PFAS in Ski & Snowboard Jackets, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst

Based on available materials and data, every ski and snowboard jacket we've graded so far, including models from Spyder, Volcom, Columbia, and The North Face, lands in the "Bad" tier with a model-estimated score of 20 out of 100. That means there is no verified winner in this category yet, no jacket in our database currently earns a "lower concern" rating. This guide ranks what we have by the strength of each brand's public PFAS-reduction claims and disclosure, not by a passing grade, because none exists among these products today.

If you're looking for the "least bad" option among a genuinely weak field, The North Face's Gore-Tex line stands out mainly because the brand has published a public timeline for phasing PFAS out of its durable water repellent (DWR) finishes. That is a brand-stated claim, not a third-party lab verification, and the jackets themselves still score Bad in our model because waterproof-breathable membranes and DWR coatings historically rely on fluorinated chemistry that hasn't been independently confirmed as removed from these specific SKUs. In other words, better paperwork, same grade. For shoppers who want to compare current options across categories, our product finder is the fastest way to see where a jacket ranks before you buy.

Summary Comparison

Product	PFAS Grade	Verdict
Spyder Men's Rival Jacket	Bad (20/100)	High concern, avoid if alternatives exist
Spyder Men's Copper Jacket	Bad (20/100)	High concern, avoid if alternatives exist
Spyder Men's Monterosa Jacket	Bad (20/100)	High concern, avoid if alternatives exist
Spyder Men's Taos Shell Jacket	Bad (20/100)	High concern, avoid if alternatives exist
Volcom Anyox Guide Gore Pro Shell Jacket	Bad (20/100)	High concern, avoid if alternatives exist
Volcom Tester 3L Gore-Tex Jacket	Bad (20/100)	High concern, avoid if alternatives exist
Volcom Arthur 3L Jacket	Bad (20/100)	High concern, avoid if alternatives exist
Volcom Longo Gore-Tex Jacket	Bad (20/100)	High concern, avoid if alternatives exist
Columbia Snow Glide II Interchange Jacket	Bad (20/100)	High concern, avoid if alternatives exist
The North Face Summit Verbier GTX Jacket	Bad (20/100)	High concern, but stated transition plan on record
The North Face Summit Series Mountain Gore-Tex Pro Jacket	Bad (20/100)	High concern, but stated transition plan on record
The North Face Gore-Tex Mountain Jacket	Bad (20/100)	High concern, closest to a documented roadmap

Spyder, Four Jackets, One Grade

The Spyder Rival Jacket Copper Jacket Monterosa Jacket, and Taos Shell Jacket all use insulated or shell constructions with DWR-treated outer fabrics typical of mid-range ski wear. Spyder's public materials don't detail a specific PFAS-free DWR transition for these models, which is part of why each one lands in the Bad tier in our model-based estimate from materials and public disclosure, not a lab test.

Pros, Competitive pricing, established fit and sizing, widely available at ski shops. Cons, No documented fluorine-free DWR claim we could verify for these specific jackets, meaning the coating chemistry is effectively unknown from public data.

Volcom, Gore-Tex Shells Across the Board

Volcom's Anyox Guide Gore Pro Shell Tester 3L Gore-Tex Jacket Arthur 3L Jacket, and Longo Gore-Tex Jacket all rely on Gore-Tex membrane technology, prized for waterproofing and breathability in backcountry conditions. Historically, Gore-Tex membranes and companion DWR finishes have used PFAS-based chemistry, and while Gore has announced its own broader shift toward fluorine-free membranes in parts of its lineup, that shift isn't confirmed at the individual product level for these Volcom jackets based on the sources we reviewed.

Pros,