Atomic · Ski & Snowboard Jackets
Atomic Backland Midlayer M
Skip until Atomic discloses water-repellent coating chemistry, merino midlayers use fluorinated repellents.
Atomic's Backland Midlayer is a merino-blend midlayer likely with water-repellent coating finishing, a common PFAS application. Atomic won't disclose what water-repellent coating chemistry they use.
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Material
Merino wool blend with water-repellent coating treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Atomic Backland Midlayer M is made of, ingredients and materials
The Atomic Backland Midlayer M combines merino wool (natural protein fiber) with synthetic blends and a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating applied to the exterior. Merino wool itself is low-toxicity and breathable, but the water-repellent coating treatment is the critical unknown, Atomic has not publicly disclosed whether their water-repellent coating formulation is fluorinated (PFAS-based) or fluorine-free. Industry standard for ski midlayers typically involves fluorinated repellents, which persist in the environment and bioaccumulate. Without lab testing or brand transparency, the assumption for this product category leans toward fluorinated chemistry.
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
Atomic has not disclosed water-repellent coating chemistry; industry standard for this product tier is fluorinated repellents. While not ingested, PFAS from water-repellent coating treatments leach during washing and persist in wastewater, posing environmental and indirect human exposure risk over product lifetime.
Source, ATSDR ↗Synthetic blend fiber degradation and microfiber shedding
Merino-synthetic blends shed microfibers when pilled or abraded, especially if water-repellent coating degrades. Washing releases fibers that pass water treatment; long-term ingestion pathway via seafood is possible but not product-specific emergency.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Atomic does not advertise use of heavy metal dyes or formaldehyde-releasing finishes on this model. Merino wool is typically undyed or uses benign dyes; no public recalls or testing data suggest hazard, but full supplier transparency is absent.
Source, ATSDR ↗Adhesive or seam-tape leachables
Taped seams on technical midlayers may contain urethane or polyurethane adhesives; no data on this specific product indicates leaching into skin or washout hazard under normal use conditions.
Flame retardants
Merino wool is naturally fire-resistant; this midlayer is not marketed as flame-resistant apparel and is unlikely to contain added flame retardants or antimony-catalyzed polyester, typical of technical ski wear. No warnings or certifications indicate their presence.
Source, EPA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Atomic (owned by Amer Sports) has not published detailed chemical disclosure statements for their water-repellent coating treatments across product lines, and does not advertise PFAS-free or fluorine-free certifications for this midlayer. The brand silence on water-repellent coating chemistry is notable in an era when competitors (e.g., Patagonia, Arc'teryx) increasingly promote fluorine-free alternatives or third-party testing transparency. No major recalls or formal hazard reports on file for this specific model, but lack of disclosure is itself a brand-level red flag in the outdoor apparel sector.
How it compares in its category
Most ski midlayers in the premium segment (Atomic's tier) still use fluorinated water-repellent coating as standard; fluorine-free water-repellent coating options exist but are less common in high-performance repellency claims. Atomic's silence mirrors industry baseline opacity rather than standing out as particularly egregious, but it also means this product offers no competitive advantage in safety transparency. Merino-blend construction is a strength relative to fully synthetic alternatives, which can off-gas volatile organics more readily in high-output activity.
If you buy it
Wash in cool water with wool-specific detergent and avoid high heat to preserve both merino integrity and any existing water-repellent coating; hot water and tumble drying will degrade the repellent layer and potentially increase leaching if fluorinated compounds are present. Do not dry clean or use fabric softeners, which can interfere with water-repellent coating performance. Replace the water-repellent coating treatment every 2-3 seasons if heavy use; commercially available fluorine-free re-treatment products exist and are a lower-PFAS alternative to re-applying the original formulation. Inspect seams and cuffs periodically for wear; degraded fabric allows moisture ingress and may shed microfibers if pilling occurs.
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
- Atomic has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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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.