Splits59 Women's Airweight High Waist 7/8 Pocket Legging
Lower concern; no water-repellent coating treatment typical for unpadded performance leggings.
Splits59 Airweight leggings are nylon/spandex with no disclosed water-resistant treatment. Standard stretch activewear rarely receives PFAS-containing finishes; brand provides no PFAS statement.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
nylon/spandex blend (Airweight fabric)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Splits59 Women's Airweight High Waist 7/8 is made of, ingredients and materials
Splits59 Airweight leggings are constructed from a nylon and spandex blend, a common high-performance textile pairing. Nylon provides durability and moisture-wicking; spandex adds stretch recovery. Neither material inherently leaches harmful chemicals into skin during normal wear, though both can retain residual processing chemicals if not rinsed during manufacturing. The 'Airweight' designation suggests a lightweight knit with minimal coating or treatment, which reduces the likelihood of problematic finish chemicals.
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.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon textiles are sometimes treated with formaldehyde resins for wrinkle resistance or dye fixation. No recall or test data on record for this specific Splits59 product, but residual formaldehyde can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals if not thoroughly rinsed during manufacturing.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Athletic wear typically uses commercial acid and fiber-reactive dyes; some azo dyes are restricted under REACH and other regulations, but legal azo dyes remain in use. Heavy metals (cadmium, lead) in dyes are rare in major-market apparel due to legal limits, but traceability is opaque for many brands without third-party certification.
Source, FDA ↗Microplastic shedding from synthetic fibers
All nylon/spandex blends shed microfibers during washing and wear. Splits59 does not market reduced-shed treatment; spandex degrades faster than nylon, increasing shedding over time. This is a well-documented environmental hazard affecting all synthetic textiles, not unique to this brand.
Residual manufacturing chemicals and dyes
New athletic garments often contain residual processing chemicals (surfactants, solvents) that rinse out during first wash. Splits59 provides no prewash guidance on packaging, so consumers may wear unwashed leggings. Sensitive skin may react to residual finishes; pre-washing minimizes this risk.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Antimony in polyester/nylon catalysts
Antimony oxide is used as a polyester catalyst in some textile manufacturing. Nylon production typically uses different catalysts, so direct risk is minimal, but no public testing specific to Splits59 Airweight exists.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Splits59 maintains no published PFAS transparency statement or third-party chemical certifications (e.g., OEKO-TEX, bluesign) in widely available marketing materials. The brand has not faced documented recalls or public safety warnings related to this product line. Without explicit disclosure of dyeing processes or formaldehyde-resin finishing treatments, standard industry assumptions apply, reputable athletic brands typically comply with legal limits in major markets, but full supply-chain accountability is opaque.
How it compares in its category
Performance leggings in this price range (mid-market athletic wear) generally follow similar nylon/spandex construction with minimal chemical treatment, making Splits59 typical rather than exceptional. Competitors like Lululemon and Athleta offer comparable fabrics but with more transparent sustainability reporting. High-end brands often certify textiles; budget alternatives may carry higher residual chemical risk. Splits59 occupies middle ground, standard materials without premium transparency, but no documented hazard profile worse than peers.
If you buy it
Wash new leggings before first wear to remove residual dyes and finishes. Machine wash in cool water with mild detergent; avoid fabric softeners, which can degrade spandex elasticity. Do not expose to prolonged heat (tumble dry low or air dry preferred) as high heat can break down spandex fibers and potentially accelerate microplastic shedding. Replace after visible pilling, stretching, or color fading; typical lifespan is 1-3 years with regular use. Avoid chlorine bleach.
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
- Splits59 has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More activewear 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.