Rab Men's Firewall Mountain Jacket
Mountain jacket with typical water-repellent coating or PFAS risk unknown or Rab lacks public treatment disclosure.
This mountain jacket uses a water-repellent coating standard to outdoor apparel, but Rab doesn't disclose whether its water-repellent coating contains PFAS or fluorine-free options. No third-party data exists.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon/polyester with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Rab Men's Firewall Mountain Jacket is made of, ingredients and materials
The Firewall uses nylon and polyester blends with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish, standard for ski jackets. water-repellent coating coatings historically relied on PFAS compounds to repel water, though newer alternatives exist. Rab has not publicly disclosed whether this jacket uses traditional fluorocarbon-based water-repellent coating or newer non-fluorinated versions. Both nylon and polyester can shed microfibers during washing, particularly with abrasion and heat.
What’s concerning
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Rab has not disclosed water-repellent coating chemistry; if traditional fluorocarbon-based, PFAS exposure is possible during manufacturing and washing. Risk to consumer direct contact is low, but microfiber shedding may carry trace coatings into waterways.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastic shedding from synthetic textiles
Nylon and polyester jackets are known to shed microfibers in washing; ski jackets with tight weaves shed less than fleece, but repeated washing amplifies release. Environmental concern exceeds direct health risk to wearer.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Polyester and nylon textiles may be treated with formaldehyde-based resins for wrinkle resistance or shape retention; Rab does not publicly disclose finishing chemistry. Off-gassing risk is typically low after initial manufacturing off-gassing, which should occur before retail sale.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes in synthetic fabrics
Colored nylon and polyester may use azo dyes, which can break down into harmful amines under acidic or reductive conditions (sweat, mildew). No specific testing of this jacket's dyes is on record; risk is typical for the category.
water-repellent coating reapplication product hazards
Commercial water-repellent coating sprays and washes often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or additional PFAS. Hazard depends entirely on product chosen for maintenance; read labels carefully.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Rab is a UK-based outdoor apparel company with generally solid reputation for durability but minimal public transparency on chemical treatment details. The brand has not published supplier audits, restricted substance lists, or water-repellent coating chemistry specifications for consumer access. No major product recalls or safety controversies are on record for this product line. Without direct chemical disclosure, buyers must assume typical industry practice for water-repellent coating finish.
How it compares in its category
Most ski jackets in this price and quality tier use similar nylon/polyester blends with water-repellent coating finishes; Rab's construction is typical rather than differentiated. Premium competitors (Arc'teryx, Patagonia) increasingly disclose non-PFAS water-repellent coating alternatives or third-party certifications; Rab lags in public transparency on this metric. Budget alternatives may omit water-repellent coating altogether or use lower-durability coatings. This jacket sits mid-range on disclosure but standard on performance.
If you buy it
Wash in cool water with minimal agitation to reduce microfiber shedding and preserve coating integrity; avoid high heat drying. Reapply water-repellent coating finish every 1-2 seasons using commercial products (follow label instructions for any chemical hazards in the product itself). Do not expose to prolonged direct heat above 65°C, as nylon can degrade and release volatile compounds. Monitor for loss of water beading; once water-repellent coating fails, effectiveness drops sharply.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Rab 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.