Dick's Sporting Goods (house brand) · Yoga & Exercise Mats
Calia No-Slip Yoga Mat Towel
Yoga mat towel likely uses water-repellent coating treatment; PFAS risk unclear without disclosure.
Microfiber yoga towels typically receive water-repellent finish, often PFAS-based. Dick's provides no PFAS transparency. Contact brand directly for coating details.
The better-graded swap
Retrospec
Retrospec Solana Yoga Mat Thick w/Nylon Strap for Men & Women
75/100 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
microfiber polyester with water-repellent coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
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.
Water-repellent coating composition (water-repellent coating treatment)
Microfiber yoga towels commonly use fluorinated or PFAS-based water-repellent coating finishes for water and sweat resistance. Calia's coating type is not disclosed; contact with skin during use is minimal but repeated washing may gradually release residue. No health incidents are documented for this product specifically.
Microplastics
Microfiber textiles can shed fibers, especially when new or after repeated washing. Shed fibers are not absorbed systemically during skin contact, but washing releases microplastics into water systems. This is a material-class concern, not unique to Calia, but relevant to disposal and environmental impact.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in polyester coloring
No recalls or documented issues for Calia yoga towels regarding hazardous azo dyes. Standard polyester athletic wear regulations (e.g., OEKO-TEX limits) are typically met by major retailers, though Dick's does not advertise third-party dye certification for this product.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Microfiber fabrics may use formaldehyde-based resins for wrinkle resistance or durability. Calia product specifications do not mention formaldehyde treatment, and no warnings or testing results are publicly available for this specific towel.
Source, ATSDR ↗Antimony in polyester fiber
Polyester production sometimes involves antimony catalysts; residual antimony can be present in finished fiber. Levels in apparel-grade polyester are typically far below any toxicological concern, and no specific data or warnings exist for Calia towels.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Calia's yoga mat towel is microfiber polyester, a synthetic fabric engineered for absorbency and grip. The product includes a water-repellent (water-repellent coating) finish, which is typically applied during manufacturing to shed sweat and moisture. Microfiber itself has no hazard of this kind on record in normal use, but the water-repellent coating chemistry is the critical unknown here, Dick's Sporting Goods has not disclosed whether this treatment uses PFAS-based compounds (common in budget athletic textiles) or fluorine-free alternatives.
The brand's record and disclosure
Dick's Sporting Goods has not published PFAS policies, chemical disclosure statements, or third-party safety certifications for this house brand product. The company does not appear on public lists of brands with strong chemical transparency commitments. Without direct inquiry to the manufacturer, consumers cannot confirm the exact water-repellent coating chemistry used in this towel.
How it compares in its category
Yoga mat towels in this price tier typically use microfiber with water-repellent coatings; this is standard. Higher-end alternatives from brands like Manduka or Lululemon often disclose their coating types or use PFAS-free treatments. Budget house brands rarely provide this transparency, placing Calia in the middle-ground for accountability rather than upper-tier performance or lower-tier cost.
If you buy it
Wash before first use to minimize any coating residue or off-gassing from manufacturing. Machine wash in cool water with mild detergent; avoid fabric softeners, which can degrade grip. Do not bleach or dry-clean. Replace when microfiber pilling becomes heavy or grip noticeably diminishes (typically 1-2 years of regular use). Air dry to preserve the water-repellent finish longer.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 55% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Dick's Sporting Goods (house brand) has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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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.