Last updated on August 19th, 2022 at 11:48 pm
Earlier this year we did an article on PVC free rain gear thanks to some reader questions and stumbled on PuddleGear. PVC can contain mercury, phthalates and dioxins which al can be harmful to your health and the health of your little ones. Why smother your kids body in PVC when there are great alternatives like PuddleGear? Puddlegear is completely free of PVC and phthalates. Not mention they are certified by Öko-Tex which is a screening system that can detect over 100 toxic chemicals. PuddleGear kindly gave us a rundown of their materials and why they are exceptional compared to most.
PuddleGear has been around for a long time but was more recently taken over by a husband and wife team who really believe in the product. All their rain gear is coated with ATEK – a Polyurethane-coated stretch fabric. It’s a very light, soft, tear-resistant material and is wind and watertight. I had a chance to ask them about their Polyurethane coating, they put me at ease:
“…when this particular Polyurethane is in its fully expanded state it is an “inert chemical” meaning that it has no off gassing left to do. Atek is fully expanded- and tested to be free of over 100 harmful chemicals.
Not all Polyurethane is PVC or Phthalate free– some who don’t heat seal their seams use PVC to make them waterproof…and Phthalates make the PVC soft. Polyurethane is also a controlled application when you make it so its not leached into the ground water like PVC plastics.
PuddleGear products are totally waterproof, tear-resistant and machine washable. They are incredibly well made and durable, and they all include reflective accents for safety during darker rainy days or at night. They come in a great selection of colors and fit kids 6 months to 9 years old!
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