Women's Nike One High-Waisted 7/8 Leggings
Lower concern, PFAS risk appears minimal but Nike discloses nothing.
Nike's One High-Waisted leggings are standard nylon and polyester athletic wear with no disclosed water-repellent or stain-resistant finish, reducing typical PFAS exposure. Nike has not published a public PFAS commitment.
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Material
nylon/polyester blend, no waterproof or stain-resist coating disclosed
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Antimony in polyester
Polyester synthesis can involve antimony catalysts; levels in finished garments are typically well below concern thresholds and do not leach significantly during wear or washing. Nike does not disclose antimony use or limits for this product.
Microplastic shedding during laundry
All synthetic athletic leggings shed microfibers, especially in the first 10 washes and with each wash cycle thereafter. This is an environmental and secondary water-quality concern rather than a direct wearer hazard, but frequent washing accelerates it.
What’s reassuring
Safe base material
Made from ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber with no PFAS risk.
Heavy metals
Nike activewear is manufactured under REACH compliance, which restricts the most hazardous azo dyes. No recalls or testing failures for lead, cadmium, or restricted azo compounds in Nike athletic wear are on record.
Source: FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
This uncoated nylon/polyester blend carries no disclosed wrinkle-resist or sizing treatment. Formaldehyde risk is minimal unless a resin finish was applied during dyeing, which Nike does not advertise for this line.
Source: ATSDR ↗Elastane (spandex) degradation and leaching
Elastane is chemically stable during normal wear and washing. Degradation occurs only with prolonged heat (dryer, direct sunlight), detergent buildup, or age; no established leaching of elastane monomers at body temperature or in sweat.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
These leggings are a nylon/polyester blend, both synthetic polymers that are stable at body temperature and typical washing conditions. The absence of waterproof or stain-resist coating disclosure is favorable, as such coatings often contain PFAS or other finishes. Nylon and polyester themselves do not leach regulated heavy metals or plasticizers during normal wear; the primary concern with synthetics is microplastic shedding during washing, which affects the environment rather than direct wearer exposure.
The brand's record and disclosure
Nike has faced scrutiny for opacity on chemical use in textiles and has not published a comprehensive restricted substance list or PFAS phase-out commitment, despite competitor brands doing so. The company does comply with major apparel chemical safety standards (REACH, ZDHC Gateway) in manufacturing, but consumer-facing disclosure remains minimal. No major recalls or contamination incidents are on record for Nike activewear due to hazardous dyes, resins, or heavy metals in recent years.
How it compares in its category
Women's athletic leggings in this price and performance tier typically use the same nylon/polyester blend without special finishes. Nike's lack of visible flame retardants or antimicrobial coatings places it on par with mainstream competitors like Lululemon and Adidas in baseline chemical safety, though smaller brands often publish more detailed material sourcing. The uncoated blend is actually preferable to water-resistant variants, which are more likely to contain hidden PFAS or water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finishes.
If you buy it
Wash in cold water and gentle cycles to minimize microplastic shedding and preserve elastane durability. Do not use fabric softeners, which can degrade moisture-wicking and accumulate on fibers. Inspect seams and high-stress areas (waistband, gusset) annually for pilling or degradation; replace if elastic loses recovery or seams fray, as microfiber exposure increases. Air dry rather than tumble dry to extend garment life and reduce thermal stress on synthetic fibers.
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
- Nike has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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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.