Alpha FL 20 Backpack vs Refugio Day Pack 30L: which is safer?
Patagonia Refugio Day Pack 30L is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Arc'teryx
Alpha FL 20 Backpack
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
LikelyPFAS in water-repellent coating
PossibleNylon degradation and microplastic shedding
PossibleVOC off-gassing
Our pick
Patagonia
Refugio Day Pack 30L
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possiblewater-repellent coating chemistry (unspecified replacement for PFAS)
ReportedNylon and polyester fiber shedding / microfiber release
LikelyCoating degradation over time
Where these two actually differ
- We flag PFAS in DWR coating, Nylon degradation and microplastic shedding and VOC off-gassing on the Arc'teryx and not on the Patagonia.
- We flag DWR coating chemistry (unspecified replacement for PFAS), Nylon and polyester fiber shedding / microfiber release and Coating degradation over time on the Patagonia and not on the Arc'teryx.
- The Arc'teryx is Nylon with DWR water-repellent treatment (type unspecified) where the Patagonia is Nylon/polyester blend with DWR (durable water repellent) treatment, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- The gap is 25 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Patagonia is the one to buy.
Both products run through the same public rubric, which covers materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More backpacks, see the full ranking