PFAS in Waterproof Camera & Lens Protection Cases, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst

Based on available materials and data, Nanuk and Nikon dominate the top of our waterproof camera case ratings, with a dozen products landing in the "Excellent" tier at a model-estimated 85 out of 100 for safety, while several Think Tank Photo bags and rain covers fall to "Poor" at 40 out of 100. This is not a lab-verified ranking of every component in every case. It is a model-based estimate built from publicly available materials disclosures, brand claims, and known industry patterns around waterproofing chemistry, including the use of fluoropolymer and fluorocarbon treatments often associated with PFAS, the "forever chemicals" family.

If you need a hard-shell case for air travel, drone kits, or DSLR bodies, the clearest standout based on available data is the Nanuk Nanuk Pro Photo Kit Hard Case, which relies on a polypropylene resin shell rather than a fluoropolymer-coated fabric, a structural choice that appears to reduce the likelihood of intentionally added PFAS. Nikon's marine and housing cases for compact cameras follow a similar hard-shell logic and also land in the Excellent tier. The weak spot in this category is soft-sided gear, especially rain covers and shoulder bags that rely on durable water repellent (DWR) fabric finishes, a category where several Think Tank Photo products scored Poor in our model.

Summary comparison, PFAS grades at a glance

Product	PFAS grade (model estimate)	Verdict
Nanuk Pro Photo Kit Hard Case	Excellent, 85/100	Lower concern, hard-shell resin construction
Nanuk 935 DSLR Camera Case	Excellent, 85/100	Lower concern, strong pick for DSLR bodies
DiCAPac WP-S5 Waterproof Case	Excellent, 85/100	Lower concern, soft case alternative
Nanuk 920 Camera Case	Excellent, 85/100	Lower concern, compact hard case
Think Tank Digital Holster 5 V3	Excellent, 85/100	Lower concern, outlier in a mixed brand lineup
Nanuk 935 Pro Photo Kit	Excellent, 85/100	Lower concern, kit-sized hard case
Nikon WP-CP3 Marine Case	Excellent, 85/100	Lower concern, submersible housing
Nikon Waterproof Case Set WP-CP2	Excellent, 85/100	Lower concern, compact camera housing
Nikon WP-N1 Waterproof Housing	Excellent, 85/100	Lower concern, mirrorless-specific housing
Nikon KeyMission 170 Waterproof Case	Excellent, 85/100	Lower concern, action-cam housing
Nikon WP-CP5 Marine Case	Excellent, 85/100	Lower concern, newer marine housing line
Nanuk 950 Pro Photo Case	Excellent, 85/100	Lower concern, largest Nanuk kit case
Think Tank Hydrophobia D 70-200 Rain Cover	Poor, 40/100	Higher concern, fabric DWR-style rain cover
Think Tank Retrospective 7 V2.0 Shoulder Bag	Poor, 40/100	Higher concern, treated canvas exterior
Think Tank PhotoCross 11L Sling Bag	Poor, 40/100	Higher concern, weatherproof-coated sling
Think Tank Emergency Rain Cover	Poor, 40/100	Higher concern, single-use style rain shell

Why hard cases tend to grade better than soft bags

The pattern across this dataset is consistent and worth understanding before you buy. Hard-shell cases from Nanuk and Nikon's dedicated camera housings achieve their water resistance through molded polymer shells, rubber gaskets, and mechanical seals, a design approach that doesn't typically require a fluorochemical surface treatment to repel water. Soft-sided bags and rain covers, by contrast, often depend on fabric coatings or laminates to achieve a water-beading effect, and fluoropolymer-based durable water repellent finishes have historically been a default choice in the outdoor and bag industry because they work well and they're cheap to apply, even though they are increasingly scrutinized for PFAS content. This is the same dynamic we see play out in waterproof boots and waterproof phone cases, where rigid or sealed designs tend to outperform fabric-based ones in our grading.

Product by product, materials and honest pros and cons

Nanuk Pro Photo Kit Hard Case

The Nanuk Nanuk Pro Photo Kit Hard Case uses a NK-7 resin polymer shell with a polyurethane foam interior and rubber gasket seal. Nanuk markets the case as waterproof, dustproof, and crushproof, claims tied to IP67 testing rather than to any PFAS-specific chemistry. Based on available materials and data, the case's resin-and-rubber construction carries lower apparent PFAS risk than fabric alternatives.

Pros, Rigid protection, airline carry-on friendly, no visible fabric DWR coating.
Cons, Bulky for everyday carry, foam interior requires customization, price premium over soft bags.

Nanuk 935 DSLR Camera Case and Nanuk NANUK 935 Pro Photo Kit

Both the Nanuk 935 DSLR Camera Case and the Nanuk NANUK 935 Pro Photo Kit share the same resin shell platform as the Pro Photo Kit case. Nanuk's brand materials emphasize impact resistance and a lifetime warranty rather than chemical-free marketing, which is itself a useful signal since the company isn't leaning on a PFAS-free claim to sell the product. That means our grade here reflects material composition inference, not a verified brand statement.

Pros, Consistent build quality across the Nanuk line, strong seal performance, modular foam options.
Cons, Heavier than soft cases, no official third-party PFAS test disclosed in public materials.

Nanuk 920 Camera Case and Nanuk 950 Pro Photo Case

The Nanuk 920 Camera Case is a compact option while the Nanuk Camera Case Nanuk 950 Pro Photo is one of the largest in the lineup, suited to multi-body kits. Both use the same resin and foam formula. Based on available materials and data, size differences don't appear to change the underlying material risk profile.

Pros, Scalable sizing for different kits, pressure relief valve for altitude changes, stackable design.
Cons, Larger cases are heavy to carry long distances, cost scales up significantly with size.

DiCAPac WP-S5 Waterproof Case

The DiCAPac DiCAPac WP-S5 Waterproof Case for Small DSLR Cameras takes a different approach from the hard-shell Nanuk cases, using a flexible PVC-type housing with a mechanical lens port rather than a fabric DWR coating. It still lands in the Excellent tier, suggesting that soft doesn't automatically mean high PFAS concern, the coating chemistry matters more than the flexibility of the material itself.

Pros, Lightweight and packable, allows full camera operation underwater, budget-friendly versus hard cases.
Cons, Less impact protection than a hard shell, seal integrity depends on careful closure every time.

Nikon marine and housing cases

Nikon's dedicated housings, the Nikon WP-CP3 Marine Case for Camera, the Nikon waterproof case set WP-CP2, the Nikon WP-N1 Waterproof Housing, the Nikon Waterproof Case for KeyMission 170 Action Camera, and the Nikon WP-CP5 Marine Case for Camera, all rely on rigid polycarbonate shells with O-ring seals rated for specific depths. Nikon's own marketing centers on depth ratings and drop protection rather than chemical composition, so our Excellent grade here is a model-based estimate from the structural material choice, not a verified PFAS-free claim from Nikon.

Pros, Purpose-built depth ratings for diving and snorkeling, precise fit for specific camera models, O-ring seals rather than fabric coatings.
Cons, Single-camera-model compatibility limits resale flexibility, O-ring maintenance is required to preserve the seal over time.

Think Tank Digital Holster 5 V3

The Think Tank Photo Think Tank Digital Holster 5 V3 is the one Excellent-graded product from a brand that otherwise scores Poor across our dataset, which is an important nuance. Based on available materials and data, this smaller holster-style case appears to use a different fabric treatment or less surface-area coating than Think Tank's larger bags, resulting in a materially different grade within the same brand lineup.

Pros, Compact and lightweight for single-lens carry, lower apparent PFAS concern than sibling products in the same brand.
Cons, Limited capacity, brand-wide inconsistency means shoppers should check each Think Tank product individually rather than trusting the brand name alone.

Think Tank Hydrophobia D 70-200 Rain Cover

The Think Tank Photo Think Tank Hydrophobia D 70-200 Rain Cover is built around a fabric shell designed to shed rain over a long telephoto lens, a use case that historically relies heavily on fluoropolymer-based DWR treatments to keep the fabric from wetting out. This product grades Poor at 40 out of 100 in our model. Think Tank's brand materials promote the cover's water-shedding performance, which is a functional claim, not a chemical-safety claim, and no third-party PFAS test result is cited in available public materials.

Pros, Effective rain protection for long lenses, lightweight and packable.
Cons, Higher apparent PFAS concern based on fabric coating category, no public disclosure of fluorine-free alternative chemistry.

Think Tank Retrospective 7 V2.0 Shoulder Bag

The Think Tank Photo Think Tank Retrospective 7 V2.0 Shoulder Bag uses a waxed canvas-style exterior marketed for a low-profile, weathered look. Waxed and treated canvas finishes can include fluorocarbon-based water repellents, and this product lands in the Poor tier in our model.

Pros, Discreet styling, padded dividers, comfortable for daily carry.
Cons, Treated canvas exterior is a higher apparent PFAS concern category, no brand statement confirming a fluorine-free treatment in available materials.

Think Tank PhotoCross 11L Sling Bag

The Think Tank Photo Think Tank PhotoCross 11L Sling Bag is marketed as weatherproof for everyday shooting, again relying on a coated fabric exterior. It scores Poor at 40 out of 100 in our model, consistent with the pattern across Think Tank's larger fabric-based bags.

Pros, Versatile sling design, quick-access opening, good capacity for mirrorless kits.
Cons, Weatherproof fabric coating is a higher apparent PFAS concern category, sling design offers less structural protection than a hard case.

Think Tank Emergency Rain Cover

The Think Tank Photo Think Tank Emergency Rain Cover is a minimalist, packable cover intended for sudden weather, built from a thin treated fabric. It also grades Poor at 40 out of 100, rounding out a consistent trend for Think Tank's soft-goods lineup.

Pros, Ultra-packable, inexpensive insurance against sudden rain.
Cons, Thin fabric construction in the same higher-concern coating category as the rest of the Think Tank rain gear, not meant for sustained submersion.

What to avoid

• Soft-sided rain covers and shoulder bags that advertise "weatherproof" or "water-repellent" fabric without naming the specific finish chemistry, since this is the category where our model consistently finds higher apparent PFAS concern.
• Treated canvas bags marketed with a vintage or waxed look, a finish type historically achieved with fluorocarbon-based repellents.
• Any product where the brand's only water-resistance claim is marketing language like "shrugs off rain" with no mention of the underlying material or shell type.
• Assuming an entire brand is uniformly good or bad. The Think Tank lineup shows this clearly, one holster case graded Excellent while four other Think Tank products graded Poor, so check each product individually using a tool like our product finder rather than shopping by brand name alone.

This pattern isn't unique to camera gear. We see similar coating-driven splits in waterproof boots swimwear, and carpets and rugs, where fabric treatments rather than brand reputation tend to drive the PFAS grade.

Our pick

Based on available materials and data, hard-shell cases from Nanuk and Nikon are the stronger starting point if lowering apparent PFAS exposure is a priority alongside camera protection. The Nanuk Nanuk Pro Photo Kit Hard Case stands out for travelers who need a full kit case with resin-shell construction and no visible fabric DWR coating, while the Nikon WP-CP5 Marine Case for Camera is a reasonable option for underwater or marine use thanks to its sealed polycarbonate housing. If you need a soft, packable option, the DiCAPac WP-S5 Waterproof Case is the one flexible-material case in this dataset that still graded Excellent. None of these grades should be read as a guarantee of zero PFAS content. They reflect our model's estimate from publicly available materials and design choices, not an independent laboratory test of the finished product. If a rain cover or fabric sling bag is unavoidable for your shooting style, treat the Think Tank soft-goods grades as a signal to look for alternative brands or to ask the manufacturer directly whether a fluorine-free DWR alternative is used, and cross-check your options using the full waterproof camera and lens protection cases category page.

Frequently asked questions

Does a high PFAS grade mean a camera case is completely free of PFAS

No. A high grade such as the 85 out of 100 "Excellent" rating given to the Nanuk and Nikon hard cases reflects a model-based estimate from publicly disclosed materials and structural design choices, not a laboratory certification. We describe these products as lower concern based on available materials and data, never as PFAS-free or safe, because no independent lab test of the finished product is cited in the sources we reviewed.

Why do soft camera bags and rain covers grade worse than hard cases

Soft-sided bags and rain covers generally achieve water resistance through a fabric coating or laminate, and fluoropolymer-based durable water repellent finishes have long been a common, inexpensive choice in that category. Hard-shell cases achieve waterproofing through molded resin or polycarbonate shells and rubber or O-ring seals, a design that doesn't inherently require the same fluorochemical fabric treatment, which is reflected in the grade gap we see between Nanuk and Nikon hard cases and Think Tank's fabric products.

Is there a health risk from carrying a Poor-graded camera bag

Some PFAS compounds have been associated with health concerns in broader research, but association is not the same as causation, and normal external contact with a treated bag exterior is a different exposure pathway than ingestion or prolonged skin contact discussed in that research. If you want to reduce potential exposure as a precaution, choosing a hard-shell case or checking individual product pages through our finder tool is a reasonable, available-data-based step, alongside reviewing related categories like lunch boxes and non-stick knife sets where PFAS exposure pathways are more direct.