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ninkei

Yesterday 06:01 PM

637 Posts

Joined Aug 2005

ninkeiYesterday 06:01 PM

637 Posts

FYI, an awareness post since I've been researching this lately myself. Watch bands like this are made of fluroelastomers which contain pfas (forever chemicals).

The recent study on them doesn't call out specific brands but notes that many watch bands contain them (https://www.ewg.org/news-insights...ss-tracker). I'd imagine the cheap generic brands are the worst offenders but there isn't much data yet.

Apple has admitted to using them (sport band & ocean band in particular), and claims they're safe (https://www.macrumors.com/2025/01...fe-to-wear), while also committing to phase out their use... (https://www.apple.com/environment...r-2022.pdf)

From everything I've read, titanium, steel, real silicone, and nylon are all safe bets. Nylon is still a little suspect since most bands don't list their materials outright, but it's usually paracord-like. (watch out for terms like 'silicone rubber' or 'silicone like', they usually include pfas).

3

lazeekat

Today 04:39 PM

856 Posts

Joined Dec 2010

lazeekatToday 04:39 PM

856 Posts

Quote from ninkei

:

FYI, an awareness post since I've been researching this lately myself. Watch bands like this are made of fluroelastomers which contain pfas (forever chemicals).

The recent study on them doesn't call out specific brands but notes that many watch bands contain them (https://www.ewg.org/news-insights...ss-tracker). I'd imagine the cheap generic brands are the worst offenders but there isn't much data yet.

Apple has admitted to using them (sport band & ocean band in particular), and claims they're safe (https://www.macrumors.com/2025/01...fe-to-wear), while also committing to phase out their use... (https://www.apple.com/environment...r-2022.pdf)

From everything I've read, titanium, steel, real silicone, and nylon are all safe bets. Nylon is still a little suspect since most bands don't list their materials outright, but it's usually paracord-like. (watch out for terms like 'silicone rubber' or 'silicone like', they usually include pfas).

Excellent post. Can confirm ChatGPT discourages the purchase of any of these sport bands if you are concerned about forever chemicals leeching into your skin.

Frrom ChatGPT:

Short answer: none of those Woot listings are PFAS-free if they are standard Apple "Sport Bands." All sizes (40/41/42/45 mm) use the same material, so the size doesn't change the chemistry.

🔬 What material those bands use

Apple's official Sport Band (the ones in your links) are made of fluoroelastomer

That's a fluorinated synthetic rubber
Fluorinated materials are the same chemical family associated with PFAS ("forever chemicals")
⚠️ PFAS connection
Studies and reporting have found PFAS commonly present in fluoroelastomer watch bands
A 2025 lawsuit specifically targeted Apple Sport Bands, Nike Sport Bands, and Ocean Bands for this reason

👉 So while Apple doesn't explicitly label "contains PFAS," the material itself (fluoroelastomer) is the red flag.

1

Techdeals2

Pro

Today 05:02 PM

276 Posts

Joined Oct 2018

Techdeals2

Pro

Today 05:02 PM

276 Posts

Thanks.

ZZninepluralZalpha

Today 05:02 PM

242 Posts

Joined Apr 2016

ZZninepluralZalphaToday 05:02 PM

242 Posts

Quote from ninkei

:

FYI, an awareness post since I've been researching this lately myself. Watch bands like this are made of fluroelastomers which contain pfas (forever chemicals).The recent study on them doesn't call out specific brands but notes that many watch bands contain them (https://www.ewg.org/news-insights...ss-tracker). I'd imagine the cheap generic brands are the worst offenders but there isn't much data yet.Apple has admitted to using them (sport band & ocean band in particular), and claims they're safe (https://www.macrumors.com/2025/01...fe-to-wear), while also committing to phase out their use... (https://www.apple.com/environment...r-2022.pdf)From everything I've read, titanium, steel, real silicone, and nylon are all safe bets. Nylon is still a little suspect since most bands don't list their materials outright, but it's usually paracord-like. (watch out for terms like 'silicone rubber' or 'silicone like', they usually include pfas).

Silicone bands tend to snap or tear very quickly, in my firsthand experience and review readings. Even Apple's Solo Loop bands are known to creep up a size within a year. By contrast, I have fluoroelastomer Sport Loops from the OG Apple Watch still in service--that's a decade of use!

$9.99 | Apple Watch Sport Band (41mm) at Woot!

$49

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