Women's Bottom Turn Racerback Bikini Top vs Plus Size Sidestroke Swimsuit: which is safer?
Patagonia Women's Bottom Turn Racerback Bikini Top is the clear pick. Summersalt Plus Size Sidestroke Swimsuit 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
Plus Size Sidestroke Swimsuit
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes and heavy metal colorants
PossibleElastane (spandex) degradation and leaching
PossibleChlorine degradation and off-gassing
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Elastane (spandex) degradation under heat or chlorine on the Patagonia and not on the Summersalt.
- We flag Azo dyes and heavy metal colorants, Elastane (spandex) degradation and leaching and Chlorine degradation and off-gassing on the Summersalt and not on the Patagonia.
- The Patagonia is Nylon/polyester blend with elastane (standard swimwear) where the Summersalt is Nylon/polyester blend (standard swimwear knit), 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, 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 →
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