The Best Non-Toxic Waterproof Bags of 2026
118 of the 122 waterproof bags PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 96.7% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 4 that pass. The highest graded is Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors at 85 out of 100.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Are waterproof bags non-toxic?
4 of the 122 waterproof bags we graded clear our screen and 118 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on waterproof bags in this category are microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, artificial dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals. The highest graded here is Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors at 85 out of 100.
Quick picks
A second brand to consider
Kelty Daisy Chain Web Duffel BagThe best grade here from a brand other than the winner
85 Excellent
Why Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors wins, and what it beats
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 3 products it beats, so you can see exactly where the 45 points between the top and the bottom of this waterproof bags ranking come from.
The winner
Made of Cordura nylon fabric.
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
- +10Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
15risk points in total, which is a grade of 85
What the grade does not fix. It still carries one risk factor, No PFAS disclosure. See the full breakdown.
What it beats, and why
What puts it behind. Disclosed non-fluorinated coating, +10 points. Coating is named and is not a fluorochemical (wax, paraffin, mink oil). The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Waxed canvas with wax finish.
- +15No PFAS disclosure
- +10Disclosed non-fluorinated coating
- +10Category baseline
35risk points, a grade of 65
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Nylon ripstop with water-repellent coating treatment.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +10Category baseline
- -10Brand-stated PFAS-free. The brand states this product is PFAS-free. We have not verified the claim.
35risk points, a grade of 65
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The winner carries no such factor.
Made of Naturally textured cotton blend with proprietary waterproofing.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +15No PFAS disclosure
- +10Category baseline
60risk points, a grade of 40
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in waterproof bags
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 122 waterproof bags in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- Microplastics
Plastic fragments small enough to shed from a product into food, water or air without anyone seeing it.
Found on 7 of these waterproof bags. Plausible but unconfirmed on 58 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- VOCs and off-gassing
Volatile compounds that evaporate out of a material at room temperature, which is what a new product smell is.
Found on 1 of these waterproof bags. Plausible but unconfirmed on 44 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 13 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- Formaldehyde
A preservative and resin ingredient that is also released slowly by a group of chemicals used in its place.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 6 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NCI
- Heavy metals
Metals such as antimony, nickel and chromium migrating from a material into what touches it.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 5 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. ATSDR
The safest waterproof bags we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
- 1
Highest grade here
- Cordura nylon fabric
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Heavy metals
- 2
- Polyester webbing and nylon
- Azo dyes in polyester webbing
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- 3
- Polypropylene shell, polyurethane foam, stainless steel hardware
- Polyurethane foam degradation and off-gassing
- 4
- polyester/nylon tote fabric, standard construction
- Formaldehyde / VOCs
5 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Questions people ask about waterproof bags
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
All the waterproof bags that pass, side by side
Sorted by score. A higher score means lower PFAS risk. Scored against 3 hazards that apply to this category.
| # | Waterproof Bags | Score | Rating | Made of | Key concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors | 85 | Excellent | Cordura nylon fabric | Heavy metals |
| 2 | Kelty Daisy Chain Web Duffel Bag | 85 | Excellent | Polyester webbing and nylon | Azo dyes in polyester webbing |
| 3 | Pelican 1595 Air Travel Case | 85 | Excellent | Polypropylene shell, polyurethane foam, stainless steel hardware | Polyurethane foam degradation and off-gassing |
| 4 | Salomon Extended Totebag | 85 | Excellent | polyester/nylon tote fabric, standard construction | Formaldehyde / VOCs |
The verdict on waterproof bags
Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors grades 85 out of 100, the highest here. It is cordura nylon fabric. We found no PFAS statement from the brand, so the grade rests on materials alone.
Choose Kelty Daisy Chain Web Duffel Bag instead if you want a second option at 85 out of 100, polyester webbing and nylon.
We hold no price data, so nothing here is a budget recommendation. Grades are model-based assessments from published materials and disclosures, not laboratory tests.
The waterproof bags we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 40Watershed Goforth Dry DuffelPoor
Waterproofing chemical composition (undisclosed)
- 40Poor
- 40YETI Camino Zip Carryall 18L TotePoor
Water-resistant coating degradation and potential leachables
What we check on waterproof bags
- BPA & bisphenols. Plastic-hardening chemicals linked to hormone disruption. FDA
- Phthalates. Plastic softeners studied for endocrine effects. ATSDR
- Microplastics. Tiny plastic particles that shed from products into food and water. EPA
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The waterproof bags brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 17 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
ALPS Mountaineering, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Decathlon, Dry Bag Co., Exped, FisheWear, Granite Gear, L.L.Bean, NRS, Ortlieb, Osprey.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in waterproof bags
Are waterproof bags PFAS free?
118 of the 122 waterproof bags PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, 96.7% of the category, as of October 2026, leaving 4 that pass. The highest graded is Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors at 85 out of 100. The lowest graded is Watershed Goforth Dry Duffel at 40 out of 100.
Are waterproof bags non-toxic?
4 of the 122 waterproof bags we graded clear our screen and 118 do not. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on waterproof bags in this category are microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, artificial dyes, formaldehyde, heavy metals. The highest graded here is Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors at 85 out of 100.
Which are the safest waterproof bags to buy?
On our grades, Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. Then Kelty Daisy Chain Web Duffel Bag at 85. These are model-based assessments from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and disclosures, not laboratory tests, so treat them as the lowest risk we can evidence rather than a safety guarantee.
Which waterproof bags grade best for PFAS?
Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors, at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is cordura nylon fabric. The runner up is Kelty Daisy Chain Web Duffel Bag at 85.
Which waterproof bags should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Watershed Goforth Dry Duffel at 40, Granite Gear Slacker Packer Drysack at 40, YETI Camino Zip Carryall 18L Tote at 40. The problem with the first is that a water-repellent or grease-resistant treatment of unstated chemistry, and no PFAS statement from the brand.
How can you tell if waterproof bags contain PFAS?
In this category we check for BPA & bisphenols, phthalates, microplastics. Plastic-hardening chemicals linked to hormone disruption. Language like stain resistant, water repellent or easy release usually means fluorinated chemistry even when PFAS is never printed on the box.
Which waterproof bags brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 17 of the brands we scored in this category, including ALPS Mountaineering, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Decathlon, Dry Bag Co., Exped. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. It is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test waterproof bags?
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.
More food and water categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to waterproof bags.
- Best non-toxic water filters507 graded
- Best non-toxic smart rings256 graded
- Best non-toxic food packaging186 graded
- Best non-toxic lunch boxes175 graded
- Best non-toxic phone battery cases75 graded
- Best non-toxic waterproof winter gloves75 graded
- Best non-toxic disposable food containers65 graded
- Best non-toxic deli meat packaging59 graded
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The products we score each week, and the best-graded alternative in every category.
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Does a particular brand of waterproof bags have PFAS?
Brands we grade across the catalogue
Everything we have scored from these brands, not just waterproof bags.
We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in Waterproof Duffels and Dry Bags, Where Waxed Canvas Stands Out
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 122 waterproof bags.