Arc'teryx Sabre Relaxed Pant Men's
Uncertain due to undisclosed water-repellent coating chemistry; assume traditional PFAS-based treatment unless stated otherwise.
The Sabre Relaxed Pant uses nylon with a water-repellent coating typical of technical outdoor apparel. Arc'teryx hasn't disclosed whether their water-repellent coating finish is PFAS-free or traditional fluorocarbon-based.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Arc'teryx Sabre Relaxed Pant Men's is made of, ingredients and materials
The Sabre uses nylon as the shell fabric, a synthetic polymer that does not leach chemicals under normal wear or weather exposure. The critical layer is the water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the nylon surface. Arc'teryx does not disclose the specific chemistry of this water-repellent coating treatment in publicly available product documentation. Given the product's rain-gear function and Arc'teryx's silent stance on PFAS, a traditional PFAS-based water-repellent coating formulation is the working assumption, though confirmation is unavailable.
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.
PFAS
No disclosure of chemistry; industry standard for Arc'teryx product tier is PFAS-based treatment. Potential for bioaccumulation in wearer and environment over product lifecycle and after disposal.
Source, ATSDR ↗Nylon fiber shedding (microfiber release)
Nylon garments shed fibers during wear and washing, releasing microplastics into wastewater. Frequency increases with abrasion and aggressive laundering; no Arc'teryx-specific mitigation measures are noted.
water-repellent coating degradation and reapplication chemical exposure
As the water-repellent coating finish wears, consumers may reapply PFAS-based treatments at home, introducing additional fluorochemical exposure. Arc'teryx provides no guidance on repair or recommends factory reapplication; risk depends on user behavior.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No formaldehyde-releasing agents or high-temperature resin cures are typical in nylon water-repellent coating finishing, and no contamination has been reported for Arc'teryx apparel. Low concern for this hazard class.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Arc'teryx maintains quality standards that typically exclude restricted azo dyes and lead/cadmium in textiles. No product-specific incidents on record. Standard industry compliance in this category.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Arc'teryx has not published a PFAS policy, ingredient transparency statement, or commitment to transition away from fluorinated water-repellent coating finishes as of available records. The brand does not disclose water-repellent coating chemistry on product pages or care instructions. This silence on fluorochemical use contrasts with competitors (Patagonia, The North Face, Rab) who have made public commitments to phased PFAS elimination. No recalls or confirmed contamination incidents are on record for this specific pant.
How it compares in its category
Most rain pants in the mid-to-premium market (Arc'teryx's segment) still use PFAS-based water-repellent coating finishes, particularly for durable performance in harsh conditions. Some brands now offer PFAS-free water-repellent coating alternatives (notably Patagonia's H2No, some Rab models), though these typically require more frequent reapplication. Arc'teryx's refusal to disclose or transition puts it in the less transparent tier of the category, without clear performance trade-off to justify the opacity.
If you buy it
Wash infrequently and use cold water with minimal detergent to extend water-repellent coating life and reduce any mobilization of finish chemicals. Avoid high-heat drying; air-dry or use low heat only. Do not dry-clean (solvents may degrade the finish). Avoid direct skin contact immediately after manufacture if possible (off-gas period for any residual treatment chemicals is typically brief in well-ventilated conditions). Replace pants if the water-repellent coating visibly degrades or water no longer beads on the surface, as a failing barrier is your main sign of product end-of-life.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% 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 Sabre Relaxed Pant Men's?
- Nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating finish
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- water-repellent coating finish composition (unstated chemistry)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- Nylon with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- water-repellent coating chemistry (unknown composition)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- Nylon with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- PFAS
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore rain pants 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.