Withings · Water-Resistant Smart Rings & Bands
Withings Recycled Woven PET Wristbands for Steel HR, Steel HR Sport, Move ECG, Move, Steel, and ScanWatch
Lower concern. Material as recorded is not linked to PFAS.
Withings wristbands use recycled woven PET polyester. No water-repellent finish on record. Brand has no PFAS statement on record.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Recycled woven PET polyester
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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.
Heavy metals
Recycled PET wristbands often undergo dyeing. Withings does not disclose dye chemistry or heavy metal testing (cadmium, lead in pigments). Azo dye breakdown under friction or UV is a theoretical concern but not reported in practice for smartwatch bands.
Source, FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Woven synthetics may be treated with formaldehyde-based resins for durability. No documentation from Withings confirms or excludes this. Off-gassing would be minimal on skin contact but higher in a sealed closet.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastics
Woven PET sheds microscopic fibers during wear and washing. This is not a skin toxicity hazard but an environmental and systemic ingestion concern if fibers contaminate washing water.
Source, EPA ↗Contact irritation or allergic sensitization from residual processing chemicals
Recycled PET may retain processing oils, solvents, or finishing residues not fully removed during reprocessing. Individual sensitivity varies; no complaints are on record for this band.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Degradation of band coating or adhesives over time releasing leachables
Woven PET does not have a coating like silicone bands do. No adhesives are exposed to skin. Longevity concerns are mechanical (fraying) rather than chemical.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This wristband is woven from recycled PET polyester, the same polymer used in plastic bottles. PET is chemically stable and does not inherently leach plasticizers or endocrine disruptors under normal skin contact. Recycled PET avoids virgin petrochemical extraction but undergoes the same polymer chemistry as virgin material. The woven construction (rather than solid casting) further reduces contact intensity with skin.
The brand's record and disclosure
Withings has not published detailed chemical safety certifications or restricted substance lists for this wristband line. The brand markets the recycled content as an environmental benefit but does not disclose testing for heavy metals, dyes, or processing residues. No product recalls or toxicity complaints are documented for Withings wristbands. The absence of transparency does not indicate a problem, only that safety assurance relies on PET's inherent inertness rather than third-party verification.
How it compares in its category
Woven PET wristbands show lower concern for off-gassing of volatile compounds and slower degradation compared to silicone or rubber alternatives. They avoid textile-specific hazards like formaldehyde resins or azo dyes if no chemical finishing is applied. Most smartwatch bands do not undergo formal safety testing; this product is typical in relying on material selection rather than certification. Recycled content slightly reduces lifecycle toxicity versus virgin polyester but does not improve chemical safety in use.
If you buy it
Hand wash in cool water with mild soap; avoid hot water or bleach, which can weaken synthetic fibers. Do not machine wash or dry clean. Inspect the band regularly for fraying, pilling, or discoloration; replace if degradation exposes underlying layers. Store away from direct sunlight to prevent UV brittleness. If you have sensitive skin, wear briefly at first to rule out contact irritation from dyes or finishing agents.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 75% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Withings has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More water-resistant smart rings & bands 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.