Waterproof Duffel Bag vs ToughSack Assorted Colors: which is safer?

Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors is the clear pick. Cabela's Waterproof Duffel Bag carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.

Cabela's Waterproof Duffel Bag

Cabela's

Waterproof Duffel Bag

PFAS grade

Poor 40/100

Overall grade

Poor 28/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Polyester/nylon with waterproof coating, unknown water-repellent coating treatment

Confidence

35%

Possiblewater-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating composition unknown

PossibleVolatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing from polyester coating

PossibleCoating adhesion and microparticle shedding

Our pick

Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors

Granite Gear

ToughSack Assorted Colors

PFAS grade

Excellent 85/100

Overall grade

Excellent 81/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 1

Material

Cordura nylon fabric

Confidence

72%

PossibleHeavy metals in zippers or hardware

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Durable water repellent (DWR) coating composition unknown, Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing from polyester coating and Coating adhesion and microparticle shedding on the Cabela's and not on the Granite Gear.
  • We flag Heavy metals in zippers or hardware on the Granite Gear and not on the Cabela's.
  • The Cabela's is Polyester/nylon with waterproof coating, unknown DWR treatment where the Granite Gear is Cordura nylon fabric, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • The gap is 45 points, wide enough that this is not a close call, and the Granite Gear is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the Cabela's grade, at 35% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.

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 waterproof bags & luggage, see the full ranking