New Balance · Sports Performance Undergarments
New Balance Men's Premium 3 Inch Trunk No Fly
Uncoated athletic trunk without water-resistant coating.
This nylon and polyester athletic trunk lacks water-repellent coating waterproofing treatment. No PFAS-associated coatings typically applied, though New Balance offers no public disclosure.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
nylon mesh and polyester liner, no waterproofing treatment
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.
Azo dyes
Polyester liners are typically dyed with azo colorants, which can release carcinogenic amines under certain conditions (sweat, friction, UV). This is a class-wide risk for colored athletic wear, not specific to New Balance, but not independently verified for this SKU.
Antimony in polyester
Polyester production may involve antimony as a catalyst. Levels in finished garments are generally low and not a primary migration route, but antimony contamination in raw fiber is a known industry concern unaddressed in New Balance's public materials.
Microfiber shedding
Nylon and polyester garments release microfibers during washing and wear. This is documented for the synthetic apparel category broadly; no brand-specific testing exists for this trunk, but the risk is inherent to the material composition.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No formaldehyde-based finishing or wrinkle-resist treatments are standard in basic nylon-polyester trunks without special performance claims. New Balance does not advertise or document formaldehyde use in this product line.
Source, ATSDR ↗Flame retardants
Athletic trunks are not subject to sleepwear or furniture flame-retardant regulations. No flame-retardant treatment is disclosed or typical for this product category.
Source, EPA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This trunk combines nylon mesh (likely 100% nylon) as the shell with a polyester liner, both common synthetic fibers in athletic wear. Neither material requires chemical water-repellency coatings, which eliminates the main vector for PFAS in performance apparel. Nylon itself can shed microfibers when worn and washed, and polyester similarly sheds; this is a category-wide concern unrelated to this specific product's construction.
The brand's record and disclosure
New Balance has not published specific material safety or PFAS reduction commitments as of recent public records, positioning the brand as neutral rather than proactive on chemical transparency. The company does not appear in major chemical-safety controversies specific to trunk or apparel lines. No recalls related to formaldehyde, azo dyes, or heavy metal finishes are documented for New Balance athletic wear in this segment.
How it compares in its category
Uncoated nylon-polyester trunks are a standard construction across mid-tier athletic brands (Nike, Adidas, Under Armour). This product avoids waterproofing chemistry, placing it at lower chemical risk than water-resistant or water-repellent coating-treated alternatives common in premium lines. The 3-inch inseam is conservative and typical for the category, with no unusual material density or finish complexity.
If you buy it
Wash in cold water and avoid high heat (dryer heat can degrade polyester and increase microfiber shedding). Do not bleach or use fabric softeners, which can weaken synthetic fibers and promote degradation. Replace once elasticity visibly fails or seams show stress; typical lifespan is 2-3 years with regular athletic use. Microfiber loss is inherent to synthetic apparel; mesh bags during wash reduce environmental shedding.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- New Balance has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More sports performance undergarments 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.