While regulated azo dyes are generally…
Antimony in polyester/synthetic cuff
Polyester and nylon components may contain antimony as a catalyst residue from…
Elastic degradation and skin sensitivity
Synthetic elastics (spandex/elastane blend) degrade over time, especially with heat and…
Microfiber shedding from synthetic content
Synthetic-blended socks shed microfibers during washing, contributing to aquatic…
Lower PFAS concern; basic socks without water-repellent coating or stain treatments, but no public transparency from Nike.
⚠Risky category by default
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
Nike
Dri-FIT Apparel
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Wrinkle-resistance or shrink-control treatments may use formaldehyde releasers in some…
Microfiber shedding during laundering
Synthetic polyester blends, including Dri-FIT, shed microfibers into wastewater with each…
Antimony in polyester
Antimony trioxide is a common catalyst in polyester synthesis and residual levels may…
Degradation of water-repellent coating and release of breakdown products
As PFAS-based water-repellent coating finishes age and break down during use and…
Medium-high risk. Dri-FIT moisture management typically involves PFAS treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Men's Lunar Force 1 Duckboot
Leather upper, rubber sole, waterproof coating
Undisclosed waterproofing chemistry (fluorinated or otherwise)
Nike has not published the specific water-repellent coating treatment used on this boot.…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Leather uppers commonly use formaldehyde-releasing tanning agents and adhesives to set…
Azo dyes in leather coloring
The dark leather upper may contain azo dyes, which can release carcinogenic amines under…
Adhesive off-gassing between layers
The bond between leather, waterproof coating, and rubber sole uses industrial adhesives…
Unknown waterproofing chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Men's SFB B2
Canvas, leather, rubber sole with water-repellent coating treatment
PFAS
Nike's SFB B2 uses undisclosed water-repellent chemistry. Historically, tactical boots in…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Canvas and leather often receive formaldehyde-based wrinkle or antimicrobial treatments.…
Azo dyes in leather or canvas
Leather and canvas dyes may include azo compounds (potential amine precursors). Nike does…
Coating degradation and leaching
water-repellent coating coatings degrade over time and with washing, releasing residual…
Unknown waterproofing chemistry; Nike does not disclose PFAS use.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Men's SFB 6" Shoes Golden Beige/Golden Beige/Sail
Nylon mesh and synthetic uppers with water-repellent coating
PFAS
Military boots of this era typically use PFAS-based fluorocarbon water-repellent coating.…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon and synthetic uppers may contain residual formaldehyde from dye-fixation or…
Azo dyes in synthetic materials
The Golden Beige colorway may use azo or reactive dyes in nylon or polyester components.…
Adhesive and sole leachables
Synthetic shoe adhesives and rubber sole cements may contain plasticizers or volatile…
Military boot with likely water-repellent coating treatment; PFAS status unconfirmed by Nike.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Terminator High
Leather and textile upper with rubber sole, likely water-repellent coating-treated
PFAS
Leather and textile uppers almost certainly received a water-repellent coating; Nike has…
Azo dyes in textile and leather coloring
Leather dyeing and synthetic textile printing may use azo dyes, which can degrade into…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Leather tanning and textile finishing sometimes involve formaldehyde-based resins (e.g.…
Heavy metals
Leather finishing and color pigments may contain trace lead or cadmium, particularly in…
No public PFAS disclosure; water-repellent coating treatment use uncertain without testing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Men's Repel Miler Running Jacket
Polyester with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
Formaldehyde / VOCs
water-repellent coating finishes sometimes incorporate formaldehyde-releasing resins as…
Microfiber shedding during wash and wear
Polyester garments, especially those with coatings, release microfibers during…
water-repellent coating degradation and inhalation
As water-repellent coating finishes break down with use and washing, aerosolized…
water-repellent coating treatment status unclear.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Men's Nike ACG Phantazma Storm FIT ADV Jacket
synthetic textile with water-repellent coating water-repellent treatment
PFAS
Nike ACG line confirmed to use water-repellent coating finishes; brand provides no…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester and nylon blends may contain trace formaldehyde from dye-setting or…
Antimony in polyester fiber
Polyester production may use antimony oxide as a catalyst. Finished garments retain…
VOC off-gassing from synthetic finishes
water-repellent coating and dye finishes can emit volatile compounds in first 1-2 weeks…
ACG line uses water-repellent coating finishes; Nike silent on PFAS composition.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Storm Fit Jacket Cycling Running
Synthetic polyester/nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
Antimony in polyester fibers
Polyester synthesis can involve antimony trioxide as a catalyst. Residual antimony in…
water-repellent coating degradation and leaching
Conventional PFAS-based water-repellent coating coatings will gradually degrade with…
Microplastics
Polyester and nylon shed microfibers when worn and washed, especially if the fabric is…
water-repellent coating treatment likely contains PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Women's Nike ACG Phantazma Storm-FIT ADV Jacket
Polyester nylon blend with Storm-FIT water-repellent coating
Flame retardants
Storm-FIT water-repellent coating is not publicly disclosed as PFAS-free. Most polyester…
Azo dyes and colorfast stability
Polyester-nylon blends are routinely dyed with azo dyes, some of which can release…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Water-repellent and wrinkle-resistant finishes on synthetic blends sometimes include…
Microfiber shedding during laundering
Polyester-nylon garments shed microplastics with each wash. While not a direct toxicity…
Skip. water-repellent coating likely contains PFAS; no brand disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Women's Water Texture Jacquard V-Neck One-Piece Swimsuit
Nylon jacquard with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Some water-repellent coating finishes and fabric softening treatments can involve…
Microfiber shedding during laundering
Nylon knits shed microfibers, particularly with mechanical agitation in washers. This is…
Coating degradation and leachables from water-repellent coating breakdown
As the water-repellent coating finish ages, UV exposure, laundering, and chlorine can…
High PFAS risk. Skip until Nike discloses water-repellent coating chemistry or commits to PFAS-free.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Women's Shoreline Scoop Neck One Piece Swimsuit
Nylon/polyester blend with water-repellent coating finish
Antimony (polyester catalyst residue)
Polyester production uses antimony trioxide as a catalyst; residual antimony can remain…
Elastane/spandex degradation and leaching
Most swimsuits contain elastane (spandex) for stretch, which degrades in chlorine and…
water-repellent coating finish degradation and chemical release
The water-repellent coating finish will shed microparticles and potentially release…
High PFAS risk. Skip until Nike discloses water-repellent coating chemistry. Swimwear often uses PFAS water repellents.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nike
Women's Dri-FIT Padded Sports Bra
nylon/polyester blend with Dri-FIT moisture-wicking treatment
Heavy metals
Polyester/nylon blends in black or dark colors may use azo dyes or pigments; Nike…
Antimony in polyester
Antimony trioxide is a common catalyst in polyester production used in this bra's…
Microplastic shedding during wash
Synthetic blends like nylon/polyester shed microfibers with each wash cycle. This bra…
PFAS
Moisture-wicking finishes applied to athletic apparel commonly rely on PFAS-based…
Avoid until Nike reveals water-repellent coating chemistry, Dri-FIT's water-repellent finish often relies on PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →