Quechua · Ski & Snowboard Jackets
Quechua Men's NH500 Waterproof Winter Jacket
Skip unless Decathlon confirms PFAS-free water-repellent coating; waterproof coatings often contain PFAS.
Quechua NH500 uses a synthetic shell with water-repellent coating treatment typical of budget winter jackets. Decathlon won't disclose whether the coating contains PFAS.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
polyester shell with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Quechua Men's NH500 Waterproof Winter is made of, ingredients and materials
The NH500 uses a polyester shell fabric with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the outer surface. Polyester itself is chemically inert and stable under normal wear, so the primary hazard comes from the water-repellent coating, not the base material. water-repellent coating coatings on budget winter jackets commonly contain Teflon-type coating (Teflon) or fluorocarbon-based repellents that shed into the environment and persist in the body. Without Decathlon's explicit confirmation of a PFAS-free formulation, this jacket should be assumed to carry fluorinated water-repellent coating.
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
Budget winter jackets at this price point routinely use fluorocarbon-based water repellents. Decathlon has not disclosed the water-repellent coating formulation for the NH500, and silence in this category typically indicates conventional (fluorinated) chemistry. Shedding occurs through washing and wear.
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester textiles are sometimes treated with formaldehyde-releasing resins for wrinkle resistance and sizing. No specific finishing data is published for the NH500. Outdoor jackets at this price tier may use such resins, though off-gassing is typically minimal after initial cure.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes in darker colorways
Black and dark polyester fabrics may be dyed with azo dyes, which can release carcinogenic amines under reductive stress (heavy sweating, prolonged contact with skin oils). The NH500 comes in multiple dark colorways; no specific dye certification is provided.
Antimony in polyester fiber
Polyester production sometimes uses antimony trioxide as a catalyst; residual antimony can remain in the final fiber at trace levels. Exposure risk is low during normal wear but higher if the jacket is burned or composted, and not relevant for typical consumer use.
Microplastic shedding from polyester shell
All polyester textiles shed microfibers during washing and wear. The NH500 is 100% polyester, so repeated laundering will release microplastics into wastewater. This is an environmental concern and occurs with all synthetic winter jackets in this category.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Decathlon is transparent about some materials but does not publicly disclose water-repellent coating chemistry for most jackets, including the NH500 line. The brand has no established certification (e.g., bluesign, OEKO-TEX) highlighting PFAS-free status on this model. Decathlon's price point and market positioning suggest use of conventional, cost-effective water-repellent coating treatments rather than newer PFAS-free alternatives. Silence on PFAS in outdoor apparel at this price tier is typical across the industry but represents a material gap in consumer information.
How it compares in its category
Winter jackets in the budget-to-midrange segment (under $150) almost uniformly use fluorinated water-repellent coating; this is not an outlier. Premium brands (Arc'teryx, Patagonia) increasingly offer PFAS-free water-repellent coating options, but they cost 2-3 times more. The NH500's value proposition depends on that cheaper coating chemistry. If PFAS avoidance is a priority, you would need to pay significantly more or choose uncoated, less water-resistant alternatives.
If you buy it
Wash the jacket infrequently and use cold water to minimize water-repellent coating shedding and reduce microfiber release. Never dry clean or expose to high heat (dryers over 130°F), which can degrade the coating and potentially release volatiles. Expect the water-repellent coating to lose effectiveness after 50-100 washes; when water no longer beads on the shell, replacement is reasonable rather than retreating with fluorinated products. Store in a cool, dry place to extend coating life and reduce degradation.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Quechua 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.