Head · Ski & Snowboard Jackets
Mens Head Kore Jacket 821552
Skip unless Head discloses water-repellent coating chemistry. Waterproof ski jackets commonly use PFAS.
The Head Kore Jacket is a synthetic shell ski jacket with water-repellent treatment. Head does not publicly disclose whether this treatment uses PFAS-based or PFAS-free chemistry.
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Material
Synthetic shell with water-repellent coating treatment (unspecified polymer/fluorocarbon)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Mens Head Kore Jacket 821552 is made of, ingredients and materials
The Kore jacket uses a synthetic shell with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment applied to the outer surface. water-repellent coating coatings on technical outerwear are typically fluorocarbon-based compounds (PFOA, PFOS, or newer GenX analogs) that resist water and staining. Head does not publicly specify the chemistry of their water-repellent coating formulation, which is standard industry opacity but leaves the fluorocarbon risk unquantified for this specific jacket.
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.
Microfiber shedding from synthetic shell
Repeated washing and wear of polyester shells shed microfibers into water and air. The Kore's water-repellent coating may reduce shedding slightly but does not eliminate it. Environmental persistence is high; microfiber ingestion risk to aquatic life is documented.
Coating degradation and leaching of additives
Water-repellent coating treatments degrade within 1-3 years of use and laundering, especially with improper care. As the coating breaks down, plasticizers and fluorocarbon monomers may leach into wash water and skin. Head provides no guidance on end-of-life disposal considerations.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No public record of formaldehyde-based finishes or wrinkle-resist treatments in Head's polyester shells. Synthetic ski jackets typically avoid formaldehyde resins due to moisture and stretch requirements, but disclosure is absent.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Head does not disclose dye chemistry for the Kore jacket. Black and colored synthetic shells can contain azo dyes or heavy metal mordants; no testing or recalls specific to this product exist.
Source, FDA ↗Flame retardants
Ski jackets are not required to meet flammability standards and typically do not contain brominated or phosphorus flame retardants. No evidence suggests the Kore includes these additives.
Source, EPA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Head (owned by Descente Ltd.) has not published transparency reports on PFAS use in their apparel lines, nor have they committed to phasing out fluorocarbon water-repellent coating treatments. The brand is silent on this issue despite growing industry movement toward disclosure. No product-specific recalls or contamination incidents are on public record for this model.
How it compares in its category
Most ski jackets in the mid-tier performance segment use fluorocarbon water-repellent coating as standard; the Kore is not unusual in this respect. Some competitors (e.g., Patagonia, Arc'teryx) now disclose water-repellent coating chemistry and offer fluorocarbon-free alternatives, making Head's silence a competitive disadvantage for safety-conscious buyers. Budget jackets often use shorter-life non-fluorocarbon water-repellent coating and require more frequent reapplication.
If you buy it
Wash separately from other clothing to minimize microfiber shedding of the synthetic shell. Use cool water and mild detergent; avoid fabric softeners and high heat drying, which degrade the water-repellent coating and may increase leaching of coatings. Reapply a commercial water-repellent coating treatment (fluorocarbon-free option available) every 1-2 seasons rather than relying on factory treatment. Store in a breathable bag in a cool, dry space to prevent off-gassing and material degradation.
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
- Head has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More 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.