Women's High-Rise Straight Stretch Linen-Viscose Utility Pants vs Men's Tech Stretch Cargo Pants: which is safer?
Banana Republic Women's High-Rise Straight Stretch Linen-Viscose Utility Pants is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
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)
Calvin Klein
Men's Tech Stretch Cargo Pants
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes and heavy metal mordants
PossibleFormaldehyde finishing resins
ReportedElastane/spandex degradation and microfiber shedding
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 and heavy metal mordants, Formaldehyde finishing resins, Elastane/spandex degradation and microfiber shedding and Antimony in polyester 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/polyester blend with elastane stretch, 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