Under Armour · Waterproof Sports Gear
Under Armour Men's Sport Utility Woven Shorts
Typical woven shorts with water-resistant treatment; PFAS status undisclosed.
Under Armour's Sport Utility shorts likely use water-repellent coating finish on synthetic blend. Brand does not disclose PFAS presence or absence in water-resistant treatment, limiting assessment confidence.
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Material
woven nylon/polyester blend with water-resistant 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
These shorts are a nylon/polyester blend with a durable water-resistant (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the outer surface. The water-resistant treatment is the primary concern: water-repellent coating coatings on textiles are conventionally applied using fluorinated compounds (PFAS-class chemistry), though Under Armour has not publicly disclosed whether this product uses legacy PFAS, newer alternatives, or paraffin-based systems. The nylon and polyester fibers themselves may carry residual formaldehyde from resin cross-linking in dyeing and finishing, and polyester is commonly dyed with azo dyes, which are regulated but present low acute risk at the consumer stage.
The brand's record and disclosure
Under Armour has not published a comprehensive PFAS elimination policy or transparency report comparable to outdoor brands like Patagonia or The North Face. The company maintains no public commitment to phasing out PFAS in water-resistant apparel, and product-level disclosures on water-repellent coating chemistry are absent. Under Armour has faced no major public recall or documented hazard dispute specific to this product line. The brand's silence on PFAS rather than explicit disclosure is the notable gap.
How it compares in its category
Athletic shorts with water-resistant finishes occupy a middle ground: they are less of a concern than heavy outerwear or tents (which require heavier water-repellent coating loads), but more of a concern than untreated cotton shorts. Mainstream athletic brands (Nike, Adidas, Under Armour) have not collectively moved away from fluorinated water-repellent coating, whereas some specialty brands now offer PFAS-free water-resistant alternatives using wax or silicone-based systems. For a performance-focused brand, Under Armour's stance is standard industry practice but not a best-in-class position.
If you buy it
Wash these shorts in cold water on a gentle cycle and air dry to minimize microfiber shedding and reduce wear on the water-repellent coating. Avoid dry cleaning and high heat, which can degrade the finish and potentially release volatile components. Replace when the water-resistant finish noticeably deteriorates (water no longer beads on the surface). If you are concerned about PFAS exposure, contact Under Armour directly to request water-repellent coating composition details before purchase, or consider PFAS-free water-resistant alternatives from brands with explicit phase-out commitments.
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.”
Formaldehyde residue in synthetic textile finishing
Nylon and polyester require formaldehyde-based resin cross-linking during dyeing and finishing. Residual formaldehyde may be present but is typically low after manufacturing rinses; direct skin contact risk is minimal unless the garment is unusually poorly finished.
Azo dyes in polyester component
Polyester dyes often include azo-class colorants, which are regulated but permitted in most jurisdictions. Risk is negligible in normal wear; concern is mainly theoretical and applies to strong color lots.
Microfiber shedding from synthetic blend
Nylon and polyester garments shed microfibers during washing. These shorts, being close-fitting and frequently laundered, contribute to this established but low-individual-dose environmental and ingestion concern.
water-repellent coating degradation and unknown replacement chemistry
The water-resistant finish will degrade with washing and time. Restoring water-repellent coating via aftermarket treatments often involves PFAS or other unregulated fluorinated compounds; home re-treatment poses an uncontrolled exposure pathway.
Undisclosed chemical composition of water-resistant finish
Under Armour does not specify water-repellent coating chemistry on this product. While the finish is presumed to be a standard fluorinated system or proprietary alternative, the lack of transparency prevents informed assessment of which PFAS variant or substitute is present.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 35% 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.