Kelty · Waterproof Outdoor Gear Storage Bags
ASHER 55-Beluga/Colonial Blue
Kelty won't disclose water-repellent coating chemistry; traditional PFAS likely present.
Polyester fabric with water-repellent coating treatment gives this pack its weatherproofing. Kelty declines to share PFAS details.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
polyester fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment
Lab data
No public lab test
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What ASHER 55-Beluga/Colonial Blue is made of, ingredients and materials
ASHER 55 is a polyester fabric garment with applied water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment. Polyester itself is chemically stable in normal wear; the water-repellent coating finish is the variable component, as traditional water-repellent treatments historically used PFOA/PFOS-class compounds for durability. Kelty has not publicly disclosed which water-repellent coating chemistry is used on this product, so verification requires direct inquiry or third-party testing.
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.
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) chemistry
Water-repellent coating treatment chemistry is not disclosed by Kelty. Traditional PFAS-based formulations remain common in outdoor wear at this price tier; fluorine-free alternatives exist but are not confirmed for this product.
Synthetic degradation and microfiber shedding
Polyester garments shed microfibers during laundering, particularly with abrasion or high heat; water-repellent coating treatments may alter fiber surface structure and shedding rates, though quantification is product-specific and not available for this item.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No formaldehyde-based finishing agents are on record for Kelty polyester garments. Polyester fabric typically does not require formaldehyde cross-linking as cotton does, reducing this risk.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes and colorant safety
Beluga/Colonial Blue colorants are not flagged in available product documentation. No brand-wide azo dye controversies are established for Kelty apparel.
Antimony in polyester fiber
Antimony trioxide is used as a catalyst in standard polyester synthesis. Exposure risk is minimal in finished fabric and negligible in normal wear conditions; no recalls or safety alerts exist for Kelty polyester garments on this basis.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Kelty (owned by Johnson Outdoor) maintains basic product compliance information but does not publish comprehensive chemical transparency reports or water-repellent coating ingredient declarations on consumer-facing channels. The brand has no known recalls or regulatory violations specific to water-repellent coating treatments. No certifications such as OEKO-TEX or bluesign are listed for this item, limiting independent chemical verification.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream outdoor apparel brands still use traditional PFAS-based water-repellent coating as standard unless explicitly marketing PFAS-free alternatives. Kelty's silence matches industry norm rather than exceeding it; competitors like Patagonia and Arc'teryx publish water-repellent coating chemistry or offer lines with lower concern for PFAS. This product sits in the mainstream risk band, not the lower-transparency tier.
If you buy it
Use normal laundering; water-repellent coating treatments degrade naturally with washing and sunlight exposure over 1-3 years, at which point water repellency diminishes but material remains wearable. Do not dry-clean unless unavoidable (solvent processing can mobilize residual water-repellent coating compounds). Store dry. If PFAS exposure is a personal concern, contact Kelty directly for water-repellent coating formulation before purchase, or opt for brands with published PFAS-free certifications.
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
- Kelty has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to ASHER 55-Beluga/Colonial Blue?
- 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.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore waterproof outdoor gear storage bags 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.