Regatta · Children's Rainwear & Rain Boots
Regatta Kids Pack It Jacket III Waterproof Packaway
Skip until Regatta discloses water-repellent coating chemistry or verification.
This packaway jacket uses polyester with waterproof treatment, but Regatta provides no details on coating chemistry or PFAS content. Standard water-repellent coating textiles often contain PFAS; absence of transparency raises concern.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Polyester with waterproof coating (type unspecified)
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.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This jacket is polyester with a waterproof coating of unknown chemistry. Polyester itself is a stable synthetic polymer, but the coating used to achieve water repellency is the material of concern. Most waterproof coatings on budget-to-mid-range children's outerwear historically relied on PFOA or PFOS-based durable water repellents (DWRs), though some manufacturers have shifted to PFAS-free alternatives. Regatta has not publicly disclosed which chemistry they use, making the specific risk profile unclear from available sources.
The brand's record and disclosure
Regatta is a UK-based outdoor brand owned by the Ultimate Outdoor Company. The brand has not published transparent statements about PFAS elimination, PFAS-free certifications (such as Bluesign or GOTS), or third-party testing results for its waterproof coatings. This silence is notable in an industry where competitors like Patagonia and some Decathlon brands have moved toward PFAS-free DWRs or made public commitments. No formal recalls of this specific model for chemical contamination have been recorded in public databases.
How it compares in its category
Children's packable rain jackets span a wide safety range. High-transparency brands (Patagonia, some Decathlon lines) now explicitly use PFAS-free DWRs or natural water repellents, though they often cost more. Mid-market options like Regatta occupy a middle ground where water-repellent coating chemistry is rarely disclosed and PFAS risk cannot be ruled out. Budget alternatives sometimes use no water-repellent coating or polyurethane coatings that degrade faster but pose lower PFAS risk.
If you buy it
Wash before first wear in cool water to reduce surface contaminants and outgassing. Use a gentle detergent (not heavy surfactants that strip water-repellent coating) and avoid fabric softeners or dryer sheets, which can degrade the coating and release off-gassing particles. Do not machine dry at high heat; air dry or low heat to prevent polyester shrinkage and water-repellent coating breakdown. Inspect the seams and coating annually for flaking or delamination, which signals coating degradation and potential microplastic shedding into soil if discarded.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Formaldehyde-based textile finishing resins
Polyester garments often undergo formaldehyde-based resin finishing for wrinkle resistance and shape retention, particularly in budget to mid-market brands. Regatta does not publicly disclose or exclude formaldehyde finishing; off-gassing risk is lower in outerwear than in underwear or items in direct skin contact, but new jackets may emit low levels.
Azo dye residues and heavy metal mordants
The colorants used in the outer polyester shell may include azo dyes or heavy metal mordants (lead, chromium) if the brand sources from suppliers without strict dye chemistry controls. No public testing results are available for this specific model; risk is typical for brands without color chemistry transparency.
Antimony in polyester fiber
Antimony trioxide is sometimes used as a catalyst in polyester production. Regatta does not publicly disclose antimony levels, but finished fabric antimony migration is generally low under normal use and care. Risk is theoretical unless the garment is chewed or damaged and internal fiber is directly ingested.
water-repellent coating degradation and microplastic shedding
Waterproof coatings on synthetic textiles degrade over time with washing and wear, releasing microparticles into wash water. The chemical identity of Regatta's coating (PFAS-based or alternative) affects the nature of these particles. Unspecified coating chemistry makes it impossible to assess whether degradation products pose additional toxicity beyond microplastic itself.
VOC off-gassing from synthetic coatings
Polyurethane or other waterproof coating systems may release volatile organic compounds, particularly when new or if exposed to warm conditions. Off-gassing decreases with air exposure and washing. Pre-wear washing and open-air storage reduce inhalation exposure in the critical first weeks.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 35% 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 Children's Rainwear & Rain Boots
Gap Kids
Fall Spring Rain Jacket Coat Water Wind Resistant Large 10
Polyester blend with water/wind-resistant coating, composition unspecified
Skip until Gap discloses coating chemistry and PFAS status.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
More children's rainwear & rain boots 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.