Man Timberland Benton Shell Jacket
Moderate PFAS concern. Waterproof shell jackets typically use water-repellent coating treatments, often PFAS-based.
Timberland does not disclose PFAS use or avoidance in this jacket. Nylon shell jackets typically receive water-repellent finishes that may contain legacy PFAS compounds. No third-party verification available.
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Material
Nylon shell with water-repellent coating water-repellent finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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.
PFAS
Nylon shell jackets routinely use PFAS-based water-repellent coating finishes. Exposure occurs during wear (skin contact), laundering (leaching into water), and end-of-life disposal. Timberland has not disclosed the water-repellent coating chemistry for this model.
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon fabrics may use formaldehyde-based resins during dyeing and finishing to improve colorfastness and wrinkle resistance. No specific recall or complaint record exists for Timberland Benton, but the hazard is inherent to nylon textile processing in this price segment.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microfiber shedding during laundering
Synthetic nylon jackets shed microfibers during washing, particularly when agitated. Studies confirm nylon shedding rates similar to other synthetics; cumulative environmental and potential ingestion risk if water is reused or untreated.
Azo dyes in nylon coloring
Nylon textiles may be dyed with azo dyes, some of which can cleave into aromatic amines under sweat, UV exposure, or heat. No specific Timberland violation is on record, but this is a known risk class for mass-market nylon apparel.
water-repellent coating degradation and reapplication pressure
As the water-repellent coating finish wears, consumers may reapply commercial treatments, some of which contain additional PFAS or other hydrophobic chemicals. Extended use encourages repeated chemical application over the jacket's lifecycle.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Benton Shell uses nylon as its outer shell fabric, a synthetic polymer chosen for durability and moisture resistance. The water-repellent (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the nylon is the primary concern; most water-repellent coating treatments on mid-market outdoor jackets use PFAS-based chemistry, which bonds to fabric fibers to create persistent water-shedding properties. Nylon itself is stable and non-toxic under normal wear, but the finish is what drives chemical exposure during laundering and skin contact.
The brand's record and disclosure
Timberland has not publicly committed to PFAS-free waterproofing standards or disclosed the specific water-repellent coating chemistry used in this jacket. The brand does hold some sustainability certifications (responsible wool, leather traceability) but has made no prominent statements on microfiber shedding or synthetic chemical phase-out. This silence on water-repellent coating ingredients is typical for mainstream outdoor apparel but reflects a gap in transparency that consumers concerned about PFAS exposure should note.
How it compares in its category
Most nylon shell jackets in this price tier (mid-range outdoor) use PFAS-based water-repellent coating finishes; this is industry standard. Premium alternatives (Patagonia, Arc'teryx) offer options using wax-based or non-fluorinated water-repellent coating finishes, but at higher cost. Budget competitors typically apply the same PFAS finishes. This jacket sits in the mainstream category with no differentiation on chemical choice, making it neither worse nor better than comparable options on water-repellent coating hazard alone.
If you buy it
Wash separately from other garments on cold water and air dry to minimize microfiber shedding and reduce water-repellent coating leaching into household water systems. Avoid machine drying, which degrades the water-repellent coating finish and may release volatile compounds. Re-apply water-repellent coating treatment after 20-30 washes using PFAS-free products (silicone-based) if available, or accept reduced water resistance as a reason to replace rather than re-treat. Wear frequency matters, occasional use poses lower cumulative exposure than frequent heavy wear.
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
- Timberland has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More rain 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.