Exped · Waterproof Outdoor Gear Storage Bags
Exped Drybag Ultra
Unknown waterproof coating. Avoid until the brand clarifies PFAS status.
Drybags need waterproof coatings, usually PFAS-based, but this brand stays silent. You get no PFAS information or safety details about what's coating this bag.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Unknown waterproof coating, likely water-repellent coating treated
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Exped Drybag Ultra is made of, ingredients and materials
Exped Drybag Ultra uses an unspecified waterproof coating (likely a water-repellent coating or water-repellent coating treatment) applied to a fabric base, material composition not clearly disclosed by the brand. water-repellent coating treatments historically relied on fluorinated compounds (PFAS), though some manufacturers have shifted to fluorine-free alternatives in recent years. Without explicit declaration of coating chemistry, the presence of PFAS cannot be ruled out. The fabric substrate itself, if polyester or nylon, carries no inherent safety concern unless treated with problematic finishes.
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
Brand does not disclose coating chemistry; standard water-repellent coating treatments have historically contained PFAS. No confirmation of fluorine-free alternative available from public sources.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and leaching
Unspecified waterproof coatings may degrade under UV, heat, or mechanical stress, potentially releasing coating particles or residues; durability and longevity claims are not independently verified.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No recalls or disclosed use of formaldehyde resins in Exped Drybag Ultra; brief contact exposure typical for drybags makes this a lower concern than apparel.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes
No evidence of restricted azo dyes in this product; brand-specific data not publicly available, but drybag colorants are not flagged in independent testing.
Antimony in polyester substrate
If polyester-based, antimony use as a catalyst is standard industry practice at trace levels; no specific health concern for brief-contact drybags and no brand-level contamination reported.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Dry Bag Co maintains minimal public transparency on material composition and chemical treatment specifics; no published PFAS phase-out commitment or third-party certifications (such as GOTS or bluesign) appear on record. The brand has not issued a clear stance on fluorinated water repellents, leaving buyers without assurance of alternatives with lower concern. This silence is notably different from outdoor brands that have publicly committed to PFAS elimination or adopted certified fluorine-free water-repellent coating systems.
How it compares in its category
Drybags occupy a lower-risk category than technical apparel because prolonged skin contact is minimal and off-gassing is limited by the waterproof coating itself. However, competing brands such as Patagonia and Arc'teryx have disclosed fluorine-free or certified-safe water-repellent coating treatments, making them more transparent choices. Exped Drybag Ultra's lack of disclosure places it in an ambiguous middle ground, functional but uninformed on chemical safety relative to available alternatives.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from heat sources; do not machine wash at high temperatures, as heat can accelerate coating breakdown and potential leaching. Inspect the seams and coating annually for wear; replace if coating flakes or degrades visibly. Rinse after saltwater or heavy-soil exposure to prevent coating deterioration. Before purchase, contact Dry Bag Co directly requesting written confirmation of water-repellent coating composition and PFAS status; only proceed if they confirm fluorine-free treatment.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Exped has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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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.