ARCTERYX Men's Gamma SL Pants
Contact Arc'teryx for PFAS details or skip before purchasing.
The Gamma SL Pants use nylon with a water-repellent coating finish typical of softshell apparel and fluorocarbon-based PFAS finishes. Arc'teryx doesn't publicly disclose whether their water-repellent coating uses legacy or fluorine-free formulas.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
Lab data
No public lab test
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What ARCTERYX Men's Gamma SL Pants is made of, ingredients and materials
The Gamma SL uses nylon fabric treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating to shed water without heavy lamination. water-repellent coating treatments are the primary PFAS risk in modern rain gear; most commercial water-repellent coating formulas historically relied on PFOA or GenX and similar fluorinated compounds, though some brands have transitioned to fluorine-free options. Arc'teryx has not publicly disclosed whether this specific product uses legacy PFAS-based water-repellent coating or a newer fluorine-free alternative, creating uncertainty at purchase time.
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
Nylon water-repellent coating treatments are the primary PFAS vector in rain pants. Arc'teryx has not disclosed whether this product uses PFOA/GenX-class fluorinated water-repellent coating or fluorine-free chemistry; contact the brand directly for specifics before purchase.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastics
All synthetic nylon textiles shed microplastic fibers during washing. Typical technical garments release 100-500 micrograms per wash; no Arc'teryx-specific data exists, but washing in a microfiber-catching bag reduces environmental release without affecting personal safety.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in synthetic textiles
No public records of azo dye violations or concerns specific to Arc'teryx nylon products. Standard nylon dyeing processes in technical apparel typically comply with Oeko-Tex limits, though Arc'teryx does not advertise third-party dye certification.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon does not require formaldehyde-based wrinkle-resist or durable-press finishes; no evidence of formaldehyde concerns in Arc'teryx technical nylon products.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
No documented contamination history in Arc'teryx nylon apparel. Synthetic nylon itself does not accumulate heavy metals the way natural fibers or some pigments do.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Arc'teryx is a premium technical apparel brand owned by Salomon (itself owned by Amer Sports) and does not maintain public PFAS reduction commitments or certifications comparable to outdoor peers like Patagonia or The North Face. The company has not issued transparency reports on water-repellent coating chemistry across product lines and does not advertise PFAS-free status for rain products. This silence is typical of mid-tier technical brands but reflects weak industry-leading disclosure standards.
How it compares in its category
Rain pants in this performance tier typically use either laminated membranes (Gore-Tex, Neoshell) with water-repellent coating face treatments, or plain nylon with water-repellent coating only. The Gamma SL's lightweight water-repellent coating-only design trades waterproofing durability for packability and breathability, making it suited to frequent hikers rather than expedition use. Competitors like Patagonia Torrentshell and some REI Co-op offerings now offer transparent PFAS reduction; Arc'teryx's silence puts it behind on discernible safety differentiation.
If you buy it
Wash these pants in cool water with mild detergent and air-dry to preserve the water-repellent coating layer; heat from hot water or machine drying degrades the coating faster and may trigger premature replacement. Do not use fabric softeners or high-temperature iron, as these deactivate water repellency. If water no longer beads on the surface after 20-30 washes, the water-repellent coating has worn through; re-application sprays exist but extend the life of an aging product. Before purchase, email Arc'teryx customer service asking whether the Gamma SL uses PFAS-based or fluorine-free water-repellent coating; their response will directly inform the actual hazard level.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% 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 ARCTERYX Men's Gamma SL Pants?
- 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.