Refugio Day Pack 30L vs Recon Backpack: which is safer?
Patagonia Refugio Day Pack 30L is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
Patagonia
Refugio Day Pack 30L
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possiblewater-repellent coating chemistry (unspecified replacement for PFAS)
ReportedNylon and polyester fiber shedding / microfiber release
LikelyCoating degradation over time
The North Face
Recon Backpack
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
Possiblewater-repellent coating degradation and leaching
PossibleVolatile organic compounds (VOCs) from materials and adhesives
PossiblePFAS in water-repellent coating treatment
Where these two actually differ
- We flag DWR coating chemistry (unspecified replacement for PFAS), Nylon and polyester fiber shedding / microfiber release and Coating degradation over time on the Patagonia and not on the The North Face.
- We flag DWR coating degradation and leaching, Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from materials and adhesives and PFAS in DWR treatment on the The North Face and not on the Patagonia.
- The Patagonia is Nylon/polyester blend with DWR (durable water repellent) treatment where the The North Face is nylon/polyester blend with DWR water-resistant treatment, 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 Patagonia is the one to buy.
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 →
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