Eddie Bauer · Waterproof Bags & Luggage
Eddie Bauer Expedition 22 Duffel 2.0
Duffel has water-repellent coating-treated ballistic nylon with no PFAS disclosure from Eddie Bauer.
The duffel features ballistic nylon with a water-repellent coating treatment. Eddie Bauer has no PFAS statement on record for this product. water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS, and the chemistry of this coating is not stated.
The better-graded swap
Granite Gear
Granite Gear ToughSack Assorted Colors
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Ballistic nylon with water-repellent coating water-resistant treatment
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Eddie Bauer Expedition 22 Duffel 2.0 is made of, ingredients and materials
The Expedition 22 Duffel 2.0 uses ballistic nylon, a tightly woven polyamide fabric chosen for abrasion resistance and durability. The water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish is the primary chemical concern, as many commercial water-repellent coating treatments historically relied on PFAS compounds like PFOA and PFOS to achieve water resistance. Eddie Bauer does not publicly specify whether this product uses fluorocarbon-free or fluorinated water-repellent coating, leaving the composition uncertain.
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
Ballistic nylon duffels conventionally use fluorinated water repellents; this product's specific water-repellent coating formula is undisclosed. No recall or detected environmental/health incident specific to this model is on record.
Source, ATSDR ↗VOC off-gassing from coatings and adhesives
New ballistic nylon gear may emit volatile organic compounds from water-repellent coating resin and glue; airing out the bag before extended use in enclosed spaces (e.g., cars, tents) is standard practice. No specific off-gassing study or complaint record exists for this product.
What’s reassuring
Polyamide degradation and microplastic shedding
Ballistic nylon is a durable, tightly woven polyamide that does not shed fibers or microplastics under normal bag use. Risk would only arise from severe mechanical damage or chemical breakdown, which is outside typical carrying conditions.
Heavy metals
Nylon production can involve azo dyes and cadmium-based colorants in some cases, but Eddie Bauer's manufacturing partners are not documented with such contamination. No specific recalls or testing data for this model exist.
Source, FDA ↗Hardware leachates (zippers, buckles, rivets)
Duffels typically include metal or plastic hardware; nickel leaching from zippers is possible with extended moisture exposure, but at levels unlikely to cause skin sensitization under normal luggage use. Product specifications do not disclose hardware material or nickel testing.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Eddie Bauer has not published a substantive PFAS policy or committed to phasing out fluorinated water repellents in gear. The company does not disclose specific coating chemistry on product pages or certifications such as OEKO-TEX or bluesign. This silence is notable in a category where transparency on water-repellent coating formulations has become standard among some competitors; it reflects either use of conventional fluorinated treatments or lack of consumer-facing disclosure infrastructure.
How it compares in its category
High-end luggage and duffels increasingly offer fluorocarbon-free water-repellent coating alternatives (e.g., wax-based or polyurethane coatings), though cost and performance trade-offs vary. The Expedition 22 is mid-market positioning, so the use of legacy PFAS-containing water-repellent coating would not be unusual in this segment. Competing bags from brands with explicit PFAS-free claims exist, but many similarly priced duffels remain similarly non-transparent.
If you buy it
Ballistic nylon itself is stable and does not shed microplastics during normal wear. Avoid prolonged immersion and dry-clean or gentle hand wash rather than machine washing to preserve the water-repellent coating. The fabric will eventually lose water resistance; reapplication with commercial water-repellent coating sprays (which may themselves contain PFAS) can extend life, or you can accept reduced water repellency as the bag ages. Store in a dry, well-ventilated space to prevent mold or mildew if damp.
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
- Eddie Bauer has made a specific claim
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.