Most rain jackets sold before 2024 used PFAS-based durable water repellent (DWR) coatings – typically C6 chemistry, which breaks down to PFHxA (restricted by the EU in 2024). The industry is converting to C0 (non-fluorinated) DWR by 2028, when NY and California bans reach rain gear. Páramo has always been fluorine-free and Patagonia moved early. Other big brands are mid-transition. Verify the year and SKU before buying.
The rain jacket aisle in 2026 looks normal until you check the spec sheets. Some shells say "C0 DWR" or "PFC-free." Others say nothing about their coatings. A few still list "C6 DWR" in fine print.
This isn't consumer confusion – it's an industry mid-conversion. New York's PFAS in apparel ban took effect January 2025, prohibiting intentionally-added PFAS in clothing sold in the state, but it gives "outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions" until January 1, 2028. California's AB 1817 follows the same pattern: textile restrictions starting in 2025, with severe-wet-weather outdoor apparel exempt until 2028 as long as it carries a PFAS disclosure. Both target the same thing: the fluorinated coatings that have made rain jackets water-repellent for decades.
Most major outdoor brands are reformulating ahead of that deadline, at different speeds. That $80 rain shell you're looking at might have been manufactured in 2023 with old chemistry, or it might be brand-new C0 inventory. The production year matters more than the brand name.
Some links below are affiliate links. We earn a small commission if you purchase, at no extra cost to you.
DWR – durable water repellent – is the thin coating applied to the outer face fabric of a waterproof-breathable jacket. It's what makes water bead and roll off instead of soaking into the fabric.
Original DWR formulations used C8 perfluorinated compounds (PFOA and PFOS family). The outdoor industry phased these out for C6 chemistry in the early 2010s after mounting health evidence. C6 was supposed to be safer.
Turns out PFHxA – the breakdown product of C6 DWR – is just as persistent in the environment as its predecessors, though it clears the human body faster than PFOA. The EU restricted PFHxA in consumer textiles and other products in 2024. The EPA has not set a drinking water limit for PFHxA; its 2024 rule covers PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, GenX, and PFBS.
C0 means zero fluorine. No carbon-fluorine bonds. The chemistry is completely different – typically silicone polymers, wax blends, or hydrocarbon treatments instead of fluorinated compounds.
Fluorinated DWR works because the carbon-fluorine bond creates an extremely low-surface-energy coating that physically repels water at the molecular level. It's the same reason PTFE makes good non-stick pans – nothing sticks to fluoropolymers.
Non-fluorinated alternatives work, but they come with trade-offs:
Patagonia and other early movers have acknowledged that fluorine-free DWR generally needs re-treatment more often than C6. That gap is real. The industry is making the trade because regulation forces it, not because the replacement performs identically.
Waterproofing is genuinely the killer application for fluorochemistry. Replacing it means accepting performance compromises that weren't necessary with PFAS-based coatings.
Gore-Tex has two components: the membrane and the DWR coating.
The original Gore-Tex membrane is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) – the same fluoropolymer used in non-stick cookware. The membrane is the waterproof barrier. The DWR is the outer coating that prevents the face fabric from wetting out.
Gore introduced its expanded polyethylene (ePE) membrane in 2022 and set a goal of moving its consumer fabrics off PFAS by the end of 2025. The ePE membrane is not fluorinated.
Brands to look at for ePE or other non-PTFE membranes: - Patagonia (its own H2No membranes plus some Gore-Tex ePE shells) - Arc'teryx (many newer Gore-Tex ePE models) - Some REI Co-op house brand shells
Older Gore-Tex (made before the ePE switch) is still PTFE. The North Face's Futurelight is its own membrane technology; check the brand's PFAS disclosure for each product.
Both the membrane and the DWR coating needed replacement to eliminate PFAS from rain shells. Most brands converted the DWR first because it's easier – you can change coating suppliers without redesigning the entire garment. The membrane swap came later.
| Brand | DWR Status | Membrane Status | Timeline | |-------|-----------|----------------|----------| | Patagonia | C0 DWR on current shells (early mover) | Own H2No membranes plus some Gore-Tex ePE | Largely complete | | Páramo | Always non-fluorinated | Nikwax Analogy (non-PTFE) | No transition needed | | Arc'teryx | C0 DWR on many newer models | Gore-Tex ePE on many models | In progress | | Nikwax | Always non-fluorinated treatments | N/A (aftermarket only) | No transition needed | | REI Co-op | C0 DWR on house brand 2024+ | Varies by line | In progress | | Marmot | C0 on premium 2025+ | Mixed inventory | In progress | | Columbia | Mixed inventory | OutDry (non-PTFE on some) | In progress | | Mountain Hardwear | Mixed inventory | Varies | In progress | | The North Face | C0 DWR phase-in | Futurelight on many shells | In progress | | Outdoor Research | C0 DWR on many newer shells | Mixed | In progress | | Cotopaxi | Rollout under way | Varies | In progress | | Amazon/Fast-fashion brands | Often undisclosed | Often undisclosed | Unclear |
This table is a general guide, not a verified audit of each brand. Verify specific SKUs before purchase – production year matters more than brand promises, and the NY and California deadline for rain gear is January 2028.
New York's PFAS in apparel ban became effective January 1, 2025. The law prohibits intentionally-added PFAS in apparel sold in New York State, with outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions (true rain gear) covered starting January 1, 2028. California's AB 1817 covers textiles starting January 2025 and extends to severe-wet-weather outdoor apparel in January 2028; until then, such gear sold in California must disclose that it's made with PFAS.
These two regulations forced the industry's hand. New York and California are two of the largest US markets, and few brands want to run separate product lines for them. Brands that wanted to keep national distribution had to plan reformulation.
That's why the transition is uneven: the 2028 deadline for rain gear leaves room for C6 inventory to keep circulating in the meantime.
What the labels actually mean:
"PFC-free" or "C0 DWR" – Good. Fluorine-free. This is what you want.
"PFOA-free" – Meaningless. US manufacturers phased PFOA out by 2015 under a voluntary EPA program. This label tells you nothing about current chemistry.
"C6 DWR" – Still PFAS. Contains PFHxA. Avoid unless you're buying a specific older model intentionally.
"Long-lasting DWR" without chemistry disclosure – Often still C6. If they won't name it, assume fluorinated.
"Bluesign approved" – Not a PFAS guarantee. Bluesign certifies manufacturing process safety, not absence of specific chemicals.
Production year matters more than most buyers realize. A shell made a few years ago may still have C6 DWR even if the same model is C0 today. Check the manufacturing date tag inside the jacket, usually near the care label.
Buy 2025+ inventory only. Most brand websites now disclose DWR chemistry on product pages – if it doesn't say "C0" or "PFC-free," email customer service and ask specifically.
For Gore-Tex shells, check the membrane type. "Gore-Tex ePE" means non-PTFE. "Gore-Tex" without the ePE designation usually means classic PTFE membrane.
Don't buy used rain shells of unknown vintage unless you're comfortable with PFAS exposure. A well-maintained shell from 2019 likely still has fluorinated DWR even if it looks new.
For re-waterproofing existing gear, switch to Nikwax TX.Direct or Granger's Performance Repel. Both are PFAS-free and work on all shell fabrics. You'll need to re-treat more often than with fluorinated products, but the chemistry is clean.
Check your water quality by zip code – your drinking water may already contain PFAS from industrial sources or contaminated municipal systems.
Yes, your existing rain jacket probably contains PFAS. Replacing all your waterproof gear immediately is impractical for most people.
Strategy: wash and re-waterproof existing gear with Nikwax (which is PFAS-free) to extend its useful life. This doesn't remove PFAS from the original coating, but it reduces how much you need to buy new. Replace pieces as they wear out naturally.
Prioritize replacement of items in direct skin contact during hot or sweaty conditions – base layers and shells you wear for running or high-output activities. Lab research on human skin models suggests some PFAS can be absorbed through skin, and sweat may increase contact.
For shells you only use occasionally (the rain jacket that lives in your car), replacement is less urgent. Focus your budget on the gear you use most often.
The rain jacket you buy in 2026 may be chemically different from the one you bought in 2023. C0 DWR doesn't last as long between treatments as the fluorinated coatings it replaces. You'll re-waterproof more often. That's the trade.
The conversion is happening largely because New York and California forced it. But it's happening. Páramo never used fluorinated DWR and Patagonia moved early; other big brands are catching up ahead of the 2028 deadline. Cheap fast-fashion rainwear often doesn't disclose its DWR chemistry at all.
Verify the production year. Check the spec sheet. Buy 2025+ inventory. If the brand won't disclose DWR chemistry, shop somewhere else.
Want a specific recommendation? See the buyer's guide to PFAS-free rain jackets, which compares current models by performance, price, and disclosed chemistry.
Is Gore-Tex PFAS? The original Gore-Tex membrane is expanded PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), which is a fluoropolymer. Gore-Tex ePE, introduced in 2022, uses expanded polyethylene instead and contains no PFAS. Check the product specifications – older Gore-Tex made before the ePE switch is still PTFE.
Is Patagonia DWR PFAS-free? For current products, largely yes – Patagonia was one of the earliest big brands to move to C0 (non-fluorinated) DWR and PFAS-free membranes. Verify the production year on older inventory, and check the product page for the specific shell you're buying.
What does C0 DWR mean? C0 is industry shorthand for zero-carbon fluorine chains – meaning non-fluorinated durable water repellent. C0 DWR uses silicone polymers, wax, or hydrocarbon treatments instead of PFAS-based coatings. It's the PFAS-free alternative.
Is Nikwax PFAS-free? Yes – Nikwax has always been non-fluorinated. Their TX.Direct and other waterproofing treatments are safe for re-treating existing gear. Nikwax works on all shell fabrics and contains no PFAS chemistry.
How long does non-fluorinated DWR last? Non-fluorinated DWR generally needs re-treatment sooner than C6 fluorinated coatings, and how soon depends on the product, how often you wash it, and how hard you use it. The difference is meaningful but manageable – plan to re-waterproof more often.