Speedo · Waterproof Sports Gear
Speedo Men's Tech Volley Swim Trunks
water-repellent coating-treated swim trunks; PFAS use in finish uncertain, disclosure absent.
Speedo Tech Volley trunks use polyester with water-repellent treatment typical of swim apparel. Brand provides no PFAS disclosure; water-repellent coating finishes commonly contain PFAS, though formulations vary. Consider contacting Speedo for finish composition details.
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Material
Polyester with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
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
Speedo Tech Volley trunks are polyester, a synthetic fiber derived from petroleum. The water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish is the critical unknown: traditionally these coatings used PFAS chemicals like PFOA or GenX to repel water and stains, though some manufacturers have recently shifted to non-PFAS alternatives. Speedo has not published which finish chemistry they use in this product, making the presence of fluorinated compounds impossible to confirm from public records. Polyester itself is chemically stable once finished, but the coating applied during manufacturing is where safety concerns cluster.
The brand's record and disclosure
Speedo is owned by Pentland Group, a major activewear conglomerate that has faced environmental and transparency scrutiny but carries no major health recalls or safety violations specific to swim products. The brand does not maintain a public PFAS disclosure policy for finished goods, which is atypical for premium athletic brands in 2024. They do not claim PFAS-free finishes on this product line. Industry peers (Arc'teryx, Patagonia) have moved to transparent PFAS labeling, making Speedo's silence a competitive gap rather than a scandal.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream swim trunks (Nike, Adidas, Old Navy) use water-repellent coating finishes with similar undisclosed chemistry. Premium brands (Patagonia, Finisterre) now explicitly market PFAS-free or PFOA-free water repellency. Speedo is mid-tier in this spectrum: quality construction and proven durability, but no leadership on chemical transparency. For cost and performance, these trunks are typical; for safety disclosure, they lag consumer expectations.
If you buy it
Wash before first wear to remove any residual finishing chemicals from manufacturing. Machine wash in cool water with mild detergent; avoid fabric softeners and high heat drying, which can degrade polyester and stress the water-repellent coating. The water-repellent finish will diminish after 30-50 washes; this is normal and does not indicate a safety problem. If PFAS exposure is a household priority, contact Speedo customer service directly to request material safety data, or consider a brand with published PFAS-free certifications.
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.”
PFAS in water-repellent coating finish (graded separately)
Polyester swim trunks with water-repellent coating typically contain PFAS unless explicitly labeled otherwise; Speedo provides no specification, making presence unconfirmed but common in this product class. Dermal absorption during normal wear is minimal, but manufacturing and laundering can release trace amounts into household water.
Azo dyes (colorfast synthetic dyes)
No recalls or warnings exist for Speedo swim products on azo dye toxicity. Polyester dyes are generally stable post-production; risk is primarily occupational (factory workers), not consumer-facing. Color bleeding in first wash is normal and cosmetic, not a health hazard.
Antimony in polyester
Antimony trioxide is a permitted catalyst used in polyester fiber production. Levels in finished fabrics are well below regulatory limits and migration into sweat or skin contact is negligible for this product type. No established health risk from wearing polyester clothing.
Formaldehyde resins in finishing
Speedo Tech Volley trunks show no public record of formaldehyde-based wrinkle or shape-holding treatments. Polyester requires minimal formaldehyde finishing compared to cotton blends. No reported cases of formaldehyde off-gassing from Speedo swim products.
Microfiber shedding (microplastics from fabric wear)
Polyester fabric sheds microfibers with normal wear and laundering, which enter wastewater and marine environments. This is an environmental hazard rather than direct consumer health risk, but relevant to informed purchasing in this material category. Shedding is unavoidable with synthetic fabrics.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% 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.
Safer alternatives in Waterproof Sports Gear
Patagonia
Men's 10" Quandary Shorts
nylon/polyester blend with water-repellent coating treatment
Lower concern. Patagonia uses PFC-free water-repellent coating; verify MADE SAFE label on tag.
✓Lab test found no PFAS
Reebok
Men's Athlete Speed Shorts
Polyester mesh and nylon blend, standard athletic construction
Lower concern. Standard athletic shorts without water-resistant coating.
⚠Risky category by default
Patagonia
Men's Home Waters Hybrid Shorts
Polyester blend with PFAS-free water-repellent coating finish
Lower concern. Patagonia phased out PFAS-based water-repellent coating; verify current product line batch.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
More waterproof sports gear 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.