Lands' End Women's Tugless X-Back One Piece Swimsuit
Avoid unless Lands' End discloses water-repellent coating chemistry; swimsuit water-repellency historically depends on PFAS.
Lands' End does not publicly disclose the water-repellent treatment chemistry used in this tugless swimsuit. Modern swimwear durability often depends on water-repellent coating coatings, which traditionally used PFAS compounds, leaving PFAS risk unresolved without transparency or testing.
The better-graded swap
Patagonia
Patagonia Women's Bottom Turn Racerback Bikini Top
90/100 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 with likely water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Lands' End Women's Tugless Piece Swimsuit is made of, ingredients and materials
This swimsuit is a nylon-spandex blend, likely 80/20 or similar ratio. Nylon is a synthetic polyamide that is chemically stable in normal use but relies on a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the fabric surface to maintain water shedding. water-repellent coating coatings historically used long-chain PFAS compounds; modern alternatives exist but are not standard across the industry. The spandex component is prone to degradation from UV exposure, chlorine, and salt water, which is separate from any chemical leaching risk.
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
water-repellent coating chemistry (unspecified)
Lands' End does not disclose whether the water-repellent finish uses PFAS or PFAS-free alternatives. Historical nylon swimwear water-repellent coating finishes relied on long-chain PFAS; newer formulations may use shorter-chain or non-fluorinated options, but no public statement confirms which this product contains. Skin contact with the finish is minimal but prolonged wet wear could increase migration risk.
Nylon degradation and leaching from chlorine/salt
Nylon fibers break down when exposed to chlorine and salt water, releasing microscopic particles and potentially mobilizing any residual fabric dyes or finish components. This is not a manufacturing defect but inherent to the material; well-documented in swimwear testing. Rinsing immediately after pool/ocean use reduces this risk.
Spandex UV and chlorine sensitivity
Spandex (elastane) loses elasticity and may degrade into smaller oligomers when exposed to UV light, chlorine, and saltwater. This is well-established in textile literature and affects all swimwear blends. Shade drying and prompt rinsing mitigate but do not eliminate the effect.
Microfiber shedding during laundering
All synthetic swimwear sheds microfibers when washed. Nylon microfiber shedding is lower than polyester but still occurs, especially as the garment ages. Hand washing or a mesh bag reduces shedding compared to machine washing.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes or other colorants (unconfirmed)
Lands' End does not publish dye or colorant sourcing for this swimsuit. Nylon readily accepts acid dyes; no specific safety incident or recall implicates this product. OEKO-TEX certification would confirm restricted substance limits, but Lands' End does not seek this for swimwear lines.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Lands' End does not publicly disclose the chemistry of its water-repellent coating finish on this product or state whether it uses PFAS-free alternatives. The brand has no published PFAS commitment or chemical transparency policy on record. No specific recalls or safety warnings for this swimsuit model are documented. The absence of third-party certifications (such as OEKO-TEX or bluesign) leaves the chemical composition unverified by independent labs.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream swimsuit brands (Speedo, Nike, Target athleisure lines) do not disclose water-repellent coating chemistry either, making this product typical rather than exceptional in transparency. Some premium and eco-focused brands (Patagonia, Girlfriend Collective) have moved toward PFAS-free water-repellent coating or openly state their approach. Lands' End occupies the middle market, where chemical disclosure lags behind sustainability-first competitors. The tugless and x-back design are durability and comfort features unrelated to chemical safety.
If you buy it
Rinse thoroughly after each use in chlorinated pools or salt water to reduce spandex degradation and remove residual chemicals. Air dry in shade, not direct sunlight, to preserve elasticity. Expect the water-repellent finish to fade after 20-40 washes, at which point the suit is still wearable but less water-shedding. Do not machine wash on hot or use fabric softener, which accelerates spandex breakdown and may strip any water-repellent coating. Replace when the elastic loses recovery or seams show stress.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Lands' End has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Lands' End Women's Tugless X-Back One Piece Swimsuit?
- Nylon/polyester blend with elastane (standard swimwear)
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Elastane (spandex) degradation under heat or chlorine
- Cotton/cotton-blend seersucker plaid
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Azo dyes and colorfast stability
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- Polyester/nylon swimsuit fabric, likely uncoated or standard finish
- Azo dyes and synthetic colorants
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore swimwear 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.