Men's Outdoor Everyday Shorts vs Men's Athlete Speed Shorts: which is safer?
Reebok Men's Athlete Speed Shorts is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Patagonia
Men's Outdoor Everyday Shorts
PFAS grade
Poor 45/100
Overall grade
Poor 31/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
nylon/polyester blend with water-repellent coating treatment
Confidence
72%
PossibleAntimony in polyester
ReportedMicroplastic shedding from synthetic fibers
Our pick
Reebok
Men's Athlete Speed Shorts
PFAS grade
Good 65/100
Overall grade
Poor 47/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
Polyester mesh and nylon blend, standard athletic construction
Confidence
72%
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in finishing
PossibleAntimony in polyester
ReportedMicroplastic shedding
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Microplastic shedding from synthetic fibers on the Patagonia and not on the Reebok.
- We flag Formaldehyde resins in finishing and Microplastic shedding on the Reebok and not on the Patagonia.
- Both carry a flag for Antimony in polyester, so neither choice avoids it.
- The Patagonia is nylon/polyester blend with DWR treatment where the Reebok is Polyester mesh and nylon blend, standard athletic construction, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
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 waterproof sports gear: see the full ranking