Patagonia Men's Outdoor Everyday Pants
Lower risk than legacy gear, but Patagonia leaves water-repellent coating treatment specifics undisclosed.
These nylon pants have a water-repellent coating water-repellent finish. Patagonia has phased out legacy C8 fluorocarbons but does not explicitly confirm PFAS-free water-repellent coating on this model.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon blend with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
PFAS
Patagonia's water-repellent coating formulation for this product line is not publicly disclosed. Current water-repellent coating treatments may include legacy PFOA/PFOS derivatives or non-fluorinated alternatives; without transparency, consumer exposure cannot be ruled out, though dermal absorption from finished textiles is negligible compared to manufacturing wastewater.
Source: ATSDR ↗Microfiber shedding from nylon
Nylon textiles shed microfibers during washing; this is environmental concern rather than direct consumer hazard. Wear-related shedding during use is minimal. Washing in a microfiber catch bag reduces wastewater load if concerned.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes and colorant toxicity
No specific reports of banned azo dyes (those cleaving to carcinogenic amines) in Patagonia nylon apparel. Bluesign certification used in many of Patagonia's lines restricts azo dyes, though certification scope varies by product; this specific SKU's dye sourcing is not independently verified.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon does not require formaldehyde-based finish resins for durability or water resistance. No evidence of formaldehyde-releasing treatments in this product class. Residual formaldehyde from manufacturing may be present but typically volatile and washes out in first few uses.
Source: ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
Patagonia's supply audits and Bluesign membership reduce likelihood of cadmium, lead, or chromium in dyes, though testing is not product-specific and publicly available. No recalls or safety findings specific to Patagonia nylon apparel.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
These pants are a nylon blend (likely 88% nylon, 12% spandex based on typical Patagonia construction) treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish. Nylon itself is chemically stable and does not leach toxic substances under normal wear. The water-repellent coating finish is the critical unknown: it may contain PFOA/PFOS-class fluorocarbons or newer alternatives like fluorine-free wax blends, but Patagonia does not publicly specify which chemistry is used in this product line.
The brand's record and disclosure
Patagonia publishes annual environmental reports and has committed to phasing out intentional PFAS in finished products since 2019, though implementation timelines vary by product. The company does not routinely disclose water-repellent coating chemistry at the SKU level, which limits independent verification. No recalls or safety incidents are on record for this specific product or Patagonia's nylon apparel generally. The brand's overall supply-chain auditing and third-party certification (Bluesign, Fair Trade) suggests operational accountability, though PFAS specifics remain voluntarily opaque.
How it compares in its category
Outdoor hiking pants in this price range ($99-$150) typically use nylon with fluorocarbon water-repellent coating; Patagonia's position is middle-of-the-road. Brands like Fjallraven and some REI Co-op lines are equally opaque on water-repellent coating chemistry. Higher-end competitors (Arc'teryx, The North Face premium lines) also rarely disclose specific fluorine alternatives. Budget competitors may use cheaper formulations with greater environmental persistence, though consumer exposure risk is similar across the category.
If you buy it
Wash in cool water with mild detergent and avoid high heat; nylon degrades under prolonged hot water or dryer exposure, though no chemical hazard results from degradation itself. Re-apply water-repellent coating treatment every 50-100 wash cycles using brand-matched products or generic water-repellent sprays (follow product instructions). Inspect seams and crotch area annually for stress damage, which is the typical failure point in hiking pants. Do not dry-clean, as solvents can degrade both nylon and water-repellent coating coatings without additional benefit.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 62% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Patagonia has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Hiking Pants
Columbia
Women's All Seasons Pull-On Pants
Nylon/polyester blend knit, no stated water-repellent finish
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Microplastics
Moderate concern
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
Low-medium risk due to basic textile construction without brand transparency.
⚠Risky category by default
Columbia
Men's Stealth Spring Chino Pants
cotton-blend chino twill (no water-repellent treatment noted)
Azo dyes (synthetic colorants)
Limited concern
Low-medium risk; basic chino without reported water or stain treatment and no PFAS disclosure.
⚠Risky category by default
More hiking pants 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.