New Balance · Waterproof Sports & Performance Undergarments
New Balance Men's Premium Performance 3" Trunk Underwear 2-Pack
Lower concern. Bare synthetic blend with no waterproof or stain treatments.
Premium performance trunk underwear uses polyester and elastane without apparent water repellent or stain-resistant coatings. No PFAS disclosure from New Balance, but the material itself is not a typical PFAS vector.
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Material
polyester and elastane blend
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
Category baseline
clothing is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This trunk is a polyester-elastane (spandex) blend, standard for athletic underwear because it stretches, dries quickly, and resists shrinkage. Polyester is a synthetic polymer that does not naturally break down and sheds microfibers when washed, though elastane adds durability over time. The absence of waterproof or stain-repellent coatings (which would add PFAS) is a safety advantage. Neither material requires chemical cross-linking like cotton dyes, so formaldehyde-resin finish risk is minimal in this category.
The brand's record and disclosure
New Balance has not published a detailed chemical disclosure policy or sustainability report specific to underwear or intimate apparel, and does not currently advertise compliance with bluesign or OEKO-TEX standards for this product. No major product recalls or formaldehyde warnings have been documented for New Balance intimate apparel. The company's silence on PFAS use in athletic textiles is typical for the category but reflects limited transparency.
How it compares in its category
Men's performance trunks in this price range are predominantly polyester-elastane; New Balance sits in the middle of the market. Competitors like Under Armour and Lululemon similarly do not disclose chemical treatments for basic briefs. Organic cotton alternatives (e.g., Patagonia, Boody) eliminate synthetic microfiber shed but cost more and lack moisture-wicking. This product is broadly representative of mainstream athletic underwear with no material safety advantage or disadvantage.
If you buy it
Wash in cool water and avoid high heat, which can degrade elastane fibers and accelerate microfiber release. Air-dry when possible; machine drying on high shortens elastane lifespan. Replace when elastic loses tension or fabric pilling worsens (typically 12-24 months with regular wear). Washing inside-out reduces pilling and fiber shedding in the wash cycle.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Microplastic shedding (polyester fiber fragmentation)
Polyester textiles consistently release microfibers during laundering; elastane blends shed more than 100% polyester. No brand-specific data available for this product, but material composition guarantees some release with every wash.
Azo dyes and synthetic colorants
No public testing or reports document azo dye presence in New Balance underwear. Synthetic textiles are typically dyed with reactive or disperse dyes; azo dyes would be a cost liability and are phased out in major brands, but no certification confirms avoidance here.
Antimony in polyester
Antimony trioxide is a known polyester catalyst used in some manufacturing; no recalls or alerts exist for New Balance underwear. Residual antimony levels in finished textiles are generally below dermal absorption risk, and no studies document leaching from body-worn polyester.
Formaldehyde resin finish
Formaldehyde-based crease-set finishes are rare on stretch underwear because elastane resists pressing. New Balance does not advertise a formaldehyde-free claim, but the material profile makes heavy use unlikely.
Allergic contact dermatitis from elastane or dyes
Elastane and synthetic dyes can trigger contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals, though prevalence is low. No specific adverse event reports for this product exist; standard precaution is patch-test if history of textile sensitivity is present.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 75% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
More waterproof sports & performance undergarments 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.