Men's Back Step Shirt vs Men's Farrier's Work Shirt: which is safer?
Patagonia Men's Farrier's Work Shirt is the clear pick. Patagonia Men's Back Step Shirt carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Patagonia
Men's Back Step Shirt
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes and color fugacity
PossibleFormaldehyde-based finishing resins
Reportedwater-repellent coating finish composition (unverified)
Our pick
Patagonia
Men's Farrier's Work Shirt
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleFormaldehyde releasers in durable-press resins
PossibleChemical off-gassing or skin irritation from finish residues
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Azo dyes and color fugacity, Formaldehyde-based finishing resins, DWR finish composition (unverified) and Microplastic shedding on the Patagonia and not on the Patagonia.
- We flag Formaldehyde releasers in durable-press resins and Chemical off-gassing or skin irritation from finish residues on the Patagonia and not on the Patagonia.
- The Patagonia is Recycled polyester with DWR finish where the Patagonia is Organic cotton, standard construction, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Patagonia is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the Patagonia 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 →
More wrinkle-free dress shirts, see the full ranking