PFAS score
Merrell · Hiking Pants
Merrell Aeroblock Softshell Stretch Navy Hiking Active Pants Women's
Higher PFAS risk due to water-repellent coating treatment; Merrell provides no disclosure on coating chemistry.
Merrell's Aeroblock softshell is designed for water-repellency, which typically requires fluorochemical water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment, historically a PFAS vector. Merrell does not disclose the specific water-repellent coating chemistry, whether PFOA/PFOS-free, or hold third-party PFAS verification.
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Material
Polyester blend softshell with water-repellent coating (unspecified chemistry)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
clothing is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Hiking Pants
Columbia
Women's All Seasons Pull-On Pants
Nylon/polyester blend knit, no stated water-repellent finish
Lower PFAS concern due to basic textile construction, but no brand transparency on treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
Columbia
Men's Stealth Spring Chino Pants
cotton-blend chino twill (no water-repellent treatment noted)
Lower concern, basic chino with no reported water/stain treatment; no lab data or PFAS disclosure found.
⚠Risky category by default
Arc'teryx
Cronin Cotton Pant Men's
100% cotton
Lower PFAS concern, plain cotton twill pant with no waterproofing or stain treatment triggers.
⚠Risky category by default
More hiking pants 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.