Men's Workout Essentials Base Woven Shorts vs Men's Union Heather Amphibian Hybrid Shorts: which is safer?
adidas Men's Workout Essentials Base Woven Shorts is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Adidas
Men's Workout Essentials Base Woven Shorts
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes and heavy metal colorants
ReportedMicrofiber shedding from synthetic blend
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in finishing
Quiksilver
Men's Union Heather Amphibian Hybrid Shorts
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossiblePFAS in water-repellent coating (Fluorocarbons)
PossibleAzo dyes and synthetic colorants
PossibleMicrofiber shedding from polyester blend
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Azo dyes and heavy metal colorants, Microfiber shedding from synthetic blend and Formaldehyde resins in finishing on the Adidas and not on the Quiksilver.
- We flag PFAS in DWR coating (Fluorocarbons), Azo dyes and synthetic colorants and Microfiber shedding from polyester blend on the Quiksilver and not on the Adidas.
- The Adidas is Woven polyester/nylon blend, no waterproof or stain-resistant treatment specified where the Quiksilver is Polyester blend with water-resistant treatment, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Adidas is the one to buy.
Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More waterproof sports gear, see the full ranking