Rip Curl Women's Surf Stripe UPF Surf Suit
Avoid or ask Rip Curl directly; no PFAS disclosure on water-repellent swim item.
Rip Curl's surf suit uses water-repellent coating finish standard for performance swimwear, but the brand offers no public statement on PFAS use or avoidance.
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 blend with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Rip Curl Women's Surf Stripe UPF Surf Suit is made of, ingredients and materials
This suit is a polyester blend with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the fabric surface. water-repellent coating treatments on swimwear are typically applied post-manufacture to repel water and extend the life of the garment. The concern here is that traditional water-repellent coating coatings on textiles often rely on PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") to achieve water-repellency, though newer non-fluorinated alternatives exist. Rip Curl has not publicly disclosed what chemistry is used in their water-repellent coating treatment on this product.
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.
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) chemical composition - undisclosed
Water-resistant swimwear almost universally relies on PFAS-based water-repellent coating finishes unless explicitly labeled otherwise. Rip Curl has not disclosed the chemistry of their water-repellent coating treatment, making PFAS presence probable but unconfirmed. Non-fluorinated water-repellent coating alternatives do exist but are not standard in budget and mainstream swim brands.
Microplastic shedding from polyester fibers
All polyester textiles shed microplastics when worn and washed, and water-sports apparel in salt water may shed more due to friction and degradation. Rip Curl provides no information on fiber-shedding rates or microfiber-resistant finishes on this product.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in polyester
No recalls or specific reports of restricted azo dyes in Rip Curl products; however, mass-market polyester apparel routinely uses azo dyes without full disclosure. The 'Surf Stripe' colorway suggests multi-colored construction, which increases dye use but does not confirm carcinogenic azo compounds.
Antimony in polyester
Antimony is a known polyester catalyst sometimes retained in finished fabrics at trace levels. No public data on Rip Curl's antimony levels; mainstream swimwear brands rarely disclose this, and levels are typically low in finished garments.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Formaldehyde-based resins are less common in swimwear than in dress shirts or treated cotton, but possible in wrinkle-resist or shape-retention finishes. No reports specific to this product; standard testing would be required to confirm absence.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Rip Curl is a privately held surf and swimwear brand without publicly available chemical disclosure statements, sustainability reports, or PFAS commitments comparable to larger athletic brands. The company has not published transparency on water-repellent coating chemistry, flame retardants, dyes, or heavy metals in their apparel lines. No major recalls or safety violations specific to this product line are on record, but the absence of disclosure is a red flag for water-resistant products where PFAS are commonly used.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream water-resistant and wetsuit brands (O'Neill, Xcel, Patagonia) now either disclose their water-repellent coating chemistry or have moved to PFAS-free alternatives. Rip Curl's silence on water-repellent coating composition is notably less transparent than competitors who market PFAS-free or bluesign-certified materials. For a product explicitly marketed for water resistance, the lack of chemical clarity puts it below the standard of disclosure expected in the category.
If you buy it
Before purchase, contact Rip Curl's customer service directly and ask whether the water-repellent coating finish contains PFAS, fluorinated chemicals, or other restricted substances. Wash the suit in cool water with gentle detergent before first wear to reduce initial off-gassing of any treatment residues. Avoid high heat (dryer, hot water) as this can degrade the water-repellent coating and potentially accelerate leaching. Replace or retire the suit if the water-repellent coating visibly wears (water no longer beads off) or if seams separate, as frayed polyester fibers may shed microplastics.
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
- Rip Curl has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Rip Curl Women's Surf Stripe UPF Surf Suit?
- 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.