All 15 softshell jackets we scored fail our PFAS screen
We scored 15 softshell jackets for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.
100% of the 15 softshell jackets we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free softshell jackets we have scored
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
The softshell jackets we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
The North Face
Men's Alta Vista Jacket
Nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
PFAS
Moderate concern
water-repellent coating degradation and microplastic shedding
Limited concern
Avoid or ask The North Face for water-repellent coating details; PFAS-free options exist elsewhere.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Arc'teryx
Gamma Lightweight Jacket Men's
Nylon with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
PFAS
Limited concern
water-repellent coating degradation and microfiber shedding
Limited concern
Avoid or contact Arc'teryx directly, PFAS status in water-repellent coating finish is undisclosed.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Arc'teryx
Beta SL Jacket for Men Black Sapphire / M
Nylon shell with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
PFAS
Limited concern
Coating degradation and microplastic shedding
Limited concern
Avoid or ask Arc'teryx directly, waterproof jackets typically use PFAS-based water-repellent coating with no brand transparency.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
What we check on softshell jackets
- Formaldehyde / VOCs. Off-gassing chemicals from some finishes, textiles, and pressed wood. ATSDR
- Endocrine disruptors. Chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormone system. NIEHS
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The softshell jackets brands that will not say
5 of the brands here publish nothing about PFAS at all. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Arc'teryx, Columbia, Patagonia, Salomon, The North Face.
Common questions about PFAS-free softshell jackets
Is softshell jackets PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 15 softshell jackets we have scored, 100% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 0 that pass. The lowest is The North Face The North Face Men's Alta Vista Jacket at 20.
Which softshell jackets should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are The North Face The North Face Men's Alta Vista Jacket at 20, Arc'teryx Arc'teryx Gamma Lightweight Jacket Men's at 20, Arc'teryx Arc'Teryx Beta SL Jacket for Men Black Sapphire / M at 20. The problem with the first is that avoid or ask The North Face for DWR details; PFAS-free options exist elsewhere.
How can you tell if softshell jackets contain PFAS?
In this category we check for formaldehyde / vocs, endocrine disruptors. Off-gassing chemicals from some finishes, textiles, and pressed wood. Language like stain resistant, water repellent or easy release usually means fluorinated chemistry even when PFAS is never printed on the box.
Which softshell jackets brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
5 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Arc'teryx, Columbia, Patagonia, Salomon, The North Face. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test softshell jackets?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
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