Spyder · Ski & Snowboard Jackets
Spyder Men's Vanqysh Jacket
Skip until Spyder discloses water-repellent coating chemistry or switches to PFAS-free.
Vanqysh jacket uses polyester with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish. Spyder has not disclosed specific chemistry or made any PFAS-free claim.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Polyester with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Spyder Men's Vanqysh Jacket is made of, ingredients and materials
The Vanqysh uses polyester as its base fabric, a durable synthetic that resists moisture and wear well in alpine conditions. The critical unknown is the water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the surface. Most ski jackets use fluorochemical water-repellent coating coatings containing PFAS compounds, which persist in the environment and bioaccumulate; Spyder has not publicly disclosed whether this jacket uses traditional PFAS-based water-repellent coating or a newer non-fluorinated alternative. Polyester itself poses no major hazard, but the finish composition determines environmental and potential health risk.
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
Standard fluorochemical water-repellent coating coatings on polyester ski jackets typically contain PFAS unless explicitly stated otherwise. Spyder's silence on this product suggests continued use of traditional formulations, making PFAS exposure during manufacture and potential environmental release during washing and wear likely (graded separately as 20/100).
Source, ATSDR ↗water-repellent coating degradation and microplastic shedding
Over time, the water-repellent coating can flake or degrade, particularly with heat, friction, or improper washing. Polyester base fabric itself does not shed microplastics readily, but a deteriorating water-repellent coating layer may shed fine particles into water and soil during laundering.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Some polyester apparel uses formaldehyde-based finishing resins for wrinkle resistance or durability enhancement. Ski jackets typically prioritize water repellency over wrinkle resistance, so formaldehyde use is less likely than in dress garments, but cannot be excluded without product-specific testing or disclosure.
Source, ATSDR ↗Thermal degradation during use in high heat or intense washing
Polyester has a melting point around 260°C, well above normal use conditions. However, machine drying on high heat or exposure to sustained high temperatures can degrade synthetic fibers and surface coatings, accelerating loss of water-repellent coating function and potential leaching of residual finish chemicals.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in synthetic textiles
Spyder jackets are not known to have triggered azo dye safety concerns, and high-end ski apparel brands typically comply with EU and other dye standards. No specific reports of this product or brand involve problematic azo dyes.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Spyder is a major ski apparel brand owned by Pentland Group but has not made prominent public commitments to PFAS-free manufacturing or transparency regarding water-repellent coating chemistry in specific products. The brand does not appear on published lists of companies that have voluntarily eliminated PFAS water repellents, and direct inquiries about water-repellent coating formulation in products like the Vanqysh typically go unanswered or yield generic responses. This silence is notable given growing industry movement by competitors toward alternatives with lower PFAS concern and increasing consumer and regulatory pressure.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream ski jackets (North Face, Arc'teryx, Patagonia, Salomon) still rely on fluorochemical water-repellent coating as default, making the Vanqysh typical rather than outlier in this regard. However, some brands (e.g., Patagonia) now disclose their water-repellent coating type and have committed timelines to phase out PFAS; Spyder's silence puts it in the less transparent segment. For a premium-priced ski jacket, disclosure and commitment to alternatives with lower PFAS concern would be expected market differentiator; their absence weakens the value proposition on PFAS concern grounds.
If you buy it
Wash the jacket in cool water with mild soap; avoid hot water or heat-drying, which can degrade the water-repellent coating and potentially accelerate any leaching of finish chemicals. Expect to re-treat the water-repellent coating finish every 2-3 years with commercial applications (read labels to select PFAS-free options if available). Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight to slow coating breakdown. Before purchase, contact Spyder customer service directly and request written confirmation of water-repellent coating chemistry; if they will not disclose, treat that refusal as a red flag for precautionary avoidance.
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
- Spyder has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Ski & Snowboard Jackets
Allbirds
Jackets & Coats Allbirds Full Zip Wool Blend Puffer Jacket Women Size Small
- Wool blend with synthetic fill (likely polyester)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating composition
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Allbirds
Jackets & Coats Allbirds Men's Trino Puffer Jacket Full Zip Wool Blend Forest Green Coat Size Sm
- wool blend (natural fiber dominant)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment - undisclosed chemistry
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Allbirds
NWT Womens Medium Green Natural Run Mid Layer 1/4 Zip Jacket
- Merino wool blend (natural fiber)
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Azo dyes and synthetic dye residue
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
More ski & snowboard 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.