Athleta Women's Salutation High Rise Leggings
Lower concern; standard leggings with no known water-repellent coating or stain treatments.
Nylon-spandex blend athletic knit without explicit water-repellent or stain-resistant finishes. Standard athletic wear typically carries lower PFAS risk than treated performance gear.
The better-graded swap
Girlfriend Collective
Compressive High-Rise Legging
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon/spandex blend athletic knit
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Athleta Women's Salutation Rise Leggings is made of, ingredients and materials
Athleta Salutation leggings are constructed from a nylon-spandex (elastane) blend, a common high-performance athletic knit. Nylon itself is a synthetic polyamide with a stable chemical structure; spandex provides stretch and recovery. The main chemical exposure risk in this blend is residual monomer content or dyes used during manufacturing, not the polymers themselves. Since these leggings carry no advertised water-repellent or stain-resistant finish, the likelihood of intentional PFAS water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment is low.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Azo dyes
Nylon-spandex athletic textiles are typically dyed with reactive or acid dyes; azo dyes are not prohibited but are a known irritant in poorly dyed or low-cost knits. Athleta does not disclose dyeing standards, so presence cannot be ruled out. Risk is low for skin contact in well-rinsed finished garments but higher if dye bleeding occurs.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Some athletic knits receive formaldehyde-based wrinkle resistance or shape retention treatments. Athleta does not publish finish specifications for this product, so residual formaldehyde cannot be excluded. Risk is mitigated by pre-washing and normal wear conditions but may be present at manufacturing.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microfiber shedding from spandex degradation
Spandex degrades over time through wear, washing, and UV exposure, releasing microfibers into wash water and the environment. This is not brand-specific but inherent to elastane textiles. Washing frequency and water temperature are the primary user-controlled factors affecting microfiber release rate.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Antimony in polyester (not applicable here)
This product is nylon-spandex, not polyester, so antimony catalyst residues are not a concern.
Flame retardants
Yoga leggings are not typically treated with flame retardants unless marketed for specific high-risk uses. No evidence suggests Athleta applies such treatments to standard activewear.
Source, EPA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Athleta (owned by Gap Inc.) does not publicly disclose specific chemical testing results or independent certifications for this product line, nor does it maintain a detailed hazardous substance policy specific to athletic wear. The brand has no documented major chemical recalls or environmental litigation specific to leggings. Gap Inc. has faced historical scrutiny over supply-chain labor practices but not product chemistry controversies in this category. Without third-party certification (GOTS, Oeko-Tex, etc.), chemical transparency remains limited.
How it compares in its category
Nylon-spandex blends are industry standard for yoga leggings; Athleta's formulation is typical for this price and performance tier. Competitors like Lululemon and Girlfriend Collective employ similar materials but often highlight Oeko-Tex or environmental certifications that Athleta does not emphasize. This product occupies the mainstream athletic market without premium differentiation on chemical safety; it is neither ahead of nor behind category norms.
If you buy it
Wash in cool water and air dry to minimize spandex degradation and dye bleeding; heat accelerates polymer breakdown and potential microfiber release. Do not use fabric softeners or bleach, which can degrade elastane and increase chemical residue. Replace after 3-4 years of regular use or when elastic loses significant recovery, as aged spandex becomes brittle and sheds microfibers more readily. Store away from direct sunlight to slow UV-induced polymer oxidation.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Athleta has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Athleta Women's Salutation High Rise Leggings?
- nylon/spandex blend, no disclosed coating
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- nylon or polyester blend with elastane
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Antimony in polyester fiber
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More yoga leggings grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.