New Balance · Cycling Rain Jackets
New Balance Men's Fast Days Jacket
Typical athletic jacket; no PFAS disclosure or testing available.
New Balance does not disclose PFAS content or water-repellent coating treatment chemistry for this jacket. Standard sportswear with water-resistant coating carries typical PFAS risk until proven otherwise.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Synthetic shell with water-repellent coating, lining unspecified
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What New Balance Men's Fast Days Jacket is made of, ingredients and materials
The Fast Days Jacket uses a synthetic shell (likely polyester or polyester blend) treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish to shed moisture. water-repellent coating coatings historically relied on PFAS chemistry; New Balance has not publicly disclosed whether this jacket uses fluorocarbon-free alternatives, making PFAS presence likely. The lining material is unspecified, which limits assessment of full chemical exposure. Synthetic shells can off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during manufacturing and early wear, particularly when new.
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
The jacket carries a 'Bad' PFAS grade (20/100). Synthetic water-repellent coating finishes commonly use fluorinated compounds; New Balance has not disclosed alternatives, making PFAS presence statistically probable in this product.
Source, ATSDR ↗Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and off-gassing
New synthetic shells and dyes can release VOCs during manufacturing and early wear. No specific test data is available for this jacket, but off-gassing is typical in untreated synthetic apparel and diminishes with washing.
water-repellent coating degradation and reapplication
Over time, water-repellent coating finishes wear off with washing and wear. Reapplication products (often aerosol) may introduce additional chemicals; New Balance does not specify approved refresh methods or timing.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes and synthetic colorants
No specific recalls or violations are on record for New Balance colorants. Standard industry testing suggests low risk, but unspecified lining and dye sourcing mean full chemical disclosure is unavailable.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Formaldehyde-based resins are rare in athletic shell garments but can appear in blend linings. The lining is not specified; risk is low but cannot be ruled out without material disclosure.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
New Balance has not issued public commitments to phase out PFAS in apparel or disclosed testing results for this product line. The company maintains general sustainability messaging but lacks transparent chemical disclosure policies common among premium athletic brands. No major safety recalls or formaldehyde violations are on record for New Balance apparel. This silence suggests reliance on industry-standard practices rather than advanced safety measures.
How it compares in its category
This jacket sits in the mainstream athletic segment where water-repellent coating coatings are standard and PFAS use is widespread and undisclosed. Competitors like Patagonia and Arc'teryx have committed to PFAS alternatives and disclose test results; New Balance does not. Most comparable price-point jackets (under $200) lack equivalent transparency. If PFAS minimization is a priority, this product offers no competitive advantage over peers.
If you buy it
Wash the jacket separately in cold water before first wear to reduce VOC off-gassing and any residual dyes or finishes. Avoid high heat when drying (air dry preferred) as synthetic shells degrade under sustained heat and water-repellent coating coatings can break down. Do not dry-clean, as solvents can damage the water-repellent finish and increase chemical exposure. Replace if the water-repellent coating visibly fails (water beads disappear) or seams show damage; do not attempt heat reactivation without manufacturer guidance.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- New Balance has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to New Balance Men's Fast Days 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, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- 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, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- 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, all on its full breakdown.
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.