Sol Groove Retro Surf One vs Women's Bottom Turn Racerback Bikini Top: which is safer?
Patagonia Women's Bottom Turn Racerback Bikini Top is the clear pick. Billabong Sol Groove Retro Surf One carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Billabong
Sol Groove Retro Surf One
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes and heavy metals in synthetic dyes
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in fabric finishes
PossibleAntimony trioxide in polyester fiber
Our pick
Patagonia
Women's Bottom Turn Racerback Bikini Top
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleElastane (spandex) degradation under heat or chlorine
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Azo dyes and heavy metals in synthetic dyes, Formaldehyde resins in fabric finishes, Antimony trioxide in polyester fiber and Elastic degradation and microfiber shedding on the Billabong and not on the Patagonia.
- We flag Elastane (spandex) degradation under heat or chlorine on the Patagonia and not on the Billabong.
- The Billabong is Polyester swim/surf fabric where the Patagonia is Nylon/polyester blend with elastane (standard swimwear), which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 25 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Patagonia is the one to buy.
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 swimwear: see the full ranking