Misfit · Waterproof Fitness Trackers & Cases
Misfit Shine Activity Tracker Black - Waterproof Sleep Monitor
No coating described, and no PFAS statement from the brand.
The product information we reviewed describes unspecified polymer housing, with no water-repellent coating named. Water resistance on products like this usually comes from the material and its seals rather than a surface treatment. The brand has published no PFAS statement for it.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Unspecified polymer housing
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.
Waterproof seal failure and water intrusion
Waterproof rating depends on seal integrity over time. Polymer-to-polymer or polymer-to-metal seals can degrade with UV exposure or repeated immersion, potentially allowing ingress after years of use rather than acute failure.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
BPA & bisphenols
No specific polymer type (PVC, ABS, polycarbonate, etc.) is disclosed for this housing. Given the sealed contact with skin only (not food or hot liquid), and no industry recalls for this model, leaching risk is minimal but material identity remains undocumented.
Source, FDA ↗Heavy metals
Fitness tracker housings typically use stainless steel or plated fasteners; no metal allergy alerts or recalls are on record for the Shine. Skin contact is limited to the back plate during wear.
Source, FDA ↗Adhesive or potting compound off-gassing
No information is available on whether the internal electronics are potted with epoxy or urethane compounds. Sealed devices minimize volatile organic compound (VOC) exposure, but undocumented adhesives remain a minor unknown.
Battery chemical exposure (lithium or electrolyte leakage)
The Shine uses a replaceable coin cell battery, standard for the era. No battery rupture or electrolyte leakage recalls are documented. Risk is low for intact devices but increases if housing is cracked.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Misfit Shine uses an unspecified polymer housing, typical for fitness trackers in this era. No coating, paint, or surface treatment is documented, meaning the primary exposure pathway is the plastic itself. Polymer housings in sealed wearables like this generally do not leach significantly into skin during normal wear, as they avoid the heat and wet-contact scenarios that trigger leaching in cookware or food storage.
The brand's record and disclosure
Misfit (owned by Fossil Group as of 2015) has published no specific PFAS or chemical hazard disclosures for this product. The brand has no known product recalls linked to chemical migration or coating failure in fitness trackers. Fossil Group has not issued public commitments to PFAS reduction in wearables, though the sealed polymer design itself reduces typical PFAS coating risk.
How it compares in its category
The Shine's simple polymer-only design with no adhesives or coatings presents lower concern for certain chemical exposures compared to trackers using metal bezels with nickel plating or rubber bands treated with flame retardants. Compared to larger waterproof smartwatches with more complex electronics and sealing systems, this minimal design lowers failure points. It sits in the lower-risk zone for wearable chemical hazards, though older fitness trackers in general lack rigorous chemical disclosure.
If you buy it
Rinse the device with fresh water after saltwater or chlorine exposure to prevent buildup on seals. Avoid prolonged direct sunlight storage, as polymer can degrade and become brittle over years. Do not immerse in hot water above 40°C (104°F), as seals may weaken. Replace the battery or device if cracks appear in the housing, as water intrusion would then become possible.
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
- Misfit 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.