Withings · Waterproof Fitness Trackers
Withings Steel HR Sport Smartwatch
Water-resistant coating composition undisclosed; PFAS risk unconfirmed.
Withings Steel HR Sport uses stainless steel with water-resistant treatment but does not disclose coating chemistry. No public PFAS testing or brand claims available.
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Material
Stainless steel case, unspecified water-resistant coating
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
other 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
The Steel HR Sport uses a stainless steel case (typically 316L grade, corrosion-resistant and nickel-low), paired with an unspecified water-resistant coating and silicone or elastomer straps. Stainless steel is inert against skin contact under normal wear; the risk surfaces in the coating composition (likely Teflon-family coating-based given water resistance, hence the PFAS concern) and strap material quality. No published data exists on whether the elastomer contains phthalates, but smartwatch straps are rarely subjected to the heated-leaching scenarios that trigger migration in kitchenware.
The brand's record and disclosure
Withings (owned by Nokia) does not publicly disclose material testing reports, banned-substance certifications, or water-resistant coating chemistry. No product recalls tied to chemical hazards are on record for this model. The company maintains a general health/wellness positioning but has not published transparency commitments equivalent to those of apparel or cookware manufacturers regarding restricted substances.
How it compares in its category
Smartwatches as a product class face fewer regulatory scrutiny points than cookware or cosmetics because they are worn externally, not ingested or applied to skin. The Steel HR Sport sits in the premium segment where stainless steel cases and undisclosed coatings are standard practice. Competitors like Garmin and Fossil employ similar stainless construction and opaque coating specifications, so this product is category-typical in transparency gaps.
If you buy it
Rinse the device and strap regularly with plain water to minimize biofilm and sweat-salt accumulation on the coating. Avoid prolonged immersion in hot tubs or heated pools, as thermal stress may accelerate any coating degradation. Inspect the strap annually for cracking or discoloration; replace if visible damage occurs. If the coating becomes visibly worn or peels, contact Withings or discontinue use to prevent ingestion of coating particles.
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.”
Water-resistant coating composition (unspecified, likely Teflon-family coating)
Manufacturers rarely disclose Teflon-family coating type or additives in consumer electronics coatings. PFAS presence is unconfirmed but plausible given the water-resistance function; at low contact likelihood on wrist-worn devices, acute toxicity is not established.
Nickel leaching from stainless steel case
316L stainless is nickel-low (8-12% by grade) and generally safe for skin contact. Prolonged sweat exposure or individual nickel sensitivity could theoretically trigger irritation, but no product-specific incidents are documented.
Strap material composition (elastomer/silicone, unspecified)
Withings does not disclose strap plasticizer or additive lists. Medical-grade silicone is commonly used but not guaranteed; phthalate presence is unconfirmed and unlikely to migrate significantly into skin under normal wear.
Coating durability and flaking risk
Wear-induced coating degradation after 2-5 years is typical for consumer electronics; microscopic flake ingestion from hand-to-mouth contact is theoretically possible but not quantified for this model.
Heavy metals in electronic components (lead, cadmium in solder or inks)
Withings does not publish component-level restricted substance testing. RoHS compliance (EU standard) would limit lead and cadmium in electronics, but Withings does not explicitly confirm RoHS certification for this model.
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 Fitness Trackers
Withings
BeamO 3-in-1 Health MultiScan
Medical-grade stainless steel, plastic housing, medical sensors
Medical device with inherently low PFAS risk profile.
✓Naturally PFAS-free material
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Peak Health and Fitness Wearable 12-Month Membership
silicone band, electronics, stainless steel hardware
Wearable membership with minimal PFAS risk indicators.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
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MG Navigator Band
Elastomer band (silicone-based or similar)
Lower concern fitness band, but brand silence on materials limits certainty.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
More waterproof fitness trackers 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.