Vuarnet · Ski & Snowboard Jackets
Vuarnet - Frikal Ski Jacket - Black / L
Skip until Vuarnet discloses or switches to PFAS-free water-repellent coating.
Vuarnet's Frikal uses standard polyester with water-repellent finishing, a category traditionally reliant on PFAS-based water-repellent coating coatings. The brand makes no public disclosure of PFAS avoidance or use of newer fluorine-free alternatives. Without transparency or third-party certification, this jacket carries elevated risk.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Polyester shell with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
Aqua Pure
3M Aqua-Pure AP802B Whole House Filter Housing
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
What Vuarnet - Frikal Ski Jacket - Black / L is made of, ingredients and materials
This jacket uses a polyester shell treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish. Polyester itself is inert, but the water-repellent coating is the concern, Vuarnet has not disclosed whether it uses PFAS-based or PFAS-free water repellent technology. Traditional water-repellent coating finishes rely on PFAS "forever chemicals", which are persistent environmental contaminants and bioaccumulative. The coating degrades over the jacket's lifetime through washing and wear, potentially releasing these chemicals.
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 water-repellent coating treatments on ski jackets commonly contain PFAS "forever chemicals". Vuarnet has not disclosed its specific formulation, but polyester ski jackets at this price point typically use PFAS-based water-repellent coating unless explicitly marketed otherwise. These compounds are persistent environmental contaminants.
Source, ATSDR ↗water-repellent coating degradation and microparticles
Polyester water-repellent coating coatings degrade with wear and washing. Peeling or flaking of the treatment can release micro-scale particles; if PFAS-based, these particles carry that chemical burden into waterways during laundering.
Thermal stress and coating release
High-heat drying or prolonged sun exposure can accelerate breakdown of water-repellent coating polymers. Users who use hot dryers or store jackets in direct sunlight may experience faster chemical release from the coating.
Laundry water contamination pathway
If the water-repellent coating is PFAS-based, washing this jacket releases these compounds into household wastewater, which municipal treatment plants do not reliably remove, leading to environmental persistence.
What’s reassuring
Dye and finish toxins in polyester
No specific recalls or reports have been issued for Vuarnet polyester ski jackets regarding azo dyes, antimony (common in polyester), or formaldehyde finishes. However, third-party testing of this product's dyes and resin curing agents is not publicly available.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Vuarnet, a legacy French ski/eyewear brand now owned by Maui Jim's parent company, maintains no public commitment to PFAS elimination or chemical transparency on its website or product documentation. The brand has not published a restricted substances list, sustainability report, or water-repellent coating sourcing statement. This silence during an era of widespread industry awareness of PFAS hazards suggests low prioritization of chemical safety disclosure.
How it compares in its category
Premium ski jackets from Patagonia, Arc'teryx, and The North Face now offer water-repellent coating options with lower PFAS concern or have committed to phase-outs. Mid-range alternatives like Salomon and Columbia have begun transparency initiatives. Vuarnet's lack of public stance places it below transparency benchmarks established by competitors in the same price tier and performance category, making it a weaker choice if chemical safety is a purchasing criterion.
If you buy it
Wash infrequently in cold water with minimal detergent to extend water-repellent coating life and reduce chemical leaching into waterways. Avoid dry cleaning, which may accelerate coating breakdown. Do not machine dry; air dry only. Replace when water beading noticeably diminishes, typically after 50-100 wash cycles. Monitor for peeling or flaking of the water-repellent coating layer, which indicates coating degradation and potential microparticle shedding.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Vuarnet 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.
Find an alternative on Amazon
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.
Find an alternative on Amazon
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.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore 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.