Arc'teryx · Cycling Rain Jackets
Arc'teryx Therme Jacket Men's
High PFAS risk likely; Arc'teryx does not disclose coating chemistry.
Arc'teryx Therme uses water-repellent coating-coated polyester for waterproofing but provides no public PFAS disclosure or testing. Traditional water-repellent coating treatments commonly contain PFAS; unconfirmed coating chemistry elevates concern.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Polyester with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Arc'teryx Therme Jacket Men's is made of, ingredients and materials
The Therme Jacket is polyester with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating applied to the shell. water-repellent coating treatments historically relied on long-chain PFAS (perfluorocarbon compounds) to repel water; many brands have not disclosed whether they have switched to alternatives with lower PFAS concern. Polyester itself is chemically stable once manufactured, but the coating chemistry and any dyes used during production are the primary exposure points during wear and laundering.
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.
water-repellent coating leaching and degradation over time
Studies document that fluorinated water-repellent coating coatings release micro-particles and residual PFAS into wastewater during laundering. This is a known fate once the jacket is in use and washed, not an acute exposure from wearing it, but it drives PFAS into the environment.
Polyester microfiber shedding
Polyester garments release microfibers during wear and washing. Arc'teryx does not disclose fiber shedding rates, but this is a general property of polyester apparel and not specific to this brand's quality.
Antimony in polyester fiber
Polyester is often synthesized using antimony as a catalyst; residual antimony is present at trace levels in most commercial polyester. Migration risk from finished garments is minimal and not documented as a concern, but sourcing transparency is absent.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No specific recalls or test reports document unsafe levels in Arc'teryx polyester garments. Polyester dyeing and synthetic fabric finishing can involve these chemicals, but finished garment migration is not established as a risk in this product line.
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
No public disclosure of whether this jacket uses formaldehyde-releasing resins. Standard polyester shell typically does not require such finishes, but coating binders or sealing processes are not transparent.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Arc'teryx does not publicly disclose the chemistry of its water-repellent coating coatings or confirm use of PFAS-free treatments. The brand has not published materials safety certifications (such as OEKO-TEX or bluesign) for this product line. No formal PFAS phaseout commitment is documented in publicly available statements. This silence on coating chemistry is typical of outdoor apparel brands but leaves consumers unable to verify whether long-chain PFAS are present.
How it compares in its category
Most premium outdoor jackets (Arc'teryx, Patagonia, The North Face) use similar polyester shells with proprietary water-repellent coating coatings. Patagonia has begun disclosing PFAS-free alternatives (waxed cotton, paraffin-based treatments) for some lines, whereas Arc'teryx has not. Budget alternatives often use identical chemistry but with less durable performance, meaning coating reapplication is needed sooner. This jacket sits in the mid-to-premium range but offers no transparency advantage.
If you buy it
Wash in cool or warm water only; avoid hot cycles, which can accelerate coating degradation and potentially increase leaching. Use gentle detergent and skip fabric softener, which interferes with water repellency. Air dry completely before storage. Expect the water-repellent coating to degrade over 3-5 years of regular use; when beading stops, the jacket's weather protection declines sharply. Do not tumble dry or expose to high heat, as this stresses the polyester-coating bond.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% 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 Therme Jacket Men's?
- 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, all on its full breakdown.
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- 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, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- 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, all on its full breakdown.
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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.