Women's Bottom Turn Racerback Bikini Top vs DreamDrape Sidestroke: which is safer?
Patagonia Women's Bottom Turn Racerback Bikini Top is the clear pick. Summersalt DreamDrape Sidestroke carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
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
Summersalt
DreamDrape Sidestroke
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in dyes or finishes
PossibleAzo dyes and heavy metal contaminants
PossibleElastane degradation and leaching
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Elastane (spandex) degradation under heat or chlorine on the Patagonia and not on the Summersalt.
- We flag Formaldehyde resins in dyes or finishes, Azo dyes and heavy metal contaminants, Elastane degradation and leaching and Mildew and bacterial growth if stored wet on the Summersalt and not on the Patagonia.
- The Patagonia is Nylon/polyester blend with elastane (standard swimwear) where the Summersalt is Cotton/linen blend fabric (standard weave), 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