Nike · Running & Athletic Shoes
Nike Winflo 12 GORE-TEX Men's Waterproof Road Running Shoes
Skip until Nike discloses GORE-TEX and water-repellent coating treatment details.
GORE-TEX waterproofing often uses PFAS. Nike does not publicly disclose whether this shoe's water-repellent coating finish contains PFAS. No third-party certification available.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
GORE-TEX membrane with unspecified water-repellent coating finish on textile upper
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Nike Winflo 12 GORE-TEX Running Shoes is made of, ingredients and materials
This shoe pairs a textile upper (likely polyester or nylon mesh and synthetics) with a GORE-TEX membrane laminated to the interior. GORE-TEX itself is expanded Teflon-type coating (Teflon), a Teflon-family coating that does not off-gas or leach under normal wearing conditions. However, the water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the textile outer layer is the critical unknown, industry-standard water-repellent coating treatments rely on long-chain or short-chain PFAS compounds to achieve water resistance, and Nike has not disclosed whether this shoe uses legacy PFAS, GenX, or PFOA-free alternatives.
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.
Azo dyes in textile dyeing
The shoe's colored textile components (upper and lining) may be dyed with azo colorants, which are legal but can release carcinogenic amines under certain conditions (sweat, friction). Nike does not disclose dye chemistry for this model; Oeko-Tex certification would exclude the most hazardous azo dyes, but this shoe lacks such certification.
Antimony in polyester fibers
Polyester in the shoe's upper and lining may contain antimony as a catalyst residue from polymerization. Levels are typically low and not expected to migrate during wear, but antimony is a toxic metal and its presence is not publicly disclosed for Nike shoes.
water-repellent coating off-gassing or volatiles
Some runners report chemical odors from new waterproof shoes, consistent with water-repellent coating solvent or volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing during the first few wears. This is temporary but not well-characterized for this specific model; airing the shoe outdoors before wear may reduce exposure.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nike polyester and nylon uppers are typically not treated with formaldehyde-based wrinkle or shrink-resist finishes for athletic footwear; no public recalls or warnings for this model document formaldehyde exposure risk.
Source, ATSDR ↗Teflon-type coating inhalation risk from GORE-TEX membrane
GORE-TEX membrane is bonded to the textile interior and not intended to shed fibers during normal running. No public data suggests Teflon-type coating particle inhalation from wearing this shoe; risk is theoretical only if the membrane is damaged and fibers are disturbed.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Nike has made public commitments to phasing out certain PFAS in apparel but has not transparently disclosed treatment details for individual shoe lines, including GORE-TEX products. The brand does not publish water-repellent coating chemistry on product labels or sustainability reports. No independent third-party certification (such as STANDARD 100 by Oeko-Tex or similar) for this model is documented, limiting verification of hazardous substance avoidance.
How it compares in its category
Most waterproof running shoes in this price tier use GORE-TEX or equivalent membranes with conventional PFAS-based water-repellent coating finishes. Competing brands (Asics, Brooks, HOKA) rarely disclose water-repellent coating treatment chemistry either, making this shoe typical of the market but not differentiated on transparency. Brands offering PFAS-free or certified water-repellent coating alternatives (e.g., Salomon with specific Oeko-Tex certified lines) exist but are less common in mainstream road running categories.
If you buy it
Wash by hand in cool water and air dry to avoid accelerating water-repellent coating breakdown and potential reapplication needs. Avoid machine drying or heat sources, which do not degrade GORE-TEX but may damage the textile upper. water-repellent coating coatings degrade with wear and washing, typically lasting 6 to 12 months of regular use before water beading diminishes. If you proceed despite PFAS concerns, replacement every 12 to 18 months based on wear (not coating) is standard for running shoes and reduces cumulative exposure.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Nike has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore running & athletic shoes 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.