Granite Gear · Waterproof Bags & Luggage
Granite Gear Slacker Packer Drysack
water-repellent coating drybag; PFAS risk unclear, contact brand for specifics.
Granite Gear drysacks use nylon with water-repellent coating, typical for packs. The brand does not disclose PFAS status. water-repellent coating treatments may use fluorochemicals; request their chemical specifications before buying.
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
Nylon fabric with water-repellent coating water-repellent treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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
Long-chain PFAS in water-repellent coating finishes is no longer certain but remains plausible without brand disclosure. Modern drysacks increasingly use Teflon-type coating or fluorine-free alternatives, but Granite Gear has not published their specification.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Nylon degradation and microplastic shedding
Nylon fabric is durable; microplastic release during normal dry-storage use is not a reported concern. Risk increases only if product is repeatedly folded and compressed or washed, neither typical for a drysack.
Heat stability of nylon and water-repellent coating finish
Nylon melts above 260C; no risk from ambient storage. water-repellent coating coatings may degrade if machine washed or exposed to sustained heat above 50C, but this does not release hazardous volatiles at normal use temperatures.
Ink or dye toxicity (print and label)
Granite Gear drysacks use screen-printed logos. No heavy metal or azo dye contamination has been reported; standard outdoor apparel manufacturing practices typically avoid restricted colorants, though independent verification is not standard.
Adhesive or seam-sealing compounds
Drysack seams are usually bonded with thermoplastic polyurethane or polyester adhesives. No off-gassing or leaching hazards are documented for this product, and fumes are not a realistic concern in dry-storage use.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Slacker Packer is constructed from nylon fabric with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the surface. water-repellent coating treatments historically relied on long-chain PFAS compounds, though modern formulations sometimes use shorter-chain or fluorine-free alternatives. The nylon base itself is chemically stable and poses minimal leaching risk during normal use; the hazard profile depends entirely on what water-repellent coating chemistry Granite Gear specified.
The brand's record and disclosure
Granite Gear does not publicly disclose the specific water-repellent coating chemistry used in their drysacks or broader PFAS reduction commitments. No major safety recalls or contamination incidents are on record for this product line. The brand's silence on water-repellent coating composition is typical for outdoor gear manufacturers but leaves end-users without verifiable information about PFAS exposure risk.
How it compares in its category
water-repellent coating-treated drysacks are standard across the category (Arc'teryx, Patagonia, Osprey all use similar finishes). Patagonia and a few premium brands have begun disclosing fluorine-free water-repellent coating use; most competitors, including Granite Gear, remain non-transparent. If PFAS avoidance is critical, uncoated or explicitly fluorine-free drysacks are available but less water-resistant.
If you buy it
Store away from direct sunlight and heat sources; nylon degrades under prolonged UV exposure but does not off-gas hazardously at room temperature. Do not machine wash or tumble dry, as heat and agitation can stress the water-repellent coating. Hand rinse with cool water and mild soap; air dry flat. Contact Granite Gear directly requesting water-repellent coating chemistry certification before purchase if PFAS exposure is a personal concern.
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
- Granite Gear has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More waterproof bags & luggage 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.