Nike Women's Swim Ribbed Texture U-Back Low Leg One Piece
Skip until Nike confirms PFAS-free water-repellent coating or switches to fluorine-free alternatives.
Swimwear water repellency typically depends on PFAS-based water-repellent coating treatments. Nike provides no disclosure of coating chemistry or PFAS status.
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
Polyester with water-repellent coating finish
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Nike Women's Swim Ribbed Leg One Piece is made of, ingredients and materials
This swimsuit is 100% polyester with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the fabric surface. water-repellent coating coatings are typically fluorocarbon-based (PFAS-containing) though some brands have switched to fluorine-free alternatives. Nike has not publicly disclosed which chemistry they use in this product, making the actual PFAS exposure unknowable without independent testing. Polyester itself is inert and low-risk when worn, but the finish is the uncertainty point.
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.
PFAS
Fluorocarbon-based water repellency coatings are the industry default and likely present here, but Nike's lack of public disclosure means the actual chemistry is unknown. PFAS can migrate to skin during wear or to washing water during laundering.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastics
Polyester sheds microfibers during washing and wear. The extent is material-dependent and exacerbated by friction and degradation of coatings. This product will release polyester microfibers into water, though this is category-inherent rather than product-specific.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in polyester
No recalls or test reports of banned azo dyes in Nike swimwear. Polyester fabrics can be dyed with azo compounds, but regulatory limits in the US and EU make this unlikely at Nike's production scale, though independent testing would be needed to confirm.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No public reports of formaldehyde-based resins in this product line. Nike generally avoids legacy finishes, but the water-repellent coating chemistry remains opaque.
Source, ATSDR ↗Antimony in polyester
Antimony trioxide is used as a catalyst in some polyester production but is immobilized in the polymer matrix and does not leach during normal wear or washing. No contamination reports exist for Nike swimwear.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Nike has faced criticism for non-transparency on PFAS use across its performance apparel lines and has not committed to a company-wide PFAS-free water repellency transition as of recent public statements. The company does not routinely publish water-repellent coating chemistry details for individual products on retail pages. No major recalls or established contamination incidents are on record for this specific product model. Nike's silence on PFAS is a pattern, not a product-specific violation, but reflects a broader industry avoidance of disclosure.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream performance swimwear (Nike, Speedo, Adidas) uses fluorocarbon water-repellent coating finishes by default; truly PFAS-free options exist from specialty brands (e.g., Patagonia's recycled nylon with wax-based water repellency) but are less common and pricier. Nike's product is typical of the mass market, meaning the PFAS risk here is category-wide, not brand-unique. However, the lack of disclosure is more aggressive than some competitors who at least label water-repellent coating method.
If you buy it
Rinse after saltwater or chlorine use to reduce dwell time of any surface coatings on skin. Avoid high-heat drying or direct sunlight for extended periods, as this can degrade the water-repellent coating finish and potentially increase microfiber shedding or coating particle release. Expect the water-repellent coating finish to degrade over 50-100 wears; replacement or reapplication may be needed. If PFAS exposure concerns you, inquire with Nike customer service or consider brands with transparent PFAS-free certifications before purchasing.
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.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Nike Women's Swim Ribbed Texture U-Back Low Leg One Piece?
- 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.