Arc'teryx Men's Beta Jacket vs REI Co-op Men's First Chair GTX Jacket: which is safer?
These two grade almost identically. Pick on price and preference; neither has a PFAS edge.
Gore-Tex
Arc'teryx Men's Beta Jacket
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyPFAS in membrane and water-repellent coating
PossibleNylon/polyester degradation and microplastic shedding
Possiblewater-repellent coating reapplication chemical exposure
Gore-Tex
REI Co-op Men's First Chair GTX Jacket
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleTeflon-type coating fume risk (ePTFE membrane)
ReportedFluorinated water-repellent coating finish degradation and leaching
PossibleMicroplastic shedding from synthetic fabrics
Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
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