Women's High-Rise Straight Stretch Linen-Viscose Utility Pants vs Men's Hi-Stretch Tech 5-Pocket Slim Pants: which is safer?
Calvin Klein Men's Hi-Stretch Tech 5-Pocket Slim Pants is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Banana Republic
Women's High-Rise Straight Stretch Linen-Viscose Utility Pants
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFormaldehyde resins (wrinkle resistance, shape retention)
PossibleAzo dyes and heavy metal pigments
PossibleAntimony in polyester (if present in trim/elastic)
Our pick
Calvin Klein
Men's Hi-Stretch Tech 5-Pocket Slim Pants
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes (carcinogenic color additives)
PossibleMicroplastic shedding from elastane
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Formaldehyde resins (wrinkle resistance, shape retention), Azo dyes and heavy metal pigments and Antimony in polyester (if present in trim/elastic) on the Banana Republic and not on the Calvin Klein.
- We flag Azo dyes (carcinogenic color additives) and Microplastic shedding from elastane on the Calvin Klein and not on the Banana Republic.
- The Banana Republic is linen-viscose blend, no water-resistant finish where the Calvin Klein is cotton/elastane blend, standard construction, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
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 stain-resistant professional workwear, see the full ranking