Women's High-Rise Straight Stretch Linen-Viscose Utility Pants vs Men's Relaxed Straight Utility Khakis: 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

Banana Republic

Women's High-Rise Straight Stretch Linen-Viscose Utility Pants

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 53/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

linen-viscose blend, no water-resistant finish

Confidence

82%

PossibleFormaldehyde resins (wrinkle resistance, shape retention)

PossibleAzo dyes and heavy metal pigments

PossibleAntimony in polyester (if present in trim/elastic)

Gap Men's Relaxed Straight Utility Khakis

Gap

Men's Relaxed Straight Utility Khakis

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 49/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

Cotton-blend twill, no reported treatment

Confidence

72%

PossibleAzo dyes and heavy metals in dyes

PossibleFormaldehyde resins in finishing

PossibleElastane (spandex) degradation and leaching

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 Gap.
  • We flag Azo dyes and heavy metals in dyes, Formaldehyde resins in finishing, Elastane (spandex) degradation and leaching and Loose dye transfer and allergens on the Gap and not on the Banana Republic.
  • The Banana Republic is linen-viscose blend, no water-resistant finish where the Gap is Cotton-blend twill, no reported treatment, 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: 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