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.

Arc'teryx Men's Beta Jacket

Gore-Tex

Arc'teryx Men's Beta Jacket

PFAS grade

F 10/100

Overall grade

F 0/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

GORE-TEX (ePTFE membrane with water-repellent coating treatment)

Confidence

62%

LikelyPFAS in membrane and water-repellent coating

PossibleNylon/polyester degradation and microplastic shedding

Possiblewater-repellent coating reapplication chemical exposure

REI Co-op Men's First Chair GTX Jacket

Gore-Tex

REI Co-op Men's First Chair GTX Jacket

PFAS grade

F 10/100

Overall grade

F 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

GORE-TEX membrane (ePTFE-based Teflon-family coating) with water-repellent coating treatment

Confidence

72%

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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