Men's Intense Power Sport Tee vs Men's Force Sun Defender Relaxed Fit Lightweight Short-Sleeve Polo: which is safer?

Calvin Klein Men's Intense Power Sport Tee is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Our pick

Calvin Klein Men's Intense Power Sport Tee

Calvin Klein

Men's Intense Power Sport Tee

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 53/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Cotton-blend knit jersey, uncoated

Confidence

78%

PossibleAzo dyes and synthetic colorants

PossibleHeavy metals in pigments

PossibleFragrance allergens or residual chemical odors

Carhartt Men's Force Sun Defender Relaxed Fit Lightweight Short-Sleeve Polo

Carhartt

Men's Force Sun Defender Relaxed Fit Lightweight Short-Sleeve Polo

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

cotton blend with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment

Confidence

45%

PossiblePFAS in water-repellent coating finish

LikelyDegradation of water-repellent coating over time

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Azo dyes and synthetic colorants, Heavy metals in pigments and Fragrance allergens or residual chemical odors on the Calvin Klein and not on the Carhartt.
  • We flag PFAS in DWR finish and Degradation of DWR coating over time on the Carhartt and not on the Calvin Klein.
  • The Calvin Klein is Cotton-blend knit jersey, uncoated where the Carhartt is cotton blend with durable water repellent (DWR) 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 Calvin Klein is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Carhartt grade, at 45% confidence against 78%, because it discloses less.

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 undergarments, see the full ranking