Arc'teryx · Cycling Rain Jackets
Arc'teryx Sabre SV Jacket Men's
Premium shell likely contains legacy PFAS in water-repellent coating treatment; brand silent on PFAS.
Arc'teryx does not publicly disclose PFAS content in Sabre SV jackets. Gore-Tex Pro fabric typically requires fluorochemical water-repellent coating coatings, though newer formulations may use lower-concern alternatives. No lab testing or third-party verification available.
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Material
Gore-Tex Pro shell with water-repellent coating treatment
Lab data
No public lab test
What Arc'teryx Sabre SV Jacket Men's is made of, ingredients and materials
The Sabre SV uses Gore-Tex Pro as its primary shell, a microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon-type coating) membrane laminated to nylon and polyester face fabrics. The water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment applied to the outer surface is where PFAS chemicals historically concentrate in premium rain jackets. Gore-Tex itself does not contain PFAS, but the water-repellent finish does. The nylon and polyester face fabrics may also carry legacy PFAS or other finish treatments, though Arc'teryx does not publicly disclose the specific chemistry of their water-repellent coating formulation or whether they have transitioned to PFAS-free alternatives.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
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.
PFAS
Gore-Tex Pro jackets from most manufacturers, including Arc'teryx, historically rely on fluorinated water-repellent coating coatings. Arc'teryx's public silence on PFAS alternatives and lack of certified PFAS-free product lines indicate ongoing use of legacy PFAS-containing treatments. PFAS bioaccumulates and is not graded here but flagged as a material concern in your PFAS assessment (20/100).
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Synthetic face fabrics (nylon, polyester) in technical outerwear may contain formaldehyde-releasing resins for shape retention or wrinkle resistance, though Gore-Tex laminate construction limits direct skin contact. No public recalls or test data specific to Arc'teryx Sabre SV; standard for the category.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
The black, red, and other colored versions may use azo dyes or pigments containing heavy metals (lead, cadmium, chromium). Arc'teryx does not publish dye chemistry; bluesign certification covers some restrictions but does not eliminate all heavy metals in colorants.
Source, FDA ↗Microfiber shedding into waterways
Synthetic nylon and polyester shells shed microfibers during washing and wear, contributing to environmental plastic pollution. This is not a direct health hazard but a product-class concern. Minimizing washing frequency mitigates shedding.
VOC off-gassing from adhesives and laminates
The Gore-Tex Pro laminate construction involves polyurethane adhesives that may release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the first few weeks of use, particularly if stored in warm conditions. Arc'teryx provides no guidance on off-gassing or off-gassing duration; this is typical for technical jackets but not quantified.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Arc'teryx has not published a formal position statement on PFAS elimination or PFAS-free water-repellent coating adoption as of available public records. The company does not list PFAS content on product labels or provide transparency around their supply chain chemistry. This silence is notable given that competitor brands like Patagonia have explicitly committed to PFAS-free water repellency on many products and published timelines. Arc'teryx holds bluesign and other environmental certifications, but these do not specifically restrict PFAS in water-repellent coating treatments, creating a disclosure gap.
How it compares in its category
Premium hardshell rain jackets in the 300-500 dollar range typically use either Gore-Tex Pro (Arc'teryx, The North Face, Salomon) or alternative membranes (Patagonia's H2No with some water-repellent coating lines reported by the brand as PFAS-free). Arc'teryx offers superior durability and weather protection compared to budget alternatives, but lags behind competitors in public PFAS commitment and transparency. Other Gore-Tex Pro jackets from major brands face the same PFAS water-repellent coating exposure unless the maker has publicly switched to non-fluorinated options.
If you buy it
Wash the jacket sparingly (every 10-15 wears) in cool water with mild detergent to preserve water-repellent coating treatment and minimize microfiber shedding into waterways; Gore-Tex Pro shells are designed for decades of use if not over-laundered. Avoid machine drying on heat; air dry only. Reapply water-repellent coating every 1-2 years if water no longer beads on the surface; research PFAS-free aftermarket water-repellent coating products to reduce additional PFAS exposure over the jacket's lifetime. Do not assume Gore-Tex Pro itself degrades under normal use; the shell membrane is extremely durable.
What we don’t know
- 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.
Better-graded alternatives in Cycling Rain Jackets
Patagonia
Women's Dirt Roamer Storm Jacket
- polyester shell with water-repellent coating finish
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Azo dyes and color fastness
4 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Patagonia
Men's Dirt Roamer Storm Jacket
- nylon/polyester with water-repellent coating water treatment
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- PFAS
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Patagonia
Men's Trail Craft Jacket
- Nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating finish
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- water-repellent coating chemistry opacity (fluorinated vs. non-fluorinated)
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
More cycling rain jackets 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.