The North Face Men's Basin Pants
High risk; waterproof pants likely treated with legacy PFAS without brand disclosure.
These nylon/polyester pants have a water-repellent coating finish, historically reliant on PFAS chemistry. The North Face provides no public disclosure of PFAS use or alternatives.
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Material
nylon/polyester blend 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 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.
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating chemistry
Basin Pants use legacy water-repellent coating finishes typical of major outdoor brands; these most commonly contain fluorinated compounds (legacy PFAS). North Face does not disclose which chemistry is used, making exposure assessment impossible without independent testing.
Antimony in polyester
Polyester can contain antimony trioxide as a catalyst; most commercial-grade polyester meets safety limits, but North Face does not disclose polyester sourcing or catalyst chemistry, so residual antimony cannot be ruled out.
water-repellent coating degradation and microfiber shedding
Washing synthetic apparel sheds microfibers; water-repellent coating-treated garments may shed fibers carrying residual coating chemicals. Quantity is small per wash, but cumulative environmental and exposure risk increases with frequent laundering over years of use.
What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
No recalls, warnings, or established contamination on record for Basin Pants or North Face apparel in this hazard class. Standard dyeing for nylon/polyester blends carries minimal risk if production meets EU or US safety standards, but North Face does not transparently certify dye chemistry.
Source: FDA ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
water-repellent coating finishes do not typically rely on formaldehyde; no evidence of formaldehyde-releasing treatments in North Face nylon/polyester apparel. This hazard is not a documented concern for this product class.
Source: ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Basin Pants are a nylon/polyester blend with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the outer layer. water-repellent coating coatings on outdoor apparel have historically relied on PFAS "forever chemicals" (PFAS) to achieve water shedding, though some manufacturers have begun phasing to non-fluorinated alternatives. The nylon and polyester themselves are stable synthetic fibers with low leaching risk under normal wear; the water-repellent coating treatment is the primary chemical concern.
The brand's record and disclosure
The North Face has not publicly committed to PFAS-free water-repellent coating treatments or disclosed which specific water-repellent chemistry is used in Basin Pants. The company has made some sustainability pledges but remains silent on PFAS phase-out timelines or ingredient transparency specific to apparel. This opacity is common across large outdoor brands but limits consumer ability to assess chemical exposure.
How it compares in its category
Basin Pants sit in the mainstream hiking-pants market where water-repellent coating-treated nylon/polyester blends dominate. Competitors including Arc'teryx, Patagonia, and Columbia maintain similar disclosure practices, though Patagonia has publicly pursued fluorine-free water-repellent coating options in some lines. Price and performance of Basin Pants are competitive; chemical transparency is not a differentiator in this category.
If you buy it
Washing frequency matters: infrequent gentle washing (cold water, mild detergent) slows water-repellent coating degradation and reduces any potential leaching. Avoid heat (dryers, ironing) as high temperature can accelerate coating breakdown. water-repellent coating treatments naturally degrade with use and laundering; re-treatment products are available and typically contain similar PFAS or PFAS-free alternatives depending on product choice. Expect the water-repellent finish to noticeably diminish after 1-2 years of regular use.
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
- The North Face 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.