Fjallraven Raven 20 Backpack
Contact Fjällräven directly about water-repellent coating treatment if avoiding PFAS is your priority.
This backpack uses G-1000 fabric (65% polyester, 35% cotton) with wax treatment and an undisclosed water-repellent coating finish. Fjällräven has not published PFAS-free claims, certifications, or disclosed its waterproof treatment chemistry.
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Material
G-1000 fabric (65% polyester, 35% cotton); waxed cotton-poly blend with silent water-repellent coating finish
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
water-repellent coating chemical composition
Fjällräven does not publicly disclose whether their G-1000 water-repellent coating uses Teflon-type coating-based or fluorine-free chemistry. Typical industry water-repellent coating treatments are applied at manufacturing and do not migrate into skin or food during normal backpack use; however, long-term durability and exact formulation remain unconfirmed for this model.
Microplastic shedding during wear
The 65% polyester component will shed microfibers if abraded heavily or washed repeatedly in a machine. Normal backpack use (carrying, not washing) produces minimal shedding; hand washing or spot-cleaning preserves the fabric and finish longer.
What’s reassuring
Dye migration or azo dyes in polyester
No recalls or public safety data indicate azo dye or heavy metal contamination in G-1000 fabric from Fjällräven. The cotton-polyester blend is standard industrial textile; the wax and water-repellent coating are the main chemical components added post-fiber production.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
G-1000 wax finishes are not typically treated with formaldehyde resins used in some synthetic textiles or apparel. No public evidence links this product to formaldehyde off-gassing; the wax itself is inert when dry.
Source: ATSDR ↗Metal hardware corrosion or leaching
Fjällräven typically uses aluminum or stainless-steel zippers and buckles on the Raven line. No documented corrosion or leaching issues are on record; these materials are standard in outdoor gear and not known to leach into skin or contents during normal use.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Raven 20 uses G-1000 fabric, a 65% polyester/35% cotton waxed blend that Fjällräven has manufactured for decades. The wax coating and water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish are what make it water-resistant; this finish is typically applied during manufacturing and does not off-gas significantly into the product or user's hands during normal backpack use. The cotton-polyester blend itself carries minimal chemical hazard risk once the pack is finished and dry.
The brand's record and disclosure
Fjällräven is a Swedish outdoor brand with a stated sustainability focus, though they have not publicly detailed their water-repellent coating chemistry or provided third-party certifications for chemical content on this specific model. The brand has no recorded recalls or safety controversies tied to the Raven line. They do not publish detailed material safety data sheets for consumer products, which is typical in the outdoor apparel industry but limits transparency on exact water-repellent coating agents used.
How it compares in its category
Most mid-range outdoor backpacks use either synthetic fabrics (polyester/nylon) with water-repellent coating coatings or untreated natural fibers. The G-1000 blend sits in the middle: more durable and repairable than pure synthetics, with similar water-repellent coating treatment risk profiles to comparable brands (Patagonia, Arc'teryx, other European outdoor makers). It is generally considered safer than heavily flame-retardant-treated synthetic packs, which are less common but do exist in budget segments.
If you buy it
Store in a dry place; waxed cotton does not require washing and benefits from occasional light brushing to maintain the finish. Do not machine wash or dry-clean, as heat and solvents will degrade the wax and water-repellent coating. The pack itself will not degrade into microplastics under normal carrying, though polyester fibers can shed if the fabric is abraded repeatedly. Fjällräven offers a repair service for G-1000 packs, which extends life and reduces replacement-related waste.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 62% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Fjällräven has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More backpacks 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.