Granite Gear · Waterproof Outdoor Gear Storage Bags
Granite Gear Women's Perimeter 35 Backpack
Unknown water-repellent coating risk; no PFAS disclosure from brand.
Granite Gear won't say anything publicly about PFAS or water-repellent coating treatment details. Standard outdoor backpacks use water-repellent finish, often PFAS-based, but no confirmation comes here. Try calling them for specifics.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon with water-repellent coating water-repellent treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Granite Gear Women's Perimeter 35 Backpack is made of, ingredients and materials
The Perimeter 35 uses nylon as its primary fabric, a durable synthetic polymer that does not inherently pose chemical hazards. However, it includes a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the fabric surface. water-repellent coating treatments historically relied on PFAS compounds (perfluorinated chemicals) to achieve water shedding; modern alternatives exist but are not universally adopted. Granite Gear has not publicly disclosed which water-repellent coating chemistry they use on this model, leaving the specific risk profile unclear.
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
Nylon backpacks commonly use PFAS-based water-repellent coating finishes. Granite Gear has not disclosed which chemistry they employ, so PFAS presence cannot be ruled out. Leaching risk is minimal during normal use but increases with washing and body contact with perspiration.
Source, ATSDR ↗water-repellent coating degradation and reapplication risk
Over 2-5 years, water-repellent coating coatings on nylon degrade naturally. Consumers often reapply commercial water-repellent coating sprays (many still PFAS-based) without knowing composition. Granite Gear's silence on this lifecycle leaves users vulnerable to inadvertently applying high-PFAS products during maintenance.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No recalls or reports of formaldehyde-treated nylon in Granite Gear packs. Nylon fiber itself does not require formaldehyde-based resins, though dyes or finishing agents might contain trace formaldehyde. No evidence of this in public records for this brand or model.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
No known contamination reports for Granite Gear backpacks. Nylon dyes used by reputable outdoor suppliers are generally compliant with OEKO-TEX or similar standards, but Granite Gear does not advertise certification. Risk is low for typical color fastness but unverified.
Source, FDA ↗Polyester antimony (if any polyester present)
Product is described as nylon; if any polyester trim or webbing is present, antimony catalyst residues are theoretically possible but not documented for this model. Nylon dominates the pack structure, so this is a minor concern.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Granite Gear is a smaller outdoor gear manufacturer with minimal public safety documentation or third-party certifications on their website. The brand does not appear to have published statements on PFAS use, heavy metals, or chemical testing for their textile products. No recalls or regulatory actions specific to Granite Gear backpacks have been established in public records. This silence on chemical composition is a red flag compared to larger competitors who increasingly disclose water-repellent coating chemistry and commit to PFAS-free alternatives.
How it compares in its category
Outdoor backpacks universally require water-repellent treatment; the Perimeter 35 is typical in this respect. Some premium competitors (e.g., Patagonia, Arc'teryx) now explicitly state use of water-repellent coating chemistries like polyether or wax-based treatments that are not material linked to PFAS. Mid-range brands like Granite Gear often leave water-repellent coating sources unspecified, making direct comparison difficult. For nylon apparel without water-repellent coating, this backpack falls into a standard risk category, but the coating uncertainty elevates concern relative to transparent competitors.
If you buy it
Wash infrequently and by hand in cool water to minimize water-repellent coating leaching and fabric wear. Avoid machine drying or heat exposure, which can degrade nylon and potentially release volatile compounds from coatings. Do not expose the pack to prolonged direct sunlight, as UV degrades nylon over time and may alter coating chemistry. If the water-repellent coating fails visibly (water no longer beads), consider retiring the pack rather than retreating it with unknown chemistry, or contact Granite Gear directly to request water-repellent coating composition before any reapplication.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% 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.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Granite Gear Women's Perimeter 35 Backpack?
- Polypropylene storage bin, no water-resistant coating mentioned
- UV degradation and additive leaching
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- Nylon, polyester, cotton blend; details unspecified
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from polyester and nylon manufacturing
5 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- 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, all on its full breakdown.
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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.