Women's Switchback IV Jacket vs Men's Aequilibrium Lite GTX Jacket: which is safer?
Columbia Women's Switchback IV Jacket is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Columbia
Women's Switchback IV Jacket
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possiblewater-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating chemistry - undisclosed
PossibleThermal degradation of synthetic fibers and finish during wear or care
La Sportiva
Men's Aequilibrium Lite GTX Jacket
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAntimony in polyester
ReportedMicrofiber shedding and textile degradation
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Durable water-repellent (DWR) coating chemistry - undisclosed and Thermal degradation of synthetic fibers and finish during wear or care on the Columbia and not on the La Sportiva.
- We flag Antimony in polyester and Microfiber shedding and textile degradation on the La Sportiva and not on the Columbia.
- The Columbia is Nylon/polyester with DWR durable water-repellent finish where the La Sportiva is GORE-TEX (fluoropolymer membrane), which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
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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