Men's Rebel Roamer II Nylon Pants vs Women's Torrentshell 3L Pants: which is safer?
Patagonia Women's Torrentshell 3L Pants is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Columbia
Men's Rebel Roamer II Nylon Pants
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyPFAS in water-repellent coating
PossibleNylon fiber shedding and microfiber release
PossibleNylon degradation and leaching under UV or heat stress
Our pick
Patagonia
Women's Torrentshell 3L Pants
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possiblewater-repellent coating finish composition (unstated chemistry)
PossibleVOC off-gassing from fabric and finish
Where these two actually differ
- We flag PFAS in DWR coating, Nylon fiber shedding and microfiber release and Nylon degradation and leaching under UV or heat stress on the Columbia and not on the Patagonia.
- We flag DWR finish composition (unstated chemistry) and VOC off-gassing from fabric and finish on the Patagonia and not on the Columbia.
- The Columbia is Nylon with DWR (durable water-repellent) treatment where the Patagonia is Nylon with DWR durable water repellent finish, 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 72%, 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 →
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