Quiksilver · Waterproof Sports Gear
Quiksilver Men's Legion Cargo 20" Amphibian Hybrid Shorts
Wait for Quiksilver to disclose water-repellent coating chemistry.
Amphibian hybrid shorts feature water-repellent coating treatment for water repellency, but Quiksilver does not publicly disclose which chemical is used. Many water-repellent coating finishes contain PFAS.
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Material
Polyester blend with water-repellent coating water repellent treatment
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Quiksilver Men's Legion Hybrid Shorts is made of, ingredients and materials
These shorts are polyester blend fabric treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish. Polyester itself is chemically stable during normal wear, but the water-repellent coating is the concern, most water-repellent coating treatments historically used PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") to achieve water resistance, though some brands have switched to fluorine-free alternatives. Quiksilver has not publicly disclosed which chemistry they use in this product, leaving the actual hazard profile unclear.
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.
Antimony in polyester fiber
Polyester production sometimes involves antimony as a catalyst; levels in finished apparel are typically low and not considered a skin exposure risk during normal wear, but not independently verified for this product.
PFAS
Beyond PFAS content, some water-repellent coating chemistry (fluorine-free alternatives) may off-gas volatile organic compounds during initial wear or upon heating. Risk depends on specific formulation, which is not disclosed.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastic shedding from polyester blend
Polyester textiles shed microfibers during washing; this is an environmental and ingestion concern rather than a direct wearer hazard, but relevant to overall product safety profile.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in polyester
No specific recalls or reports of carcinogenic azo dyes in Quiksilver polyester apparel. Polyester in legitimate brands is typically dyed with non-azo colorants, but batch-level verification is not publicly available for this product.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Water-repellent coating and other fabric finishes can contain formaldehyde as a cross-linking agent, though most modern sportswear brands have reduced or eliminated it. Quiksilver's finish chemistry is undisclosed, so risk cannot be assessed.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Quiksilver has no publicly available commitment to PFAS-free water-repellent coating treatments and does not disclose the specific chemistry of water repellent finishes on their product pages or technical documentation. The company has not faced major recalls or controversies specific to water-repellent coating chemistry in these shorts, but the silence on formulation is notable in an industry where competitors increasingly advertise fluorine-free alternatives. This lack of transparency is the primary concern rather than confirmed contamination.
How it compares in its category
Amphibian hybrid shorts from Quiksilver sit in the mid-market segment alongside brands like O'Neill and Billabong, most of which also use water-repellent coating-treated polyester without explicit disclosure. Some premium competitors (e.g., Patagonia, certain Arc'teryx lines) now market fluorine-free water-repellent coating explicitly; budget brands often do the same or skip water-repellent coating altogether. Quiksilver's approach is typical for the sportswear category but increasingly seen as lagging on transparency relative to peers.
If you buy it
Wash in cool water with mild detergent; avoid high-heat drying, which can degrade the water-repellent coating and potentially release volatile compounds. The water-repellent coating treatment will wear off after 20-40 washes, at which point reapplication products (which also vary in chemistry) or replacement becomes necessary. If PFAS exposure is a personal concern, contact Quiksilver directly to request water-repellent coating formulation data before purchase, and consider switching to a competitor with published fluorine-free certification if they do not respond.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Quiksilver 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 Quiksilver Men's Legion Cargo 20" Amphibian Hybrid Shorts?
- Woven polyester/nylon blend, no waterproof or stain-resistant treatment specified
- Heavy metals
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- Polyester mesh and nylon blend, standard athletic construction
- Formaldehyde / VOCs
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- Polyester blend with PFAS-free water-repellent coating finish
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Fragrance or dye allergen sensitivity
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore waterproof sports gear 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.