Waterproof Dry Bag 5L vs Trailgate Gear Bin Green 140 L: which is safer?

REI Co-op Trailgate Gear Bin Green 140 L is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

AFTCO Waterproof Dry Bag 5L

AFTCO

Waterproof Dry Bag 5L

PFAS grade

Bad 20/100

Overall grade

Bad 0/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 5

Material

Synthetic fabric with waterproof coating, composition unspecified

Confidence

35%

PossibleFormaldehyde resins in synthetic fabric finishing

PossibleAntimony catalyst residue in polyester

LikelyVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) from waterproof coating

Our pick

REI Co-op Trailgate Gear Bin Green 140 L

REI Co-op

Trailgate Gear Bin Green 140 L

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Good 53/100

Verdict

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Hazard flags

⚑ 3

Material

Polypropylene storage bin, no water-resistant coating mentioned

Confidence

78%

PossibleUV degradation and additive leaching

PossibleMicroplastics from mechanical wear

PossibleOdor and volatile organic compounds from manufacturing

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Formaldehyde resins in synthetic fabric finishing, Antimony catalyst residue in polyester, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from waterproof coating and Coating degradation and microplastic shedding on the AFTCO and not on the REI Co-op.
  • We flag UV degradation and additive leaching, Microplastics from mechanical wear and Odor and volatile organic compounds from manufacturing on the REI Co-op and not on the AFTCO.
  • The AFTCO is Synthetic fabric with waterproof coating, composition unspecified where the REI Co-op is Polypropylene storage bin, no water-resistant coating mentioned, 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 REI Co-op is the one to buy.
  • We are less certain about the AFTCO grade, at 35% confidence against 78%, 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 outdoor gear storage bags, see the full ranking