Columbia · Waterproof Outdoor Gear Storage Bags
Columbia Wildwood Heights 45L+5L Backpack
Pack has water-repellent coating; PFAS makeup unknown.
Nylon ripstop with water-repellent coating treatment sits at the core of this pack. Columbia keeps the coating chemistry private.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon ripstop with water-repellent coating treatment (unspecified)
Lab data
No public lab test
What Columbia Wildwood Heights 45L+5L Backpack is made of, ingredients and materials
This backpack is constructed from nylon ripstop, a tightly woven synthetic polymer known for durability and tear resistance. The 'water-repellent coating' (water-repellent coating) finish is the critical unknown, Columbia has not disclosed whether this coating uses PFAS-free chemistry or legacy fluorocarbon compounds. Nylon itself is inert in normal use, but the water-repellent coating treatment applied to the fabric surface is where chemical hazards concentrate. Without material safety data, you cannot confirm whether this coating will degrade into airborne particles or leach during washing.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Columbia does not disclose whether this backpack uses fluorocarbon or non-fluorocarbon water repellency. Unspecified water-repellent coating coatings may contain legacy PFAS or other fluorinated compounds not captured in the PFAS score.
Source, ATSDR ↗Nylon ripstop textile shedding and microfiber release
Ripstop nylon is subject to abrasion and eventual pilling or fiber shedding, especially at seams and stress points. Washing and handling can release microfiber fragments. Risk is low under normal backpack use but increases with age and laundering.
water-repellent coating degradation and re-application risk
Water-repellent coating coatings on outdoor gear degrade within 1-3 years of use and washing. Consumer water-repellent coating re-sprays often contain PFAS; without manufacturer guidance, users may unknowingly reapply legacy fluorocarbon chemistry.
Seam sealing integrity and water ingress over time
Backpack seams are sealed with adhesive tape; tape failure or separation can allow water and dirt to contact the nylon interior, creating mold or mildew risk if not dried thoroughly.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Columbia-branded textiles are not known to have formaldehyde or azo dye violations. Nylon ripstop from reputable suppliers typically meets OEKO-TEX or similar standards, but Columbia does not openly certify this backpack's dye chemistry.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Columbia Sportswear has not published a public position on PFAS phase-out or water-repellent coating alternatives. The brand does not clearly label individual products with water-repellent coating chemistry or provide transparency on fluorocarbon content. This silence is notable given that competitors (Arc'teryx, Patagonia) now advertise PFAS-free or fluorocarbon-free water repellency. Columbia's lack of disclosure does not confirm PFAS presence, but it means you cannot verify the coating chemistry before committing to purchase.
How it compares in its category
Outdoor backpack market has shifted toward labeled alternatives, Patagonia explicitly uses PFC-free water-repellent coating on hiking packs; Arc'teryx discloses fluorocarbon-free options. Columbia's Wildwood series occupies the mid-market tier where transparency is inconsistent. Compared to lower-cost uncoated nylon packs, this product's water-repellent coating adds water resistance at the cost of unknown chemical exposure. Higher-end brands now routinely publish water-repellent coating chemistry; Columbia's silence puts it in a lower transparency tier for this product class.
If you buy it
Before purchase, contact Columbia customer service and request the water-repellent coating product name and MSDS (material safety data sheet). Avoid hand-washing or machine-washing in hot water, as heat can accelerate coating breakdown. If the water-repellent coating degrades (water beading stops), do not re-coat with consumer water-repellent coating sprays without confirming their PFAS status. Store the pack dry and away from extreme heat; inspect seams and coatings annually for peeling, which would signal replacement timing.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Columbia has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Waterproof Outdoor Gear Storage Bags
REI Co-op
Trailgate Gear Bin Green 140 L
- Polypropylene storage bin, no water-resistant coating mentioned
- UV degradation and additive leaching
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Marmot
Tool Box
- Nylon, polyester, cotton blend; details unspecified
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from polyester and nylon manufacturing
5 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Patagonia
Disperser Roll Top Pack 40L
- Recycled polyester with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- PFAS
4 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
More waterproof outdoor gear storage bags grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.