Men's Powder Town Pants vs Men's Storm Shift Pants: which is safer?
Patagonia Men's Powder Town Pants is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Patagonia
Men's Powder Town Pants
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possiblewater-repellent coating chemistry (unspecified)
PossibleFormaldehyde-resin finishing agents
PossibleMicrofiber shedding from coating degradation
Patagonia
Men's Storm Shift Pants
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possiblewater-repellent coating chemistry (unverified PFAS status)
LikelyMicroplastic shedding from nylon during laundering
Possiblewater-repellent coating degradation and re-application chemical exposure
Where these two actually differ
- We flag DWR coating chemistry (unspecified), Formaldehyde-resin finishing agents and Microfiber shedding from coating degradation on the Patagonia and not on the Patagonia.
- We flag DWR coating chemistry (unverified PFAS status), Microplastic shedding from nylon during laundering and DWR coating degradation and re-application chemical exposure on the Patagonia and not on the Patagonia.
- The Patagonia is nylon blend with DWR water-repellent treatment where the Patagonia is Nylon blend with DWR treatment (likely fluorocarbon-based), 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 →
More snow pants, see the full ranking