Blacktail 2 Backpacking Tent vs Journey - Hammock Shelter - Lightweight - Camping - Hammock Gear: which is safer?

Big Agnes Blacktail 2 Backpacking Tent is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Our pick

Big Agnes Blacktail 2 Backpacking Tent

Big Agnes

Blacktail 2 Backpacking Tent

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 2/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Nylon ripstop with water-repellent coating (type unspecified)

Confidence

55%

PossibleFluorinated water-repellent coating residues (PFOA/PFCs in historical treatments)

PossibleMold and bacterial growth in stored damp fabric

ReportedHeat sensitivity of water-repellent coating-coated nylon near fire or stove

Journey - Hammock Shelter - Lightweight - Camping - Hammock Gear

Hammock Gear

Journey - Hammock Shelter - Lightweight - Camping - Hammock Gear

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

nylon/ripstop fabric with unspecified water-resistant coating

Confidence

45%

LikelyPFAS in water-resistant coating (water-repellent coating treatment)

PossibleMicroplastic shedding from degraded coating or fabric

PossibleMold and bacterial growth if stored damp

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Fluorinated DWR coating residues (PFOA/PFCs in historical treatments), Mold and bacterial growth in stored damp fabric and Heat sensitivity of DWR-coated nylon near fire or stove on the Big Agnes and not on the Hammock Gear.
  • We flag PFAS in water-resistant coating (DWR treatment), Microplastic shedding from degraded coating or fabric, Mold and bacterial growth if stored damp and Volatilization or skin contact with coating residues during initial use on the Hammock Gear and not on the Big Agnes.
  • The Big Agnes is Nylon ripstop with DWR coating (type unspecified) where the Hammock Gear is nylon/ripstop fabric with unspecified water-resistant 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, 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 →

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