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
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.
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 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 ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
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.
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 we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Quiksilver has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Waterproof Sports Gear
Reebok
Men's Athlete Speed Shorts
Polyester mesh and nylon blend, standard athletic construction
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding
Moderate concern
Lower concern. Standard athletic shorts without water-resistant coating.
⚠Risky category by default
Patagonia
Men's Home Waters Hybrid Shorts
Polyester blend with PFAS-free water-repellent coating finish
Antimony in polyester fiber
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from polyester
Limited concern
Lower concern. Patagonia phased out PFAS-based water-repellent coating; verify current batch.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Adidas
Men's Workout Essentials Base Woven Shorts
Woven polyester/nylon blend, no waterproof or stain-resistant treatment specified
Azo dyes in synthetic textiles
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester fiber
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding during washing
Limited concern
Lower concern; basic woven shorts without water-repellent coating treatment.
⚠Risky category by default
More 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.