Speedo Women's Endurance+ Medalist Swimsuit
No PFAS disclosure on water-repellent coating treatment; many rival brands now disclose.
Endurance+ fabrics commonly feature water-repellent coating coatings historically based on PFAS chemistry. Speedo refuses to say whether this swimsuit uses PFAS-free water-repellent coating or conventional fluorinated treatments, with no third-party testing or brand commitment to PFAS elimination.
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Material
Polyester with water-repellent coating finish
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.
PFAS
Speedo does not disclose whether this product uses legacy long-chain PFAS, newer short-chain PFAS, or PFAS-free chemistry. Without transparency, consumer risk assessment is limited; skin contact with water-repellent coating coatings on wet fabric is theoretically possible, especially in chlorinated water.
Source: ATSDR ↗Microplastic shedding during use and laundering
Polyester fabrics shed microfibers with repeated washing and chlorine exposure; this is a known characteristic of the material class, not specific to Speedo. Consumer shedding risk is environmental rather than direct health toxicity, but frequent laundering accelerates fiber loss.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in polyester coloring
No recalls or safety alerts specific to Speedo swimwear dyes. Polyester swimwear typically uses colorfast dyes, but restricted azo dyes (capable of releasing carcinogenic amines) are not independently verified as absent in this product. Speedo does not publish dye safety certification.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester swimwear may use formaldehyde-based resins for dimensional stability. Speedo does not disclose formaldehyde content. Residual formaldehyde levels are typically minimal in finished swimwear after rinsing, but initial off-gassing or skin contact with treated seams is theoretically possible.
Source: ATSDR ↗Antimony in polyester fiber (processing catalyst residue)
Antimony is used as a catalyst in polyester synthesis and may remain in trace amounts in finished fiber. No published testing or recalls address antimony levels in Speedo swimwear. Typical food-contact plastic limits do not apply to textiles, so regulatory oversight is absent.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Speedo Endurance+ Medalist is polyester with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the fabric surface. Polyester itself is chemically stable and does not leach plasticizers like BPA or phthalates under normal wear. The water-repellent coating is the chemical unknown: many water-repellent coating finishes historically used long-chain PFOA or PFOS, though some manufacturers have switched to shorter-chain or PFAS-free alternatives. Speedo's treatment choice is not publicly disclosed.
The brand's record and disclosure
Speedo has not published a commitment to PFAS-free water-repellent coating treatments or transparent ingredient disclosure for swimwear coatings, unlike some competitors (e.g., Patagonia, which details its water-repellent coating strategy). The brand maintains no published safety certifications specific to chemical restrictions in swimwear. No formal safety recalls or chemical contamination incidents for this product line are on public record. However, silence on PFAS use in a water-repellent coating product is notable given industry awareness of the issue since the 2010s.
How it compares in its category
Most performance swimwear brands (Speedo, Arena, TYR, Nike) use water-repellent coating finishes without transparent chemical disclosure; few guarantee PFAS-free treatment. Brands like Patagonia explicitly avoid PFAS in swimwear but at higher price points. Speedo's Endurance+ line is mid-market and standard for non-disclosure. This product is neither an outlier for opacity nor a leader in transparency within competitive swimming apparel.
If you buy it
Rinse after saltwater or chlorinated pool use to reduce skin contact with residual chlorine and water-repellent coating compounds. Wash in cool water with mild detergent; avoid fabric softeners and high heat, which can degrade polyester and alter water-repellent coating integrity. Replace when elasticity noticeably declines (typically 1-2 years of regular use) or water-repellent coating performance visibly worsens (water no longer beads on fabric). Do not tumble dry; air dry flat to preserve coating and fiber longevity.
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
- Speedo has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Swimwear
Speedo
Women's Eco Solid Adult Super Pro Swimsuit
Polyester/nylon blend (standard swimsuit fabric)
Lower concern, typical swimwear without known water-repellent treatment, though Speedo has not disclosed PFAS avoidance.
⚠Risky category by default
Patagonia
Women's Bottom Turn Racerback Bikini Top
Nylon/polyester blend with elastane (standard swimwear)
Lower concern, basic swimwear without water-repellent coating, though Patagonia's broader PFAS practices warrant review.
⚠Risky category by default
Aerie
String Triangle Bikini Top
nylon/polyester blend (standard swimwear)
Lower PFAS concern, untreated swimwear unlikely to require water-repellent coating chemicals.
⚠Risky category by default
More 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.