Descente · Ski & Snowboard Jackets
Descente Josh Jacket Men's
Skip until Descente discloses water-repellent coating chemistry or provides PFAS testing.
Descente's Josh Jacket is a technical ski piece almost certainly using water-repellent treatment, historically reliant on PFAS chemistry. Descente won't disclose what water-repellent coating they use.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon/polyester blend with water-repellent coating treatment (composition unspecified)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
Aqua Pure
3M Aqua-Pure AP802B Whole House Filter Housing
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
What Descente Josh Jacket Men's is made of, ingredients and materials
The Descente Josh Jacket uses a nylon/polyester blend with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish. water-repellent coating treatments have historically relied on long-chain PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") to achieve water-shedding properties, though some manufacturers have shifted to formulations with lower PFAS concern. Without disclosure from Descente, the chemistry of this jacket's water-repellent coating treatment is unknown. Nylon and polyester themselves are stable synthetic fibers with low toxicity during normal wear, but the coating applied to them is the variable.
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.
water-repellent coating degradation and microplastic release
As the water-repellent coating breaks down over time and with washing, synthetic nylon fibers may shed microplastics. This is a property of all synthetic jackets, not specific to Descente, but proper care (gentle washing, low-heat drying) can minimize shedding.
PFAS
Given Descente's silence on water-repellent coating chemistry and the historical prevalence of long-chain PFAS in water-repellent coatings, PFAS contamination in this jacket is likely but unconfirmed. This is the primary reason for the 'care' verdict rather than 'buy'.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No recalls or public reports of formaldehyde contamination in Descente jackets are on record. Modern ski apparel manufacturers typically avoid formaldehyde-based finishes, but without disclosure, this cannot be ruled out entirely.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Descente does not appear to have a history of azo dye or heavy metal contamination in ski jackets. Industry standards and EU regulations on textiles generally control for these, but Descente has not publicly certified compliance.
Source, FDA ↗Flame retardants
Ski jackets are not typically treated with added flame retardants due to their outdoor use context. The polyester content itself is not inherently flame-retardant without additional chemical treatment, which Descente has not disclosed for this model.
Source, EPA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Descente has not publicly disclosed the chemistry of its water-repellent coating treatments or provided PFAS testing data for its products. The brand has not announced a commitment to PFAS-free water repellency. This silence is notable given that major competitors in the ski and outdoor apparel sector (including The North Face, Patagonia, and Arc'teryx) have made public commitments to eliminating long-chain PFAS or have disclosed testing results. Descente's lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess the true PFAS burden of this specific jacket.
How it compares in its category
Ski jackets universally require water-repellent coating treatment for function; there is no meaningful way to buy a snow jacket without it. The key difference among competitors is transparency. Many established brands now use fluorine-free water-repellent coating (such as wax-based or other chemistries) and openly market this fact. Descente's silence on this point places it in a less favorable position than disclosed competitors, even if its actual PFAS load may be similar. Jackets from brands with confirmed PFAS-free water-repellent coating are available at similar price points.
If you buy it
Wash the jacket according to care instructions (typically gentle machine wash or hand wash with mild detergent). Avoid high-heat drying, which can degrade nylon fibers and release microplastics. Reapply water-repellent coating treatment after 50-100 wears or when water no longer beads on the fabric. Avoid prolonged contact with heated surfaces or prolonged sun exposure, as UV and heat can weaken synthetic fibers. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to maximize jacket lifespan and reduce the need for frequent replacement.
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
- Descente has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Ski & Snowboard Jackets
Allbirds
Jackets & Coats Allbirds Full Zip Wool Blend Puffer Jacket Women Size Small
- Wool blend with synthetic fill (likely polyester)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating composition
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Find an alternative on Amazon
Allbirds
Jackets & Coats Allbirds Men's Trino Puffer Jacket Full Zip Wool Blend Forest Green Coat Size Sm
- wool blend (natural fiber dominant)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment - undisclosed chemistry
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Find an alternative on Amazon
Allbirds
NWT Womens Medium Green Natural Run Mid Layer 1/4 Zip Jacket
- Merino wool blend (natural fiber)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Azo dyes and synthetic dye residue
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore ski & snowboard 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.