All 15 backpacks we scored fail our PFAS screen
We scored 15 backpacks for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.
100% of the 15 backpacks we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free backpacks we have scored
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
The backpacks we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
The North Face
Jester Luxe Backpack
Nylon/polyester with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
PFAS
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from synthetic fibers
Limited concern
Stop until The North Face reveals its water-repellent coating chemistry; standard coatings often contain PFAS.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Recon Backpack
nylon/polyester blend with water-repellent coating water-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating degradation and leaching
Limited concern
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from materials and adhesives
Limited concern
PFAS
Limited concern
Lower concern than older water-repellent coating packs, but The North Face hasn't confirmed PFAS phase-out.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
The North Face
Borealis Mini Backpack
Nylon with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
PFAS
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding
Limited concern
Stop until The North Face reveals its water-repellent coating chemistry; standard nylon backpacks carry PFAS uncertainty.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
What we check on backpacks
- Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
- Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
- Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
- Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The backpacks brands that will not say
5 of the brands here publish nothing about PFAS at all. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Arc'teryx, Fjällräven, Patagonia, Peak Design, The North Face.
Common questions about PFAS-free backpacks
Is backpacks PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 15 backpacks we have scored, 100% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 0 that pass. The lowest is The North Face The North Face Jester Luxe Backpack at 20.
Which backpacks should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are The North Face The North Face Jester Luxe Backpack at 20, The North Face The North Face Recon Backpack at 20, The North Face The North Face Borealis Mini Backpack at 20. The problem with the first is that stop until The North Face reveals its DWR chemistry; standard coatings often contain PFAS.
Which backpacks brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
5 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Arc'teryx, Fjällräven, Patagonia, Peak Design, The North Face. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test backpacks?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
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