ToughSack Assorted Colors vs Meridian Duffle: which is safer?
Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors is the clear pick. Sea to Summit Meridian Duffle carries a failing PFAS grade, and we never recommend buying a failing product.
Our pick
Granite Gear
ToughSack Assorted Colors
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleHeavy metals in zippers or hardware
Sea to Summit
Meridian Duffle
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possiblewater-repellent coating degradation and leachables
PossiblePolyester microfiber shedding
PossibleAzo dyes in colored nylon
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Heavy metals in zippers or hardware on the Granite Gear and not on the Sea to Summit.
- We flag DWR coating degradation and leachables, Polyester microfiber shedding, Azo dyes in colored nylon and PFAS in DWR coating (assessed separately but noted here for completeness) on the Sea to Summit and not on the Granite Gear.
- The Granite Gear is Cordura nylon fabric where the Sea to Summit is Nylon/polyester with DWR coating, 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 Sea to Summit grade, at 45% 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