The North Face Review, Is The North Face Non-Toxic?
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Across 26 graded products, The North Face averages Bad (20/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. None of its products grade Good or better yet. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
Does The North Face have PFAS, by category
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
The North Face
Rain Jacket
Azo dyes in synthetic fabrics
Polyester and nylon rain jackets commonly use azo dyes for color fastness. The North Face…
Antimony in polyester fibers
Polyester production sometimes uses antimony as a catalyst. The North Face does not…
Coating degradation and microparticle release
water-repellent coating finishes on all rain jackets degrade with repeated washing and…
Medium-high risk. Water-repellent finish typical of rain jackets commonly uses PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Summit Verbier GTX Jacket
Gore-Tex membrane with water-repellent coating
PFAS
Gore-Tex membrane itself is inert, but polyurethane/polyester outer layer receives…
Azo dyes in colored components
Verbier is available in multiple colors (black, red, yellow variants). Nylon shell and…
Antimony in polyester lining/insulation
If insulation or lining contains polyester (common in North Face alpine jackets)…
Membrane/adhesive off-gassing during first wear
Gore-Tex laminates use solvent-based or moisture-cured polyurethane adhesives. New…
High PFAS risk likely, no brand transparency on water-repellent coating chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Summit Series Mountain Gore-Tex Pro Jacket
Gore-Tex Pro shell with water-repellent coating treatment
PFAS
Gore-Tex Pro jackets typically use PFAS-based water-repellent coating finishes unless…
Antimony in polyester fiber
Polyester shells may contain antimony trioxide as a catalyst residue from fiber…
Laminate delamination and microparticle shedding
Extended wear, heat exposure, or aggressive washing can cause Gore-Tex laminate to…
High-end waterproof jacket; PFAS status unclear, no disclosure from brand.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Gore-Tex Mountain Jacket
Gore-Tex membrane with polyester/nylon shell
PFAS
Gore-Tex membrane chemistry is proprietary but Teflon-family coating-based membranes…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Wrinkle-resistance, water-repellent, or flame-retardant finishing treatments on…
Microfiber shedding during laundering
Synthetic outdoor jackets shed microplastics in wash water. Gore-Tex laminates and nylon…
Gore-Tex likely contains PFAS; The North Face discloses nothing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Quest Triclimate Jacket
Polyester outer shell with water-repellent coating finish
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester garments may contain residual formaldehyde from dyes or flame-retardant…
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing from water-repellent coating and dyes
New polyester jackets may emit low levels of VOCs from the water-repellent coating finish…
Degradation and migration of water-repellent coating additives over time
water-repellent coating coatings break down with use and washing, releasing fluorinated…
water-repellent coating-treated jacket.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Antora Jacket
Polyester shell with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating chemistry
Standard polyester rain jackets almost universally employ PFAS-based water-repellent…
Coating degradation and microplastic shedding
As water-repellent coating coatings wear and flake off during washing and use, they may…
Moderate PFAS risk due to standard water-repellent coating treatment, The North Face does not disclose PFAS avoidance.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Quest Mono Jacket
Nylon shell with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
water-repellent coating composition (fluorochemical unknown)
The product uses an undisclosed water-repellent coating finish typical of nylon rain…
Nylon fiber shedding and microplastic release
Synthetic nylon jackets shed microfibers during normal washing and wear; this is a…
Skip until The North Face discloses water-repellent coating chemistry or switches to PFAS-free treatments.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Antora Rain Hoodie
Nylon ripstop with water-repellent coating finish
PFAS
Nylon rain jackets commonly use PFAS-based water-repellent coating coatings; no public…
VOC or off-gassing from synthetic fibers and adhesives
New nylon jackets may emit low levels of volatile compounds during initial use…
water-repellent coating degradation and microparticle release
As water-repellent coating finish wears, it can shed fine particles into wash water. The…
water-repellent coating-coated rain jacket with no public PFAS disclosure, seek brand clarification.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Apex Bionic 3 Softshell Jacket
Polyester softshell with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
PFAS
Water-repellent finishes on softshell jackets commonly use perfluorinated compounds. The…
Microfiber shedding from polyester
Polyester textiles shed microfibers during washing and wear. While not a direct…
Coating degradation and leaching
water-repellent coating coatings break down over time and with repeated washing. As the…
Moderate PFAS risk due to water-repellent coating treatment, The North Face provides no disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's DryVent Mono Mountain Jacket
Nylon DryVent™ waterproof-breathable membrane with water-repellent coating treatment
water-repellent coating degradation and re-treatment exposure
As the water-repellent coating treatment wears, water-shedding declines and may lead…
Nylon microfiber shedding during washing and wear
Nylon textiles shed microfibers into washing water and the environment during abrasion…
PFAS
The coating's exact chemical identity remains proprietary; while DryVent membranes…
Skip unless The North Face discloses water-repellent coating chemistry, DryVent's treatment raises PFAS risk.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Women's Antora Rain Jacket
Nylon shell with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
PFAS
Industry standard for rain jackets at this price point is PFAS-based water-repellent…
Nylon degradation and microfiber shedding
Nylon is durable but sheds microfibers when washed or worn, particularly once the…
Skip until The North Face discloses or switches to PFAS-free water-repellent coating.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Ridgelite Waterproof Rain Jacket
Nylon shell with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
PFAS
The specific PFAS compound in this jacket's water-repellent coating is not disclosed by…
Nylon microfiber shedding
Washing nylon shells releases microfibers that pass through wastewater treatment and…
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) off-gassing
New nylon jackets may emit low levels of VOCs during the first few wears, including…
Skip until The North Face discloses water-repellent coating chemistry or switches to PFAS-free alternatives.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's All Terrain Gore-Tex Waterproof Jacket
Gore-Tex membrane (Teflon-type coating-based Teflon-family coating) with nylon shell
Teflon-type coating membrane off-gassing / inhalation risk
Cured Teflon-type coating is stable at normal wearing temperatures, but heat (dryer…
Microfiber shedding from membrane and nylon
Degradation of Gore-Tex laminates and nylon shells releases microplastics during washing…
Seam tape adhesive leachables
Seam tapes are typically polyurethane-based adhesives; if exposed (tape peeling), trace…
High PFAS risk due to Gore-Tex, The North Face has not disclosed PFAS phaseout plans.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Women's Fastpack Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots
Synthetic upper (likely nylon/polyester blend) with water-repellent coating waterproof treatment, rubber/synthetic sole
PFAS
Fluorinated water repellent treatments commonly contain PFOA, PFOS, or related compounds.…
Adhesive off-gassing (if present in midsole/sole bonding)
Boot soles are typically heat-bonded or glued to uppers using urethane or epoxy…
High uncertainty from waterproof treatment.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Offtrail Hike LT Mid GORE-TEX Hiking Boots
GORE-TEX membrane (fluorocarbon-based); leather/synthetic uppers
PFAS
GORE-TEX is a Teflon-family coating material whose water-repelling function depends on…
Azo dyes and synthetic textile finishing agents
The synthetic uppers and woven lining may contain azo dyes and formaldehyde-releasing…
Adhesive and sealant leachables
Boot construction involves polyurethane or polyester adhesives bonding the GORE-TEX layer…
Coating degradation and microparticle release
As the water-resistant surface coating ages and flexes with wear, it may shed…
GORE-TEX boots carry inherent PFAS risk without verification.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Hedgehog 3 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots
Leather/synthetic upper with water-repellent coating waterproof coating
PFAS
Most water-repellent coating coatings on conventional waterproof boots contain PFAS or…
Avoid until The North Face discloses waterproofing chemistry.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Summit Fastpack GORE-TEX Hiking Boot
GORE-TEX membrane (polytetrafluoroethylene-based waterproof layer) + nylon/synthetic upper
Adhesive volatiles and off-gassing
Polyurethane or epoxy adhesives bonding the GORE-TEX layer and sole can release volatile…
Dye and pigment stability in synthetic textiles
The nylon upper may use azo dyes or reactive dyes common in outdoor textiles; no North…
Thermal degradation of GORE-TEX bonding under extreme heat
GORE-TEX membranes can degrade if heated above 65-70 degrees Celsius (150-158 F), a…
Moderate PFAS concern from GORE-TEX membrane without disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Women's Offtrail Hike LT Mid Gore-Tex Hiking Boots
Gore-Tex membrane (Teflon-family coating-based waterproof layer)
Teflon-type coating/Teflon-family coating degradation and microparticle release
Gore-Tex membrane can degrade under mechanical stress, UV exposure, or heat, potentially…
Adhesive and polyurethane off-gassing
The bond between Gore-Tex and backing layers, and polyurethane midsole, can emit volatile…
Mold and bacterial growth in insole padding or collar
Repeated wet use and warm foot environment can promote fungal or bacterial colonization…
Gore-Tex boots inherently carry PFAS risk.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Summit Series Verto SA Gore-Tex Hiking Boots
Gore-Tex membrane with textile upper and synthetic/rubber sole
PFAS
Gore-Tex's water-repellent coating treatment relies on fluorochemicals; exact formulation…
Antimony in polyester textile upper
If the upper is polyester, antimony may be present as a catalyst residue in trace…
Microorganism growth in moisture-prone seams
Waterproof boots trap moisture inside if not allowed to dry thoroughly. Seams, insoles…
Higher PFAS risk from Gore-Tex coating.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Women's VECTIV Fastpack Insulated Waterproof Hiking Boots
Synthetic uppers with waterproof membrane and water-repellent coating-treated fabric
PFAS
Waterproof synthetic boots almost universally use fluorocarbon water-repellent coating…
Azo dyes in synthetic uppers
Polyester or nylon uppers may be dyed with azo compounds (regulated but not banned in…
Heavy metals
Synthetic textiles can retain trace chromium, cadmium, or lead if dye suppliers are not…
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Some water-repellent coating treatments historically incorporated formaldehyde as a…
Skip if PFAS concerns you.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Hedgehog GORE-TEX Hiking Shoes
GORE-TEX membrane (polytetrafluoroethylene-based) with textile upper
PFAS
GORE-TEX is inherently PFAS-based; while Teflon-type coating itself is chemically inert…
Azo dyes in textile upper
Standard synthetic textile uppers (nylon/polyester blends) in hiking footwear may contain…
Antimony in polyester components
If the textile upper uses polyester (common in North Face footwear), antimony trioxide…
Adhesive/solvent residues in lamination
GORE-TEX membrane bonding to textile involves industrial adhesives that may off-gas…
Elevated concern from GORE-TEX.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Jester Luxe Backpack
Nylon/polyester with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
PFAS
The coating chemistry is not disclosed by The North Face. Standard water-repellent…
Microplastic shedding from synthetic fibers
Washing nylon and polyester backpacks releases microplastic fibers into water. For a…
Stop until The North Face reveals its water-repellent coating chemistry; standard coatings often contain PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Recon Backpack
nylon/polyester blend with water-repellent coating water-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating degradation and leaching
Water-repellent coatings degrade over years of UV and wear; as coating breaks down…
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from materials and adhesives
New nylon, polyester, and adhesives used to bond seams release VOCs during manufacturing…
PFAS
The North Face has not disclosed whether the Recon uses fluorinated or non-fluorinated…
Lower concern than older water-repellent coating packs, but The North Face hasn't confirmed PFAS phase-out.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Borealis Mini Backpack
Nylon with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
PFAS
Nylon backpacks treated with water-repellent finish commonly contain fluorinated…
Microplastic shedding
Nylon fabric, especially when treated with water-repellent coating coatings, can shed…
Stop until The North Face reveals its water-repellent coating chemistry; standard nylon backpacks carry PFAS uncertainty.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Basin Pants
nylon/polyester blend with water-repellent coating treatment
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating chemistry
Basin Pants use legacy water-repellent coating finishes typical of major outdoor brands…
Antimony in polyester
Polyester can contain antimony trioxide as a catalyst; most commercial-grade polyester…
water-repellent coating degradation and microfiber shedding
Washing synthetic apparel sheds microfibers; water-repellent coating-treated garments may…
High risk; waterproof pants likely treated with legacy PFAS without brand disclosure.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Men's Sprag 5-Pocket Pants
Cotton/nylon blend with water-repellent coating finish (likely fluorocarbon-based)
PFAS
Fluorocarbon water-repellent coating is standard for this product class and era; North…
Coating degradation and microparticle shedding
Fluorocarbon water-repellent coating coatings can shed fine particles during washing and…
High risk; skip until North Face commits to PFAS-free water-repellent coating or transparent testing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →