New Balance · Cycling Rain Jackets
New Balance Men's Made in USA Cycling Jacket
Made in USA claim adds credibility; water-repellent coating chemistry unknown.
New Balance does not publicly disclose PFAS or water-repellent coating chemistry for this jacket. Cycling jackets typically use water-repellent coatings that may contain Teflon-family coating; without transparency, risk remains uncertain.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
polyester with water-repellent finish (water-repellent coating treatment unspecified)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What New Balance Men's Made Cycling Jacket is made of, ingredients and materials
The jacket is polyester with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the exterior. The polyester fiber itself is chemically stable and does not leach harmful substances under normal wear. The water-repellent coating is the concern, most water-repellent textiles historically relied on PFAS chemistry (PFAS "forever chemicals"), though some brands have migrated to PFAS-free alternatives like wax-based or silicone coatings. New Balance has not publicly disclosed which water-repellent coating chemistry this jacket uses.
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
Polyester cycling jackets almost universally require water-repellent treatment. Without brand disclosure, standard water-repellent coating chemistry likely includes PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid or similar). New Balance silence on this indicates no verified phase-out commitment.
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester textiles may be treated with formaldehyde-based resins for wrinkle resistance or color fastness, though modern mills increasingly avoid high-impact finishes. No public data available for this specific New Balance product line.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes in color fastness
Polyester apparel sometimes uses azo dyes that can break down into carcinogenic amines if exposed to extreme conditions or skin bacteria. Made in USA manufacturing typically meets stricter dye standards than overseas production, but New Balance has not published specific dye certifications for this jacket.
Microfiber shedding during washing
All synthetic textiles, including polyester, shed microfibers when laundered. While not a direct user hazard, repeated washing contributes to microplastic pollution. Use a microfiber-catching wash bag or net to reduce environmental impact.
Coating degradation and re-treatment chemicals
As water-repellent coating wears, consumers may re-treat the jacket with commercial products (often PFAS-based sprays). If the original coating used PFAS, re-treatment will reintroduce or amplify exposure. Check re-treatment product chemistry when the jacket loses water repellency.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
New Balance has not published a clear, documented stance on PFAS phase-out or material transparency for apparel products as of widely available public records. The 'Made in USA' label may indicate higher manufacturing standards in some areas, but it does not guarantee disclosure of coating chemistry or PFAS absence. Without verified third-party testing or brand commitments to non-PFAS water-repellent coating, you cannot assume this product is PFAS-free based on origin alone.
How it compares in its category
Cycling jackets universally require water-repellent treatment; this is standard across the category. Brands like Patagonia and Arc'teryx have publicly moved to PFAS-free water-repellent coating (mostly fluorine-free wax and silicone blends), while many mainstream athletic brands remain silent or still use traditional PFAS coatings. Without disclosure, this New Balance jacket sits in the middle tier of category transparency. Price and durability claims suggest it targets the mid-market segment rather than premium eco-conscious consumers.
If you buy it
Wash separately in cool water and air-dry; heat and detergents can degrade water-repellent coating coatings and potentially mobilize any residual chemicals. Avoid dry cleaning, which may use solvents that stress synthetic coatings. The water-repellent finish will degrade over 50-100 washes regardless of care; expect to replace or re-treat the jacket in 2-4 years of regular use. If concerned about PFAS, contact New Balance directly to request water-repellent coating chemistry documentation before purchase.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% 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 Made in USA Cycling 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.