Patagonia · Ski & Snowboard Jackets
Patagonia Women's Untracked Jacket
Lightweight jacket with water-repellent coating finish. PFAS status unclear from brand.
Patagonia's Untracked Jacket uses recycled polyester with water-repellent coating. Patagonia has not publicly disclosed whether this water-repellent coating uses PFAS or PFAS-free chemistry.
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Material
recycled polyester with water-repellent coating treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
clothing is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
PFAS
water-repellent coating treatment chemistry is not disclosed by brand. Long-chain PFAS were historically standard for this application; short-chain or PFAS-free alternatives are now available but unconfirmed for this specific product.
Source: ATSDR ↗Microplastics
Recycled polyester still sheds microfibers in wash and wear. Fiber loss is typical for the material class; shedding volume depends on fabric density and weave, not specified here.
Source: EPA ↗Coating degradation and leaching
water-repellent coating coatings degrade with washing and UV exposure. As finish breaks down, embedded treatment chemicals may mobilize; reapplication or replacement is recommended every 2-3 years of regular use.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes
No public record of azo dye issues in Patagonia products; the brand typically sources from mills with dye-safety standards, though full supply-chain verification is not independently audited.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Modern outdoor apparel finishes (water-repellent coating, stretch, wrinkle-resist) occasionally contain formaldehyde releasers; Patagonia's standards are not publicly detailed enough to confirm presence or absence here.
Source: ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Untracked Jacket is constructed from recycled polyester with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish. Recycled polyester itself carries lower microplastic-shedding risk than virgin polyester during manufacture, but the water-repellent coating is the critical variable: water-repellent treatments historically relied on long-chain PFAS, though newer short-chain and PFAS-free alternatives now exist. Patagonia has not publicly specified which water-repellent coating chemistry is used in this garment, creating uncertainty about fluorinated compound exposure.
The brand's record and disclosure
Patagonia is recognized for environmental commitments and has phased PFAS from some product lines, but maintains opacity on specific garment treatments. The brand has not signed the Bluesign standard or disclosed PFAS restriction policies for all water-repellent coating products. Industry observers note Patagonia communicates recycled content loudly but remains vague on finishing chemicals, a gap inconsistent with its sustainability messaging.
How it compares in its category
Most mid-market outdoor jackets use water-repellent coating finishes; Patagonia sits above discount brands in supply-chain transparency but lags specialist brands (Arc'teryx, Rab) in chemical disclosure specificity. Fully PFAS-free alternatives exist (some using wax or silicone-based repellency) but remain niche. This product's recycled-content claim distinguishes it environmentally, but does not resolve the water-repellent coating chemistry question.
If you buy it
Wash separately in cold water and air-dry to minimize microfiber release and avoid heat that can degrade coatings. Do not dry-clean, as solvents may interact unpredictably with water-repellent coating treatments. Refresh the water-repellent finish as needed (reapplication products exist); re-treating extends garment life and reduces replacement frequency. Contact Patagonia directly to request confirmation of water-repellent coating chemistry if PFAS avoidance is a personal priority.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% 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.
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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.