Eddie Bauer Men's Rain Trek Packable Waterproof Rain Jacket
Skip until Eddie Bauer discloses water-repellent coating chemistry or claims PFAS-free.
Rain jacket uses unspecified waterproof treatment likely containing PFAS. Eddie Bauer provides no public disclosure of coating type or PFAS status, creating moderate concern for this functional waterproof apparel.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
polyester with waterproof coating, unspecified water-repellent coating treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
clothing is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating chemistry - unspecified
The waterproof finish is a proprietary blend not disclosed publicly. Historical industry practice has relied on PFAS, but some formulations may use non-PFAS alternatives; without confirmation from Eddie Bauer, the actual chemistry is unknown and cannot be assessed.
Coating degradation and leaching with heat or age
As the water-repellent coating wears or is exposed to high heat (dryer, ironing), residual monomers or additives from the coating formulation may leach into skin contact or wash water. Risk is low in normal use but increases with machine drying or aggressive laundering.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No specific formaldehyde resin hazards have been reported for Eddie Bauer rain jackets. Polyester garments can carry formaldehyde from manufacturing, but levels in finished outerwear are typically low and off-gas during initial washes.
Source: ATSDR ↗Azo dyes in colored polyester
No documented azo dye contamination or hazardous dye batches linked to Eddie Bauer outerwear are on record. The product does not appear to use problematic disperse dyes or have been subject to color-related safety complaints.
Antimony catalyst residue in polyester fiber
Antimony is a standard polyester manufacturing catalyst but leaches minimally from finished fabric under normal wear and care. No specific antimony hazards have been reported for Eddie Bauer polyester products.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This jacket is polyester with a waterproof water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish; the specific water-repellent coating chemistry is not disclosed by Eddie Bauer. Polyester itself is stable and not a primary hazard, but the coating applied to achieve waterproofing is the critical unknown. Most commercial water-repellent coating treatments historically relied on PFAS chemistry, though some brands have shifted to fluorine-free or PFAS-free alternatives. Without Eddie Bauer's explicit disclosure, the coating composition cannot be verified from available public information.
The brand's record and disclosure
Eddie Bauer has not published a comprehensive chemical disclosure statement or PFAS policy for outerwear as of available records. The brand does not appear on lists of companies that have committed to PFAS phase-out (unlike some competitors such as Patagonia or Arc'teryx). No major product recalls or chemical contamination incidents specific to Eddie Bauer rain jackets are documented in public safety databases, but the absence of transparency on water-repellent coating treatment is a notable gap for a brand marketing waterproof products.
How it compares in its category
Mid-market rain jackets typically offer similar polyester-plus-coating construction. Competitors vary widely in disclosure: some brands now explicitly state PFAS-free water-repellent coating (often using alternative chemistries like silicone or wax-based treatments), while others remain silent like Eddie Bauer. Premium outdoor brands tend to publish material safety data; budget and mass-market brands often do not. Eddie Bauer's silence places it in a larger group of retailers without clear chemical transparency, making direct comparison difficult.
If you buy it
Wash separately from other garments on cold water; hot water or dryer heat can degrade the water-repellent coating and potentially increase leaching of coating additives. Avoid dry cleaning, which may use solvents that interact unpredictably with the coating. The water-repellent coating will wear down over 2-3 years of regular use; replacement or re-treatment is normal. Before purchase, email Eddie Bauer customer service directly requesting the water-repellent coating chemistry and whether PFAS-free alternatives exist for this model, and make your decision based on their response.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Eddie Bauer has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More rain 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.