The North Face Men's Chakal Pant
water-repellent coating finish chemistry not stated. Higher concern due to historical PFAS use in water-repellent treatments.
This pant has a water-repellent coating water-repellent finish, but The North Face has no PFAS statement on record and does not disclose the finish chemistry. water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS-based fluorochemicals, though specific chemistry for this product is unknown.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
Lab data
No public lab test
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What The North Face Men's Chakal Pant is made of, ingredients and materials
The Chakal Pant is constructed from nylon fabric with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish. The nylon itself is a synthetic polyamide with low chemical leaching risk during normal wear. The water-repellent coating is the critical unknown, traditional formulations relied on PFAS compounds, but many brands have begun transitioning to PFAS-free alternatives without always advertising the switch. The North Face has not publicly disclosed which chemistry is used in this specific product.
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.
Microfiber shedding during wear and wash
Nylon sheds microfibers when abraded or washed. This is not a direct toxicity hazard to the wearer but contributes to microplastic pollution. Washing less frequently and gently reduces shedding volume.
water-repellent coating durability and reapplication exposure
As the water-repellent coating finish wears, users may reapply aftermarket water-repellent sprays (often PFAS-containing). Guidance to replace rather than retreat avoids consumer-driven PFAS exposure downstream.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in nylon dyeing
No public reports of restricted azo dyes in The North Face nylon apparel. Nylon typically uses non-azo disperse dyes, but full colorant disclosure is not standard industry practice.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Not a typical hazard in nylon snow pants. Formaldehyde resins are more common in cotton and wool finishing; no evidence of formaldehyde-based treatments in this product line.
Source, ATSDR ↗Antimony in polyester components (if present)
The Chakal Pant is nylon-primary; if any polyester blend or lining is present, antimony oxide (a catalyst residue) could theoretically remain, but no recalls or reports exist for this product.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
The North Face (owned by VF Corporation) has committed to sustainability goals but has been notably opaque about water-repellent coating chemistry across most product lines. The brand has not published a comprehensive list of PFAS-free products or a timeline for phasing out PFAS in apparel. In contrast, some competitors (Arc'teryx, Patagonia) have begun labeling PFAS-free gear or committing to phase-out targets. The lack of transparent labeling on the Chakal Pant suggests water-repellent coating composition remains either unresolved or deliberately unmarketed.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream snow pants (The North Face, Columbia, Salomon) rely on similar nylon-plus-water-repellent coating construction. Products explicitly marketed as PFAS-free (notably some Patagonia and Mammut lines) command premium pricing but offer clarity on treatment chemistry. Budget brands often omit water-repellent coating entirely or use generic labeling. The Chakal Pant sits in the mid-to-premium segment but without the transparency of leading PFAS-conscious competitors, making comparative risk assessment difficult.
If you buy it
Wash infrequently and by hand or gentle cycle; each wash degrades the water-repellent coating finish and may mobilize any residual coating chemicals into wastewater. Air dry at room temperature; never tumble dry or expose to high heat, as this can stress the nylon-coating interface. Replace when water-repellent coating performance noticeably declines (water beads less, fabric wets through) rather than attempting to reapply generic water-repellent coating products. Store dry and away from direct sunlight to prevent polymer degradation.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- 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 a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to The North Face Men's Chakal Pant?
- nylon blend with water-repellent coating water-repellent treatment
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- water-repellent coating chemistry (unspecified)
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- Nylon blend with water-repellent coating treatment (likely fluorocarbon-based)
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- PFAS
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- Polyester shell with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish; insulated lining
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment composition
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore snow 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.