Alpha FL 20 Backpack vs Jester Luxe Backpack: which is safer?
The North Face Jester Luxe Backpack is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Arc'teryx
Alpha FL 20 Backpack
PFAS grade
Bad 20/100
Overall grade
Bad 0/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 3
Material
Nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent treatment (type unspecified)
Confidence
52%
LikelyPFAS in water-repellent coating
PossibleNylon degradation and microplastic shedding
PossibleVOC off-gassing
Our pick
The North Face
Jester Luxe Backpack
PFAS grade
Bad 20/100
Overall grade
Bad 12/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
Nylon/polyester with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
Confidence
45%
Possiblewater-repellent coating composition (PFAS candidate)
PossibleMicroplastic shedding from synthetic fibers
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 The North Face.
- We flag DWR coating composition (PFAS candidate) and Microplastic shedding from synthetic fibers on the The North Face and not on the Arc'teryx.
- The Arc'teryx is Nylon with DWR water-repellent treatment (type unspecified) where the The North Face is Nylon/polyester with durable water-repellent (DWR) coating, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
- These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
Both products run through the same public rubric: 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