Outdoor Research Cloudchaser 3L Jacket Sustainability Report

With its 100-denier polyester face fabric, the Outdoor Research Cloudchaser 3L is impressively tough for a backcountry-focused shell. It’s noticeably burlier than most touring jackets, and during testing it shrugged off brushes with trees and rock without showing wear. The smooth zippers and clean construction also inspire confidence over the long term. For skiers who split time between light tours and occasional resort laps, it should hold up well across many seasons of regular use.

Choosing durable outdoor gear is perhaps the most effective way to reduce environmental impact—the longer it lasts, the less it needs to be produced. Our proprietary longevity rating evaluates overall build quality based on factors such as materials, fabric denier, component durability (including zippers and toggles), real-world performance as reported by our field testers, and our experiences with the brand. Overall, we feel strongly that reducing overall consumption is a cornerstone of sustainability.

The Cloudchaser 3L is treated with a PFAS-free DWR. Outdoor Research began phasing out PFAS from its new products in 2024, aiming to be 100% PFAS free by the fall of that year. As of spring 2025, all new Outdoor Research products are free of PFAS.

The DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish is a product’s direct defense against outside moisture, and commonly contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These synthetic compounds, known as "forever chemicals,” are found in a range of gear categories, from jackets to footwear. They resist water, oil, and heat exceptionally well, making them ideal for outdoor use, but their nearly indestructible nature also means that they take an extremely long time to degrade in nature, if at all. PFAS can eventually end up in everything from soil to drinking water and have been linked to a range of health issues.

The Outdoor Research Cloudchaser 3L uses a PFAS-free waterproof membrane. Similar to its DWR treatment, Outdoor Research began eliminating PFAS from its waterproof membranes in 2024, achieving 100% PFAS-free status by spring 2025.

The membranes of certain waterproof products, including rain jackets, ski jackets, ski bibs, hardshells, and hiking footwear, commonly contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These synthetic compounds, known as "forever chemicals,” resist water, oil, and heat exceptionally well, making them ideal for outdoor use, but their nearly indestructible nature also means that they take an extremely long time to degrade in nature, if at all. PFAS can eventually end up in everything from soil to drinking water and have been linked to a range of health issues.

The shell fabric of the Outdoor Research Cloudchaser 3L is made of recycled polyester, while the waterproof membrane is made of recycled plastic bottles. In 2025, 70% of Outdoor Research styles featured recycled content in their primary fabric (the brand didn’t report on recycled fabric use by weight). The brand is working toward certifying its recycled materials under the Global Recycled Standard and Recycled Claims Standard to enhance traceability and transparency.

Outdoor gear can be made partly or entirely from recycled materials, the most common being nylon, polyester, wool, and down. Some products include a single recycled component or a partially recycled fabric, while others are 100% recycled (generally excluding accessories like zippers, Velcro, toggles, etc.). For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate the amount of recycled materials in a particular product and assign points accordingly.

The outer fabric of the Outdoor Research Cloudchaser 3L is a Bluesign-approved material. Outdoor Research is a Bluesign System Partner, and in 2025, 75% of its fabrics were Bluesign approved (up from 65% in 2022).

Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile certification system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A Bluesign-approved material indicates that it has undergone a rigorous vetting process based on the criteria above. A Bluesign Product goes the next mile, containing at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and at least 30% Bluesign-approved accessories.

As an Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) member, Outdoor Research has adopted the OIA’s Fair Labor Code of Conduct for its manufacturing processes. Outdoor Research also utilizes the Social and Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) and the Facility Social & Labor Module (FSLM) to assess working conditions at its factories. While these programs provide valuable insights, they do not issue certifications verifying that a brand has met specific manufacturing standards, unlike Fair Trade Certified (FTC) or Fair Wear. Our criteria for this category require brands to meet third-party responsible manufacturing standards that result in formal certifications or continuous supply chain audits.

This criterion evaluates a brand's commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing its environmental impact throughout the production process. Responsible manufacturing is most commonly demonstrated through certifications and membership in programs such as Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accreditation of Production, and the Fair Labor Association. We also recognize brands that prioritize local production, such as those that manufacture primarily in the United States or Europe, to reduce carbon emissions, maintain better oversight of working conditions, and comply with strict social and environmental regulations.

Outdoor Research incorporates recycled poly bags into its product packaging.

Packaging can add significant waste to an outdoor gear purchase and often ends up in landfills. Many brands are using recycled packaging and/or making efforts to reduce packaging altogether. For example, they may use a certain percentage of recycled cardboard or make efforts to use less plastic or paper across their packaging operation. In some cases, brands also use Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, which helps to ensure sustainable sourcing of forest materials.

Outdoor Research does not offer repair services for its products. Instead, it replaces damaged products covered under warranty.

Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption. Some brands offer comprehensive repair programs that can fix a wide range of issues, while others have more limited capabilities. If a brand's warranty policy only covers replacement, rather than repair, these programs usually do not meet this criterion.

Outdoor Research does not offer resale or recycling services. However, it operates an outlet store at its warehouse, where it resells gear returned for warranty issues.

Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation for longer and out of landfills. The most common form is a trade-in program, where consumers can exchange items for store credit, which is then resold. Some brands accept products back for recycling at the end of their life, thereby reducing waste. Occasionally, some do both.

Outdoor Research tracks its emissions using Higg Index tools. It has committed to the science-aligned (but not Science Based Targets Initiative-verified) goal to reduce its Scope 3 (or supply chain) emissions by 48% per unit of value added. The brand has yet to set an absolute emissions reduction goal, which decouples emissions from business growth. As of its latest 2024 reporting, Outdoor Research has not made any progress toward reducing its Scope 3 emissions. Still, we appreciate that Outdoor Research purchases renewable energy certificates equivalent to 100% of its North American energy usage, meeting its net-zero Scope 2 emissions target.

This criterion evaluates whether this brand measures its greenhouse gas emissions, along with its commitment to reduction and transparency in reporting. Typically, we require brands to follow established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. Most companies use the widely recognized scope categorization system for measuring brand emissions. Those who earn the most points in this category have emissions reduction goals verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a global organization that helps companies set greenhouse gas reduction targets in line with the goal of limiting global warming to well below 2°C. To verify their goals through SBTi, companies undergo a rigorous assessment process and continual follow-up to ensure consistent progress towards achieving their targets.

Outdoor Research published its first impact report in 2023, outlining its 2022 progress. This report published concrete data on the brand’s sustainability initiatives and progress toward goals, including greenhouse gas emissions, material use, and progress toward eliminating PFAS. It published its next report in 2026, describing its 2025 data. While the new report is relatively comprehensive, it does not cover topics such as emissions data or circularity initiatives.

An impact report is an important step toward transparency and accountability on the sustainability front. These reports vary in form but generally cover topics such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions tracking, waste and water usage, supply chain analysis, and packaging efforts. For our sustainability ratings, we evaluate this criterion based on the depth and quality of the information provided in the report, and how often it is produced. Some brands produce their own impact report, while others are published by their parent company. In practice, we’ve found that reports produced by individual brands include more detailed information about their sustainability efforts.