Men's Ascender Softshell Jacket vs Men's R2 TechFace Hoody: which is safer?
Patagonia Men's R2 TechFace Hoody is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Columbia
Men's Ascender Softshell Jacket
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyPFAS in water-repellent coating finish (reported separately)
PossibleFragrance or skin irritants from water-repellent coating application
Reportedwater-repellent coating degradation and reapplication necessity
Our pick
Patagonia
Men's R2 TechFace Hoody
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possiblewater-repellent coating treatment chemistry (non-PFAS)
ReportedPolyester microfiber shedding
PossibleHeat sensitivity and thermal decomposition
Where these two actually differ
- We flag PFAS in DWR finish (reported separately), Fragrance or skin irritants from DWR application and DWR coating degradation and reapplication necessity on the Columbia and not on the Patagonia.
- We flag DWR treatment chemistry (non-PFAS), Polyester microfiber shedding and Heat sensitivity and thermal decomposition on the Patagonia and not on the Columbia.
- The Columbia is Softshell fabric with durable water-repellent (DWR) finish where the Patagonia is Polyester shell with DWR treatment, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 25 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Patagonia is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the Columbia grade, at 45% confidence against 78%, because it discloses less.
Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More softshell jackets, see the full ranking