We graded 204 rain jackets for PFAS. Here is what we found (2026 data study)

Nearly every rain jacket on the market today still earns a failing PFAS grade, according to a review of 204 products from 30 brands in the rain jackets category. In our analysis, 100 percent of graded jackets landed in the D or F range, and just 6 products, about 3 percent, carry confirmed PTFE or fluoropolymer signals tied to their durable water repellent (DWR) finishes or waterproof membranes.

Key findings

204 rain jackets from 30 brands were graded for PFAS risk in this study.
100 percent of graded jackets, all 204, received a D or F grade.
196 jackets, or 96 percent of the category, scored an outright F.
Only 8 jackets, 4 percent, managed a D grade, the best performance tier found.
6 jackets, roughly 3 percent, show confirmed PTFE or fluoropolymer signals in their construction.
The top-scoring jacket in the entire category still only reached 65 out of 100.

Grade distribution across the category

The spread of grades in rain jackets is unusually lopsided compared to categories with more mixed outcomes. There is no A, B, or C grade represented anywhere in the 204 products reviewed, which suggests that even the best-performing jackets on the market rely on chemistry or disclosure practices that keep them out of the safer tiers.

Grade	Number of jackets	Share of category
D	8	4%
F	196	96%
Total failing (D or F)	204	100%

The best and worst performers

Even among the top-rated jackets, scores stay well below the halfway mark of the safer end of the scale. The three highest-scoring products in the study, all at 65 out of 100, come from Patagonia and Everlane. At the other end, several Gore-Tex branded jackets scored in the single digits, with the lowest score in the entire category at just 5 out of 100.

Rank	Product	Score
Top 1	Patagonia Men's Torrentshell 3L Rain Jacket	65/100
Top 2	Patagonia Women's Torrentshell 3L Rain Parka	65/100
Top 3	Everlane EverPuff	65/100
Bottom 1	The North Face Men's All Terrain Gore-Tex Waterproof Jacket	5/100
Bottom 2	Arc'teryx Men's Beta Jacket	10/100
Bottom 3	REI Co-op Men's First Chair GTX Jacket	10/100

Why Gore-Tex branded jackets score lowest

It is notable that all three of the lowest-scoring jackets in this study are built on Gore-Tex membrane technology, sold under The North Face, Arc'teryx, and REI Co-op labels. This pattern points to the underlying waterproof membrane and DWR chemistry as a larger driver of PFAS risk than the outer brand name itself. Meanwhile, the highest scorers in the category, from Patagonia and Everlane, still only reach 65 out of 100, reinforcing that no rain jacket in this dataset achieved a passing grade in the traditional sense.

What the confirmed fluoropolymer signals mean

Of the 204 jackets graded, 6 products, about 3 percent, show confirmed PTFE or fluoropolymer signals based on available material disclosures. This is a small slice of the category, but it represents the clearest, most direct evidence of PFAS-related chemistry rather than an inferred risk based on incomplete labeling. The other 97 percent of failing grades stem largely from a mix of unclear disclosure, likely DWR treatments, and industry-wide reliance on fluorinated water repellents that have not yet been fully phased out across the outdoor apparel sector.

Methodology

Grades referenced in this study are model-based estimates generated from publicly available product materials, brand disclosures, and known chemistry patterns for waterproof and water-resistant apparel. They are not laboratory test results and should be read as risk estimates rather than definitive chemical findings. Full details on how PFAS Database builds these grades, including data sources, scoring weights, and limitations, are available on our methodology page.

Cite this study

"We graded 204 rain jackets for PFAS. Here is what we found (2026 data study)"
PFAS Database
https://pfasdatabase.com/guides/pfas-study-rain-jackets-2026
Published February 2026