Basis · Waterproof Fitness Trackers & Cases
Basis "world's Most Advanced Health Tracker" 2014 Edition, Carbon
Wearable electronics; no public PFAS information available.
This health tracker contains electronics and unspecified coatings with no brand PFAS disclosure or third-party verification. Limited material transparency exists for consumer wearables.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Electronics, plastic, stainless steel components
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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.
Lithium-polymer battery degradation and leakage
A 2014 device is now 10+ years old. Lithium cells degrade, swell, and may leak electrolyte containing lithium salts and organic solvents, posing skin irritation and inhalation risk if casing fractures. No recent battery testing data for this model exists.
Plasticizer and residual monomer off-gassing from elastomer band
Early silicone and elastomer compounds used in wearables sometimes contained trace phthalates or other plasticizers; off-gassing intensity peaks at manufacturing and decays over years, but prolonged skin contact could allow dermal absorption of residual volatiles.
Stainless steel nickel leaching (skin contact)
Stainless steel watch components (buckles, casing trim) typically contain 8-12% nickel. Individuals with nickel sensitivity may experience dermatitis with prolonged skin contact, particularly under sweating conditions that accelerate corrosion.
Microplastics
After a decade, engineering plastics become brittle and may fragment under wear or flex stress. Micro-sized particles of polycarbonate or acrylic can become suspended near the skin or ingested if the band ruptures and fragments enter the mouth.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Lead
The device predates strict RoHS enforcement in consumer electronics markets outside EU. Lead-based solder was still used in non-critical applications in 2014. No published test results for this specific model exist, and disassembly risk outweighs benefit given skin-barrier protection.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Basis 2014 uses a combination of engineering plastics (likely polycarbonate or acrylic for the watch casing), stainless steel for structural components, and standard lithium-polymer battery technology. The watch band typically employs elastomer or silicone compounds for skin contact. Unlike cookware or food-storage products, the chemical leaching risk from wearables is minimal because there is no ingestion pathway, though skin absorption of volatile organics from plastic off-gassing is theoretically possible during initial use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Basis (acquired by Intel in 2014) never published detailed materials safety data sheets or PFAS statements for this product line. No public recalls specific to chemical hazards have been documented for the 2014 Carbon model. The company discontinued consumer health trackers by 2015, shifting focus to enterprise products, which limits ongoing transparency and product support. No third-party certifications (RoHS, REACH compliance documentation) are publicly available for this specific model.
How it compares in its category
Early fitness trackers (2013-2015 era) generally lacked the rigorous supply-chain transparency that modern wearables from Fitbit, Garmin, and Apple now provide. The Basis 2014 is typical of its generation in having minimal public safety documentation. Contemporary devices now carry CE marking and some voluntary material disclosures; by contrast, the 2014 Basis predates mainstream industry standards for wearable material transparency. As a decade-old device, component aging poses greater risk than material toxicity.
If you buy it
Inspect the battery compartment for corrosion, swelling, or leakage before prolonged skin contact; a degraded lithium cell poses burn risk far greater than chemical hazard. Limit continuous wear if skin irritation develops, as older elastomer compounds may leach residual monomers. Do not attempt to disassemble or repair; obsolete electronics repair is not supported. Store in a cool, dry place to slow battery degradation; avoid heat exposure above 60 C (140 F).
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Basis has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More waterproof fitness trackers & cases 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.