Activewear, ranked by PFAS safety
35 products graded from Bad to Excellent, safest first. None grade Good or better yet, so we show the full ranking and the least-concerning options first.
Start here
The best non-toxic activewear, ranked safest first
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Fabletics
Women's Oasis PureLuxe High-Waisted Pocketed Kick Flare
polyester blend fabric, standard construction
Azo dyes and synthetic colorants
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microfiber shedding from synthetic blend
Moderate concern
Lower concern. Unsupported fabric unlikely to carry high PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
Fabletics
Women's Live-In High-Waisted Leggings
Polyester/nylon blend, standard athletic apparel
Azo dyes and synthetic colorants
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
Phthalate plasticizers in elastane/spandex
Limited concern
Microfiber shedding
Moderate concern
Lower concern. Standard athletic leggings without water-repellent coating.
⚠Risky category by default
Fabletics
Women's Define PowerHold High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings
polyester/nylon blend with elastic
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Azo dyes and colorfast quality
Limited concern
Microplastics
Moderate concern
Elastic degradation and allergenic contact
Limited concern
Lower concern; basic synthetic athletic wear without known PFAS triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
Reebok
Women's High-Rise Leggings
polyester nylon blend, standard construction
Azo dyes and colorant allergens
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding
Moderate concern
Cadmium
Limited concern
Standard leggings, lower concern without special treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Reebok
Women's Move High Rise Legging
polyester/nylon blend, no specified water-resistant treatment
Azo dyes and colorant residue
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastics
Moderate concern
Lower concern. No water-resistant coating disclosed.
⚠Risky category by default
Everlane
Renew The Perform Legging Ankle Length Leggings Solid Black
nylon/spandex blend, no specified coating
Azo dyes and aromatic amine leaching
Limited concern
Spandex degradation and chemical release
Limited concern
Residual dye and finish volatiles (off-gassing)
Limited concern
Lower concern. Uncoated stretch knit with no water-repellent coating or treatment disclosed.
⚠Risky category by default
Reebok
Women's Core High-Rise Leggings
Nylon/polyester blend, no noted water-repellent coating treatment
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Azo dyes and colorfast agents
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding
Moderate concern
Lower concern. Standard athletic leggings without waterproof coating.
⚠Risky category by default
Reebok
Women's Reflex High Rise 7/8 Legging
polyester, spandex blend
Azo dyes and residual dye chemicals
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Spandex degradation and microfiber shedding
Limited concern
Lower concern. Standard athletic legging with no waterproofing or coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
Carbon38
Women's High Rise Legging in Ribbed Melt
Nylon/spandex blend (ribbed knit)
Azo dyes and colorant migration
Limited concern
Spandex degradation byproducts and skin sensitization
Limited concern
Lower concern. Bare synthetic knit with no disclosed water or stain treatment.
⚠Risky category by default
Carbon38
Women's High Rise Full-Length Legging in Takara Shine
Nylon/polyester blend with Takara Shine finish
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from synthetic fabric
Moderate concern
Takara Shine finish stability and degradation
Limited concern
Likely lower concern, but Takara Shine finish unspecified.
⚠Risky category by default
Carbon38
Women's Seamed Legging in Melt
Nylon blend (likely nylon/spandex)
Azo dyes
Limited concern
Spandex degradation under heat or UV
Limited concern
Allergic contact dermatitis from dyes or finishes
Limited concern
Likely lower concern; standard stretch legging without known PFAS treatment.
⚠Risky category by default
Carbon38
Women's Split Front Legging in Melt
Nylon blend athletic legging, standard water-repellent coating finish typical
PFAS
High concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Elastane (spandex) degradation and microfiber shedding
Moderate concern
Likely has water-repellent coating treatment; brand silent on PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Koral
Lustrous High-Rise Athletic Leggin - New Women | Color: Blue
nylon blend athletic knit, likely uncoated
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Elastane (spandex) degradation and microfiber shedding
Limited concern
Residual dyes bleeding and skin irritation
Limited concern
Lower concern. Athletic knit typically has no PFAS finish.
⚠Risky category by default
Lululemon
Women's Align High-Rise Pant 25
Nylon/Lycra blend (Luxtreme or similar elastic technical fabric)
Microfiber shedding during wash
Limited concern
Elastane degradation and fiber fragmentation
Limited concern
Lower concern, but brand discloses nothing about PFAS.
⚠Risky category by default
Lululemon
Women's Align High-Rise 25" Leggings
Nylon elastane blend (Luxtreme fabric)
Elastane (spandex) breakdown and microfiber shedding
Limited concern
Dye migration or color bleeding
Limited concern
Lower concern, but brand discloses nothing.
⚠Risky category by default
Lululemon
Align Leggings Women's High-Rise Pant 25
Nylon/nylon blend (Align fabric blend, primarily synthetic)
Microplastic shedding from synthetic fibers
Limited concern
Lower concern, but Lululemon provides no public transparency on treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Lululemon
Women's Wunder Train 25" Leggings
Nylon/polyamide blend (Luxtreme or similar synthetic blend)
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Elastic and spandex degradation
Moderate concern
Fragrance allergens from finishes or softeners
Limited concern
Lower concern, but brand transparency is lacking.
⚠Risky category by default
Lululemon
Women's Align High-Rise Mini-Flare Pant
Nylon/Lycra blend (Align fabric, proprietary knit)
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microfiber shedding from synthetic blend
Moderate concern
Elastane (Lycra) degradation over time
Limited concern
Lower concern, but Lululemon provides no public transparency on water-repellent coating treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Women's Nike One High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings
nylon/polyester blend, no waterproof or stain-resist coating disclosed
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding during laundry
High concern
Lower concern, PFAS risk appears minimal but Nike discloses nothing.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Women's Pro Sculpt High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings with Pockets
Nylon/spandex blend (no water-repellent coating)
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microfiber shedding from wear
Moderate concern
Lower-concern basic leggings, no PFAS-treatment triggers detected.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Women's Sportswear Classic High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings
Polyester blend (nylon/spandex mix)
Azo dyes and processing residues
Limited concern
Spandex degradation products (from heat or sweat)
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from wear and washing
Limited concern
Lower concern, basic stretch leggings with no water repellent finish.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Women's High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings
Nylon/polyester blend knit fabric, no water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating specified
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from synthetic fibers
High concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
Lower concern, standard leggings without water-repellent treatment or disclosed coatings.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Women's Leggings Nike Pro 365
Polyester blend (primary); elastane/spandex
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastics
Moderate concern
Antimony in polyester fibers
Limited concern
Lower concern, standard athletic leggings with no known PFAS-treatment triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
Nike
Women's Chill Knit Mid-Rise Ribbed Tights
Nylon/polyester knit blend, no waterproofing or coating disclosed
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Heavy metals
Limited concern
Microfibre shedding (synthetic textile degradation)
Moderate concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
Lower concern, basic athletic knit without water and stain treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
- 65Nike Nike Women's One Seamless Front High-Waisted Full-Length Leggings
- 65Adidas Women's adidas Essentials 3 Stripes Leggings
- 65Adidas Women's adidas Optime 3-Stripes Full-Length Leggings
- 20Fabletics Fabletics Women's On-The-Go PowerHold High-Waisted Leggings
- 20Everlane Everlane Perform Flare Legging
- 20Everlane Everlane Perform Legging
- 20Everlane Everlane Perform Pocket Legging
- 20Koral NWT Koral Lustrous Infinity High Rise Legging
- 20Koral Koral Dynamic Duo High-rise Energy Leggings Black/infrared
- 20Koral Koral Drive High-Rise Energy Legging
- 20Lululemon lululemon Leggings Women's Wunder Train High-Rise Tight 28
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