Arc'teryx · Synthetic Athletic Wear
Arc'teryx Men's Gamma SL Pants
Arc'teryx does not disclose water-repellent coating chemistry; moderate caution warranted.
Gamma SL pants use nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent treatment standard in outdoor apparel. Arc'teryx provides no public PFAS disclosure about coating chemistry.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon blend with water-repellent coating finish
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Arc'teryx Men's Gamma SL Pants is made of, ingredients and materials
Gamma SL uses a nylon blend (typically nylon 6 or 6.6) with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the fabric surface. The water-repellent coating is the primary chemical concern, it provides water resistance but its exact formulation (legacy PFCs, newer fluorocarbon alternatives, or non-fluorinated compounds) is not publicly disclosed by Arc'teryx. Nylon itself is chemically stable in normal wear; the risk profile depends entirely on what the water-repellent coating layer contains and how it degrades with washing and use.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
water-repellent coating leaching during use and laundering
Undisclosed water-repellent coating formulation means the specific leaching profile is unknown. If fluorocarbon-based water-repellent coating is present, repeated washing and weathering will gradually release water-repellent coating compounds into water and air. Frequency and volume depend on the specific chemistry, which Arc'teryx has not disclosed.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Arc'teryx Gamma SL pants have not been reported to contain formaldehyde releasers. Nylon dyeing typically does not require formaldehyde; however, no third-party test data (e.g., OEKO-TEX) is publicly available to confirm absence.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes (carcinogenic dye precursors)
No evidence of restricted azo dyes in Arc'teryx colorways. The brand sources from established mills; however, the absence of public certifications means this cannot be verified from available information.
Antimony in polyester
These pants are nylon-based, not polyester, so antimony (a polyester catalyst residue) is not a relevant hazard.
Fragrance allergens or irritants added to fibers
No fragrance additives are typical in technical outdoor pants. Arc'teryx does not advertise scent treatments for this line.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Arc'teryx does not publicly disclose water-repellent coating chemistry or commit to PFAS-free formulations for their apparel lines. The company has not published supplier certifications (e.g., OEKO-TEX, bluesign) for these pants. This silence is notably different from competitors like Patagonia and The North Face, which explicitly commit to PFC-free water-repellent coating or provide third-party testing documentation. Arc'teryx's lack of transparency creates uncertainty around whether legacy PFOA/PFOS or newer alternatives are in use.
How it compares in its category
Premium hiking and climbing pants in this price tier often use either PFC-free water-repellent coating (wax-based, silicone, or polyurethane coatings) or undisclosed fluorocarbon water-repellent coating. Arc'teryx's silence places these pants below competitors with explicit commitments (e.g., Patagonia Triolet, Rab Alpha Flash) but typical of brands in the mid-to-premium segment that don't emphasize chemical transparency. The nylon base material itself carries no documented hazards and is durable.
If you buy it
Wash infrequently and use cold water with mild detergent to minimize water-repellent coating degradation and potential leaching. Avoid hot water and high heat dryers, which accelerate coating breakdown. Do not use fabric softeners or bleach. Expect the water-repellent coating to weaken after 20-40 washes; reapply commercial water-repellent coating treatment (and research its chemistry before applying) if water resistance is critical. If PFAS exposure is a personal priority, contact Arc'teryx directly for water-repellent coating formulation details before purchase or consider brands with published PFC-free certifications.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 55% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Arc'teryx has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Arc'teryx Men's Gamma SL Pants?
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- polyester/nylon blend, no specified water repellent finish
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Antimony in polyester
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- polyester blend knit
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Antimony in polyester
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore synthetic athletic wear grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.