Georden Jones, Founder, The Peer Review · Last updated: September 2, 2026
Affiliate disclosure: some “Where to buy” links below are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you buy through them. This never influences which products we recommend or what we say about them. See our Affiliate Disclosure.
The Short Answer
If you read PFAS in Activewear and Underwear, you know the short version: Thinx settled a lawsuit over PFAS in its period underwear, independent testing found detectable PFAS in about one in four popular leggings including Lululemon, and “odor-resistant” claims often mean antimicrobial silver instead, a separate and still-unsettled chemical question. The fix is not a certification to hunt for. It is a fibre choice: organic cotton, merino wool, alpaca, or TENCEL delivers the same moisture-wicking, temperature-regulating, odor-resistant performance claims through the fibre itself, with no chemical finish needed [1][2].
We looked at brands building activewear and underwear this way and picked the ones that are readily available to Canadian shoppers, not just easy to find on Instagram. Here are seven worth your money.
Quick Answer: best plastic-free activewear and underwear in Canada
- Best Canadian-made: Q for Quinn. Toronto-founded, GOTS-certified organic cotton and merino, plant-dyed or undyed. ~$24–48 CAD. [8]
- Best overall activewear (men’s): Wayve Quad Short. Organic cotton shell, merino wool liner, zero polyester. ~$90 USD (~$122 CAD). [3]
- Best merino, widest Canadian availability: Icebreaker. Sold at MEC, Sport Chek, Altitude Sports, and Sporting Life across Canada. ~$145–150 CAD. [4]
- Best alpaca/TENCEL alternative: Paka. B Corp certified; alpaca and TENCEL base layers and knitwear. ~$39–130 USD. [5]
- Best organic cotton underwear (everyday): KENT. 100% GOTS-certified organic Supima cotton, no PFAS or plastic dyes. ~$28–34 USD per pair. [6]
- Best loungewear/athleisure crossover: Mate the Label. LA-made, explicitly PFAS-, BPA-, and formaldehyde-free organic cotton leggings, sports bras, and sweats. ~$28–128 USD. [9]
- Best for sensitive skin or chemical sensitivity: Cottonique. Latex-, spandex-, and chemical-free; clinically tested for allergy relief. ~$34 USD (2-pack). [7]
- Evidence Rating: General Consensus. Natural-fibre construction is a well-established way to avoid PFAS and antimicrobial silver in performance and intimate apparel. The open question is fit and stretch under heavy athletic use, a genuine trade-off, not a safety concern.
Table of Contents
- How We Chose
- Best Canadian-Made: Q for Quinn
- Best Overall Activewear (Men’s): Wayve
- Best Merino, Widest Canadian Availability: Icebreaker
- Best Alpaca/TENCEL Alternative: Paka
- Best Organic Cotton Underwear: KENT
- Best Loungewear/Athleisure Crossover: Mate the Label
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Cottonique
- Also Worth Knowing: Nero, Ryker, Tripulse
- What to Avoid
- Comparison Table
- How to Shop in Canada
- FAQ
- The Bottom Line
- References
How We Chose
These picks come from desk research into published materials, certifications, and independent Canadian retail availability, not our own lab testing, and we say so plainly. Every brand on this list met three bars:
- No PFAS-based finish and no polyester, nylon, or spandex as the primary fibre, the specific gap covered in PFAS in Activewear and Underwear [1].
- A published, verifiable material claim, ideally GOTS organic certification or an equivalent third-party standard, not just “eco” marketing language [1].
- Real Canadian purchase access, whether through a Canadian retailer, cross-border shipping with clear duty terms, or a brand that explicitly ships to Canada.
Best Canadian-Made: Q for Quinn
Q for Quinn is a Toronto-founded company, GOTS-certified through Ecocert Greenlife, building underwear, bras, and socks from organic cotton and merino wool for women, men, and kids [8]. The brand’s origin story is specifically about avoiding chemical exposure: the founder started it after learning that a large share of baby and kids’ socks on the market at the time contained BPA and parabens, and built the company around fabric that sits closest to the skin. Q for Quinn dyes with plant-based sources, including pomegranate extract, madder root, and annatto seed, and also sells undyed pieces for anyone avoiding dye chemistry entirely. Pricing runs roughly $24 to $48 CAD depending on the item, with socks and single pairs of underwear at the lower end. Underwear is made in India and socks in Portugal, but the company itself is Canadian-founded and headquartered, which matters if buying Canadian, not just buying from a Canadian-accessible retailer, is part of your decision.
Where to buy: Q for Quinn (Canadian company; ships within Canada without cross-border duties)
Best Overall Activewear (Men’s): Wayve
Wayve’s Quad Short pairs a GOTS-certified organic cotton shell with a merino wool compression liner, so you get the shorts-with-built-in-underwear format popular in synthetic activewear without a thread of polyester touching your skin [3]. The brand states the product is free of PFAS, BPA, formaldehyde, and azo dyes, and uses OEKO-TEX 100 certified low-impact dyes. It runs $90 USD (roughly $122 CAD before shipping and any duties), ships from the US, and offers worldwide shipping with rates calculated at checkout. Customer reviews are strong on comfort and the natural-fibre feel, though a meaningful number flag seam and stitching durability issues at this price point, worth knowing before you buy multiples.
Where to buy: Wayve Wear (ships to Canada; duties may apply at delivery)
Best Merino, Widest Canadian Availability: Icebreaker
If you would rather buy from a Canadian retailer with a return counter you can walk into, Icebreaker is the easiest plastic-free activewear brand to find in Canada. It builds performance tops, base layers, and leggings entirely from merino wool, which manages moisture and resists odor through the fibre’s natural structure rather than a chemical treatment [4]. It is stocked at MEC, Sport Chek, Altitude Sports, Sporting Life, and Amazon.ca, so returns and exchanges are straightforward. Expect roughly $145 to $150 CAD for a long-sleeve merino base layer.
Where to buy: MEC · Altitude Sports · Sporting Life
Best Alpaca/TENCEL Alternative: Paka
Paka is a certified B Corp built around traceable alpaca wool paired with TENCEL, and it is worth a look if you want an alternative to merino specifically. Alpaca fibre shares merino’s temperature-regulating and odor-resistant properties without lanolin, which some people with wool sensitivity find more comfortable [5]. Paka’s range spans long-sleeve tees around $39 USD up to alpaca-blend outerwear closer to $130 to $236 USD, so there is a genuine entry point and a premium tier. Paka ships internationally, including to Canada.
Where to buy: PAKA Apparel (ships to Canada; duties may apply at delivery)
Best Organic Cotton Underwear: KENT
KENT makes underwear from 100% GOTS-certified organic Supima cotton, with no synthetic fibres, PFAS, or plastic-based dyes anywhere in the product, and it discloses this on every product page rather than burying it in a sustainability report [6]. Individual pairs run about $28 to $34 USD, with multi-packs (the Trio, Work Week 5-pack, and Full Week 7-pack) bringing the per-pair cost down. KENT is carried by the Canadian retailer ecologyst, which is the simplest way to buy it without cross-border shipping.
Where to buy: ecologyst (Canadian retailer) · KENT direct (ships to Canada; free shipping over $100 USD)
Best Loungewear/Athleisure Crossover: Mate the Label
Mate the Label is built around what it calls its “Dress Clean” standard: no PFAS, no BPA, no formaldehyde, no pesticide residue, and no carcinogenic dyes, made entirely from certified organic cotton and manufactured in Los Angeles [9]. It sits a step outside strict “activewear” and closer to athleisure and loungewear, with leggings around $98 USD, sports bras around $58 USD, and organic cotton tees and sweats spanning $28 to $128 USD. If your plastic-free priority extends past the gym into everyday leggings, sweats, and loungewear rather than performance training gear specifically, Mate the Label is the strongest option here for that use case, at a premium price point.
Where to buy: Mate the Label (ships to Canada; duties may apply at delivery)
Best for Sensitive Skin: Cottonique
Cottonique built its whole brand around allergy-safe clothing: no latex, no spandex, no chemical finishes, and organic cotton thread throughout, not just the visible fabric [7]. It uses a patented hydrothermal finishing process to boost natural softness and moisture absorption instead of a chemical coating, and the brand has published double-blind testing showing its underwear improves symptoms for people with confirmed underwear-related contact allergies. A 2-pack of women’s bikini briefs runs about $34 USD. If PFAS and antimicrobial silver in “odor-resistant” underwear are specifically what you are trying to avoid, and you have sensitive or reactive skin on top of that, Cottonique is the most purpose-built option on this list.
Where to buy: Cottonique (ships to Canada; duties may apply at delivery)
Also Worth Knowing: Nero, Ryker, Tripulse
Three more US direct-to-consumer brands build activewear on the same organic cotton and merino model as Wayve, and any of them is a reasonable alternative if a specific fit or price point works better for you. Nero sells organic cotton and merino shorts around $90 USD and tees around $40 USD, explicitly at zero polyester, nylon, or elastane. Ryker offers a wider range, from $79 USD 100% organic cotton shorts to $99 USD organic cotton and merino liner shorts. Tripulse builds around TENCEL specifically, including 100% Tencel tops marketed as hypoallergenic and odor-resistant, a useful pick if you want to avoid wool entirely. None of the three has a dedicated Canadian retail presence yet, so factor in US shipping and potential duties.
What to Avoid
- “Moisture-wicking” or “stay-dry” claims with no fibre or finish disclosure. This is exactly the language tied to PFAS-based finishes in the testing covered in PFAS in Activewear and Underwear [1][2].
- “Odor-resistant” underwear or socks that do not name their treatment. This often means antimicrobial silver, a separate chemical from PFAS with its own unresolved early-stage toxicity questions [1].
- “Recycled polyester” marketed as an eco swap. It is still a synthetic plastic fibre and still sheds microplastics; recycled content addresses waste, not the material’s underlying chemistry [2].
- Vague “sustainable” or “eco-friendly” language with no named certification. Look specifically for GOTS organic certification, OEKO-TEX 100, or an explicit “PFAS-free” claim rather than marketing adjectives alone [1].
Comparison Table
| Pick | Category | Fibre | Price (approx.) | Canadian access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q for Quinn | Underwear, socks, bras | Organic cotton + merino, plant-dyed/undyed | ~$24–48 CAD | Canadian company; ships within Canada, no cross-border duties |
| Wayve | Men’s activewear | Organic cotton shell + merino liner | ~$90 USD (~$122 CAD) | Ships to Canada; duties may apply |
| Icebreaker | Activewear, base layers | 100% merino wool | ~$145–150 CAD | Sold at MEC, Sport Chek, Altitude Sports, Sporting Life |
| Paka | Activewear, knitwear | Alpaca + TENCEL | ~$39–236 USD | Ships to Canada; duties may apply |
| KENT | Underwear | 100% GOTS organic Supima cotton | ~$28–34 USD/pair | Sold via ecologyst (Canadian); also ships direct |
| Mate the Label | Loungewear/athleisure | 100% certified organic cotton | ~$28–128 USD | Ships to Canada; duties may apply |
| Cottonique | Underwear (sensitive skin) | 100% GOTS organic cotton | ~$34 USD (2-pack) | Ships to Canada; duties may apply |
| Nero / Ryker / Tripulse | Activewear | Organic cotton + merino or TENCEL | ~$40–99 USD | Ships to Canada; duties may apply |
*Prices are approximate as of September 2026 and change often. Confirm current pricing and Canadian shipping costs before buying.*
How to Shop in Canada
- If a Canadian-made company matters to you specifically, start with Q for Quinn. It is the only brand on this list founded and headquartered in Canada, not just accessible to Canadian shoppers [8].
- For the rest, start with a Canadian retailer if you can. Icebreaker (MEC, Sport Chek, Altitude Sports, Sporting Life) and KENT (via ecologyst) both avoid cross-border shipping and duties.
- For US direct-to-consumer brands (Wayve, Paka, Mate the Label, Cottonique, Nero, Ryker, Tripulse), check the shipping policy before you buy. Most ship to Canada, but duties and import taxes are charged on delivery and are the buyer’s responsibility, not included at checkout.
- Look for GOTS certification and OEKO-TEX 100 dye certification specifically, not just “organic” or “natural” as marketing words [1].
- If sensitive skin or a diagnosed contact allergy is your main concern, prioritize Cottonique, since it is the only brand here with published clinical testing on symptom improvement [7].
- Expect a real trade-off in stretch and dry time versus synthetic performance wear. Merino and organic cotton perform well for most training, but heavy, high-intensity synthetic-level stretch is not what this category is built to replicate.
FAQ
What is the safest fibre for activewear if I want to avoid PFAS?
Organic cotton, merino wool, alpaca, and TENCEL all deliver moisture-wicking and odor-resistant performance through the fibre’s natural structure, with no added chemical finish required [1][2].
Is Icebreaker available in Canada, or does it ship from overseas?
It is stocked directly by major Canadian retailers, including MEC, Sport Chek, Altitude Sports, and Sporting Life, so you can buy and return it without cross-border shipping [4].
Are these brands more expensive than regular activewear?
Generally yes, running roughly $30 to $150 per piece depending on the brand and category, reflecting organic certification and natural-fibre sourcing costs. KENT’s multi-packs bring the per-pair underwear cost down closer to conventional pricing.
Which brand is best for sensitive or reactive skin specifically?
Cottonique, which was built around allergy-safe clothing from the start and has published double-blind clinical testing showing symptom improvement for people with confirmed underwear-related contact allergies [7].
Do any of these brands ship to Canada without extra fees?
Q for Quinn is a Canadian company and ships within Canada with no cross-border duties. KENT is sold through the Canadian retailer ecologyst, avoiding cross-border shipping. Icebreaker is fully stocked by Canadian retailers. The rest (Wayve, Paka, Mate the Label, Cottonique, Nero, Ryker, Tripulse) ship to Canada directly from the US, and duties or import taxes may apply on delivery.
Is there an actual Canadian-made option on this list, not just a brand that ships here?
Yes. Q for Quinn was founded in Toronto and is headquartered in Canada, which is different from a US brand that simply ships across the border [8].
The Bottom Line
Plastic-free activewear and underwear is no longer a niche category with one or two options. Q for Quinn is the pick if buying Canadian-made matters to you specifically, not just buying from a brand that ships here [8]. Wayve and Icebreaker cover men’s and general activewear, with Icebreaker the easiest to buy through Canadian retail. Paka gives you an alpaca-based alternative if merino is not for you, and Mate the Label extends the category into everyday leggings and loungewear. KENT and Cottonique cover underwear, with KENT the everyday pick and Cottonique the one built specifically for sensitive and reactive skin [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. None of this requires chasing a certification logo. Look for the named fibre, the named certification, and an explicit PFAS-free claim, and skip anything that only offers “sustainable” as an adjective.
Stay curious, stay critical.
Georden
References
- “PFAS in Activewear and Underwear: What the Thinx and Lululemon Testing Found.” The Peer Review.
- “Natural vs. Synthetic Fabrics: Which Is Safer, and Does It Even Matter?” The Peer Review.
- “Wayve Quad Short — Natural Fiber Men’s Athletic Shorts.” Wayve Wear.
- “Icebreaker Merino Wool Clothing.” Altitude Sports.
- “PAKA Sustainable Alpaca Wool Outdoor Apparel.” PAKA Apparel.
- “KENT Organic Cotton Briefs, Plastic-Free.” KENT.
- “Cottonique Allergy-Free Apparel, Latex-Free Women’s Bikini Brief.” Cottonique.
- “Q for Quinn: Organic Cotton Socks, Underwear & Other Basics.” Q for Quinn.
- “MATE the Label: Dress Clean, 100% Certified Organic Cotton.” MATE the Label.
Georden Jones is the founder of The Peer Review. Read the full story.