Men's R2 TechFace Hoody vs Men's RS Softshell Jacket: which is safer?
Patagonia Men's R2 TechFace Hoody is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
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
Salomon
Men's RS Softshell Jacket
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Reportedwater-repellent coating chemistry (PFAS vs. non-PFAS)
PossiblePolyamide fiber degradation under heat
PossibleVolatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing from membrane
Where these two actually differ
- We flag DWR treatment chemistry (non-PFAS), Polyester microfiber shedding and Heat sensitivity and thermal decomposition on the Patagonia and not on the Salomon.
- We flag DWR coating chemistry (PFAS vs. non-PFAS), Polyamide fiber degradation under heat and Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing from membrane on the Salomon and not on the Patagonia.
- The Patagonia is Polyester shell with DWR treatment where the Salomon is Polyamide softshell with unspecified DWR coating, 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 Salomon 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