Trailgate Gear Bin Green 140 L vs Base Camp Gear Box: which is safer?
REI Co-op Trailgate Gear Bin Green 140 L is our pick, better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Our pick
REI Co-op
Trailgate Gear Bin Green 140 L
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleUV degradation and additive leaching
PossibleMicroplastics from mechanical wear
PossibleOdor and volatile organic compounds from manufacturing
The North Face
Base Camp Gear Box
PFAS grade
Overall grade
Verdict
Hazard flags
Material
Confidence
PossibleAzo dyes in synthetic textiles
PossibleFormaldehyde resins in fabric finishes
Reportedwater-repellent coating degradation and leaching
Where these two actually differ
- 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 The North Face.
- We flag Azo dyes in synthetic textiles, Formaldehyde resins in fabric finishes, DWR coating degradation and leaching and VOC off-gassing from finish treatments on the The North Face and not on the REI Co-op.
- The REI Co-op is Polypropylene storage bin, no water-resistant coating mentioned where the The North Face is polyester, nylon 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 REI Co-op is the one to buy.
- We are less certain about the The North Face grade, at 45% 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