PFAS20/ 100Bad
Overall12/ 100Bad
Ripstop Apron

Rip Stop by WeatherWear · Work Aprons

Ripstop Apron

Bad

Ripstop aprons commonly use water-repellent coating coatings that may contain legacy PFAS.

Verdict: SkipRipstop nylon apron with undisclosed water-repellent coating treatment presents moderate PFAS concern; no other established hazards on record, but brand transparency is minimal.

Ripstop fabric aprons typically get water-repellent coating treatment to resist stains and moisture, traditionally using PFAS-based chemistry though some brands now use PFAS-free alternatives. This brand discloses nothing.

Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.

Material

Ripstop nylon with water-repellent coating (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 treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.

65/ 100
♾️

Category baseline

PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.

70/ 100
♾️

No PFAS disclosure

The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.

85/ 100
🍳

water-repellent coating (fluorinated or paraffin) leachability

Ripstop apron's water-repellent finish may contain PFAS or other persistent coating chemicals; undisclosed formulation prevents assessment of leaching risk during wear or laundering.

70/ 100
🫧

Coating degradation and microfiber shed

Over time, repeated washing and wear may cause the water-repellent coating to peel or flake; extent of shed and any toxicity depend on coating composition, which is undisclosed.

70/ 100

What’s reassuring

💨

Formaldehyde / VOCs

Ripstop nylon typically does not use formaldehyde-heavy resins common in cotton textiles; no evidence of formaldehyde resin treatment in nylon ripstop construction.

Source: ATSDR
95/ 100
⛏️

Heavy metals

No public recalls or complaints regarding dye toxicity or color fastness issues in Rip Stop by WeatherWear aprons; ripstop aprons are rarely dyed in bright azo-risk colors.

Source: FDA
95/ 100

Antimony in polyester blends

This apron is nylon-based, not polyester; antimony catalyst risk does not apply to ripstop nylon fabrics.

95/ 100

The full breakdown

What it's made of and why it matters

Ripstop nylon is a lightweight, tear-resistant synthetic fabric commonly used in work aprons because of its durability and water-shedding properties. The water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating applied to ripstop nylon is the material of concern here; water-repellent coating treatments historically relied on PFAS "forever chemicals" (PFAS) to achieve water resistance, though some manufacturers have shifted to PFAS-free alternatives. Rip Stop by WeatherWear does not publicly disclose whether their water-repellent coating contains legacy PFAS, fluorine-free alternatives, or paraffin-based repellents. This silence is the primary safety flag for this product.

The brand's record and disclosure

Rip Stop by WeatherWear has no publicly available safety certifications, PFAS commitment statements, or material transparency disclosures indexed in consumer safety databases or third-party standards bodies (e.g., Oeko-Tex, bluesign). The brand does not appear to market PFAS-free water-repellent coating treatment as a selling point, which is a neutral indicator but not reassuring given industry trends toward disclosure. No recalls or safety controversies specific to this brand are on record in the CPSC database or consumer complaint archives.

How it compares in its category

Ripstop aprons are a standard work category. Competitors vary widely: some brands (e.g., higher-end outdoor/workwear lines) explicitly market PFAS-free water repellency, while many budget and mid-range ripstop aprons remain silent on water-repellent coating chemistry, suggesting use of legacy PFAS coatings. Rip Stop by WeatherWear occupies the undisclosed middle ground, offering no competitive transparency advantage over generic ripstop alternatives. If PFAS legacy coating is a concern for you, this product offers no assurance of avoidance.

If you buy it

Wear the apron as intended without heating it (ripstop nylon has no heat degradation risk in normal kitchen or workshop use). Wash separately in cool water using mild detergent; avoid high-temperature drying. If you have skin sensitivity or live in a PFAS-contaminated water zone, note that the water-repellent coating is designed to shed water and should not leach significantly under normal wear. Replace the apron when the fabric tears or coating visibly degrades (typically 2-3 years of regular use), not for chemical reasons but for functional durability.

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
Rip Stop by WeatherWear 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.