Merrell · Cycling Rain Jackets
Merrell Opti-Shell Waterproof Gray Printed Rain Jacket Windbreaker Size S
Skip; waterproof jacket with undisclosed water-repellent coating chemistry.
Merrell does not disclose the waterproofing treatment used on this rain jacket. water-repellent coating coatings often contain PFAS; without transparency, risk cannot be assessed.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
polyester with water-repellent coating waterproof coating, 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 Merrell Opti-Shell Waterproof Gray is made of, ingredients and materials
This jacket is polyester with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating applied to the surface. Merrell has not publicly disclosed the chemical composition of this water-repellent coating layer, which is the primary concern, most waterproof coatings in this price tier use PFAS-based chemistry (confirmed in your PFAS grade). Polyester itself is stable, but the coating's durability and leaching behavior under wear and washing are unknown without transparency.
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.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester textiles often receive formaldehyde-based resin finishes to improve wrinkle resistance and dye setting. Merrell does not disclose whether formaldehyde-free processing is used; off-gassing risk is highest when new and decreases over time and washing.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes in printed graphics and base color
The 'gray printed' design suggests reactive or azo dyes; Merrell does not certify that restricted azo dyes are excluded. Some azo compounds cleave to form aromatic amines under sweat and friction, though risk is low with modern dye chemistry.
water-repellent coating degradation and migration
Without disclosed coating chemistry, the rate and nature of degradation during wear and washing are unknown. If PFAS-based (likely given industry baseline), leaching to skin and washing effluent increases with each wash cycle.
What’s reassuring
Antimony in polyester
Polyester does not inherently contain antimony unless it is a recycled-content blend; no indication this jacket uses recycled polyester, so antimony contamination risk is minimal.
Flame retardants
Water-repellent coating coatings are not typically flame-retardant-treated, and polyester rain jackets do not usually receive added flame retardants unless marketed as flame-resistant, which this product is not.
Source, EPA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Merrell (owned by Wolverine World Wide) has not published detailed chemical disclosure or PFAS phase-out commitments for apparel lines. The company lacks third-party certifications (such as Bluesign or GOTS) that would indicate chemical screening. Wolverine has faced litigation and enforcement pressure over PFAS contamination at manufacturing sites, but has not voluntarily committed to eliminating PFAS from waterproof textiles as some competitors have.
How it compares in its category
Most rain jackets in the mid-market segment rely on PFAS-based water-repellent coating, so this product is typical, not an outlier. However, alternatives exist, brands like Patagonia and Arc'teryx publish water-repellent coating chemistry and have transitioned away from legacy PFAS compounds. Budget options from Decathlon offer water resistance using fluorocarbon-free or wax-based coatings, though durability is lower. Merrell's silence on chemistry puts it in the lower transparency tier.
If you buy it
Wash infrequently in cold water with gentle detergent to preserve the water-repellent coating and minimize any potential leaching. Do not machine dry; air dry only, as heat can degrade the coating and release volatiles. Replace the jacket if the water-repellent coating visibly breaks down (water no longer beads on the surface) rather than rewashing repeatedly. Consider this a temporary purchase; if PFAS exposure is a concern, prioritize brands with verified PFAS-free certifications instead.
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.