Merrell · Cycling Rain Jackets
Merrell Jackets & Coats | Merrell Raincoat With Teal Accents | Color: Black/Blue | Size: L
Skip until Merrell discloses water-repellent coating treatment chemistry.
Merrell raincoats typically use water-repellent coating finishes to shed rain, but the brand does not publicly disclose whether PFAS chemicals are used. Without transparency or third-party testing, risk remains uncertain.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
nylon or polyester with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating, 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 Merrell Jackets & Coats | Merrell is made of, ingredients and materials
This Merrell raincoat is constructed from nylon or polyester with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating applied to the outer shell. The water-repellent coating finish is the critical variable, traditional fluorocarbon-based water-repellent coating treatments contain PFAS, while non-fluorinated alternatives exist but are less durable. Merrell has not disclosed which chemistry they use for this model, leaving the PFAS exposure profile unclear. Nylon and polyester themselves are stable synthetic materials with low leaching risk during normal wear.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
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.
PFAS
Water-repellent coating treatments on nylon raincoats commonly contain PFAS compounds such as PFOA or GenX to repel water. Merrell has not disclosed the specific water-repellent coating formulation used in this model, making it impossible to confirm whether legacy or newer PFAS-free alternatives are employed. This is the primary chemical concern for the product.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes and colorants
The black and blue colorants in this jacket may include azo dyes, which are widely used in synthetic textiles but are regulated in the EU and screened by many brands. Merrell does not publicly detail dye sourcing or restrictions, so a baseline possible hazard exists, though acute exposure from wearing is minimal.
Microplastic shedding from synthetic fibers
Nylon raincoats shed microfibers during washing and wear. Washing in cold water and limiting frequency reduces this; the water-repellent coating may also degrade over time and contribute particulates. This is a use-phase environmental concern rather than a direct wearer health hazard.
water-repellent coating degradation and reapplication
After 50-100 washes or months of use, water-repellent coating effectiveness declines and water may no longer bead on the nylon. Consumers often reapply commercial water-repellent coating sprays or wash-in treatments, which may introduce additional PFAS or non-PFAS repellents depending on the product chosen. Long-term use of the jacket may necessitate repeated chemical treatments.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon and polyester do not typically require formaldehyde-based finishing resins the way cotton-blend fabrics do. No records of formaldehyde contamination or off-gassing specific to Merrell nylon outerwear exist.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Merrell, owned by Wolverine World Wide, has not published public commitments to eliminating PFAS in water-repellent coating treatments or detailed supply chain transparency on water-repellent coatings. The brand maintains general sustainability messaging but does not disclose specific chemical formulations for individual products or finish types. No major recalls or safety controversies specific to Merrell outerwear formulations are on record. This silence on water-repellent coating chemistry is a significant gap for a brand selling outdoor performance wear.
How it compares in its category
Nylon raincoats with water-repellent coating are industry standard for outdoor brands, and Merrell sits in the mid-market segment. Competitors like Patagonia and Arc'teryx have begun disclosing PFAS-free or reduced-PFAS treatments for some lines, though uptake across the industry remains incomplete. Most mainstream outdoor apparel brands still do not provide this transparency, making Merrell's silence typical but not reassuring. Non-fluorinated water-repellent coating options now exist but are marketed as premium features by eco-focused brands.
If you buy it
Wash the jacket separately in cool water with mild detergent to minimize microfiber shedding and preserve the water-repellent coating; hot water and dryers can degrade nylon and accelerate coating breakdown. Avoid dry cleaning, which uses solvents that can strip water-repellent coating treatments. If the water-repellency noticeably degrades (water no longer beads on fabric), the water-repellent coating is wearing out and may have shed into wastewater. Store dry and consider requesting written confirmation from Merrell on the water-repellent coating chemistry before purchase if PFAS exposure is a personal priority.
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
- Merrell has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Cycling Rain Jackets
Patagonia
Women's Dirt Roamer Storm Jacket
- polyester shell with water-repellent coating finish
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Azo dyes and color fastness
4 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Find an alternative on Amazon
Patagonia
Men's Dirt Roamer Storm Jacket
- nylon/polyester with water-repellent coating water treatment
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- PFAS
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Find an alternative on Amazon
Patagonia
Men's Trail Craft Jacket
- Nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating finish
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- water-repellent coating chemistry opacity (fluorinated vs. non-fluorinated)
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore cycling 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.