ToughSack Assorted Colors vs Colorado Dry Duffel Colorado / CLEAR: which is safer?
Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors is the clear pick. Watershed Colorado Dry Duffel Colorado / CLEAR 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
Watershed
Colorado Dry Duffel Colorado / CLEAR
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossiblePVC plasticizer leaching (phthalates or similar)
Reportedwater-repellent coating degradation and unknown composition
PossiblePVC off-gassing (VOCs)
Where these two actually differ
- We flag Heavy metals in zippers or hardware on the Granite Gear and not on the Watershed.
- We flag PVC plasticizer leaching (phthalates or similar), DWR coating degradation and unknown composition, PVC off-gassing (VOCs) and Seam integrity failure over time on the Watershed and not on the Granite Gear.
- The Granite Gear is Cordura nylon fabric where the Watershed is PVC-coated nylon with DWR waterproof treatment, 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 Watershed 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