Tool Box 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.

Marmot Tool Box

Marmot

Tool Box

PFAS grade

Good 65/100

Overall grade

Poor 39/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 5

Material

Nylon, polyester, cotton blend; details unspecified

Confidence

45%

PossibleVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) from polyester and nylon manufacturing

Reportedwater-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating chemistry unknown

PossibleFormaldehyde-resin finishes in synthetic textiles

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

Skip

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 Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from polyester and nylon manufacturing, Durable water repellent (DWR) coating chemistry unknown, Formaldehyde-resin finishes in synthetic textiles and Azo dyes in colored polyester components on the Marmot 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 Marmot.
  • The Marmot is Nylon, polyester, cotton blend; details 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.
  • These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
  • We are less certain about the Marmot grade, at 45% confidence against 78%, 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 outdoor gear storage bags: see the full ranking