The North Face · Waterproof Boots
The North Face Men's Fastpack Mid Waterproof Boots
Waterproof boots likely treated with water-repellent coating; PFAS status undisclosed.
The North Face does not disclose PFAS use or absence in this boot. Waterproof footwear typically uses water-repellent coating finishes that historically contained PFAS, though some brands now offer alternatives.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
synthetic leather, textile upper with water-repellent coating waterproof treatment
Lab data
No public lab test
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What The North Face Men's Fastpack Mid is made of, ingredients and materials
The Fastpack Mid combines synthetic leather uppers with textile components and a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish. Synthetic leather eliminates animal hide but introduces polyurethane or PVC-based polymer coatings, which can off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during early use. The water-repellent coating treatment is the primary chemical concern, conventional formulations rely on fluorinated compounds (PFAS) to create water resistance, though The North Face has not disclosed which chemistry they use here.
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
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.
VOC off-gassing from synthetic leather coating
Polyurethane and PVC-based synthetic leather can release volatile organic compounds, particularly during the first days to weeks of use. Ventilation during initial wear mitigates this; no specific complaints or recalls for this model are on record, but off-gassing is inherent to the material class.
water-repellent coating treatment chemistry (fluorinated compounds)
The North Face has not disclosed whether this boot's water-repellent coating uses PFAS or an alternative. Industry standard for waterproof footwear at this price point is fluorinated chemistry; lack of transparency or marketing language ('PFAS-free,' 'forever chemical-free') suggests conventional water-repellent coating, but cannot be confirmed without technical data.
Coating durability and degradation over time
Water-repellent coating coatings and synthetic leather finishes lose water resistance with wear and washing. This is not a toxicity hazard but affects water entry risk into the boot structure; replacement or re-treatment every 1-2 seasons is typical for this category and brand.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No recalls or reports of formaldehyde issues in North Face footwear are on public record. Formaldehyde can be present in adhesives and textile finishes, but this product carries no flagged history. Standard practice, air boot in a ventilated space before first wear if odor is noticeable.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes in fabric or synthetic leather
No azo dye contamination or reports specific to this boot are documented. The North Face does not market azo-free certifications for this model, but major apparel brands typically conform to REACH and ZDHC standards that restrict banned azo dyes.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
The North Face has not publicly committed to PFAS-free alternatives in footwear and does not disclose water-repellent coating chemistry for individual products. The brand has faced pressure on fluorinated chemical use in apparel but has not published a timeline for PFAS phase-out in boots or detailed certifications for this model. No major recalls or formaldehyde/azo dye issues are on record for this specific product line.
How it compares in its category
Waterproof hiking boots typically use either PFAS-based water-repellent coating (most common, including this model) or experimental PFAS-free alternatives (rare, often marketed explicitly). Synthetic leather uppers are standard for durability in this price tier; natural leather alternatives exist but require different waterproofing methods. Most competitors in this category do not disclose water-repellent coating chemistry, placing The North Face in a typical but non-transparent position.
If you buy it
Expect an initial off-gassing smell for the first few days to weeks; airing indoors or outdoors helps. water-repellent coating finishes degrade with use and washing; reapply commercial water-repellent coating sprays every 1-2 seasons if you want consistent water repellency. Avoid machine washing; hand clean with mild soap and air dry to extend synthetic coating life. Monitor seams and glue bonds for separation over 12-24 months of heavy use, which is typical for this boot type regardless of brand.
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 a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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Find an alternative on AmazonMore waterproof boots 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.