Quechua Hiking Backpack 23L vs Goforth Dry Duffel: which is safer?
Watershed Goforth Dry Duffel is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Decathlon
Quechua Hiking Backpack 23L
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossiblePFAS in water-repellent coating
PossibleMicroplastic shedding during use and washing
Our pick
Watershed
Goforth Dry Duffel
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes and hazardous colorants
PossibleCoating degradation and microparticle shedding
PossibleResidual processing chemicals (waterproofing treatment)
Where these two actually differ
- We flag PFAS in durable water repellent coating and Microplastic shedding during use and washing on the Decathlon and not on the Watershed.
- We flag Azo dyes and hazardous colorants, Coating degradation and microparticle shedding and Residual processing chemicals (waterproofing treatment) on the Watershed and not on the Decathlon.
- The Decathlon is polyester/nylon with durable water repellent coating where the Watershed is Naturally textured cotton blend with proprietary waterproofing, 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 Watershed is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the Decathlon grade, at 35% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.
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 waterproof bags & luggage: see the full ranking