Marmot · Waterproof Outdoor Gear Storage Bags
Marmot Anza Backpack
High risk. Outdoor backpack with likely water-repellent coating undisclosed.
Marmot's Anza uses durable nylon with water-repellent treatment typical of outdoor gear. The brand does not disclose PFAS chemistry, though water-repellent coating coatings often contain PFAS.
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Material
Nylon fabric with water-repellent coating treatment
Lab data
No public lab test
What Marmot Anza Backpack is made of, ingredients and materials
The Anza uses nylon fabric treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish. Nylon itself is a synthetic polymer with no established leaching hazards under normal use, but the water-repellent coating is the concern, many outdoor brands historically used fluorinated compounds (PFAS) for water resistance, though newer alternatives exist. Marmot has not publicly disclosed whether this product uses fluorinated or non-fluorinated water-repellent coating, which is the key unknown.
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 composition (fluorinated vs. non-fluorinated)
No public disclosure from Marmot on whether the Anza uses fluorinated or alternative water-repellent coating chemistry. Given industry history, fluorinated compounds cannot be ruled out, but alternatives are now common in this product category.
water-repellent coating degradation and reapplication safety
Consumer-grade water-repellent coating reapplication products (sprays, wash-in treatments) may introduce additional chemicals not disclosed on the Anza label. The durability of Marmot's factory water-repellent coating is typical for the price range, but replacement products vary in composition and should be selected carefully if recoating is desired.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in nylon fabric
Nylon backpacks are typically dyed with reactive or disperse dyes; carcinogenic azo dyes (banned in EU and most major brands) have no reported association with Marmot products, and the company supplies outdoor retailers requiring standard compliance.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Modern nylon apparel rarely involves formaldehyde finishes; Marmot backpacks are not documented to contain formaldehyde-releasing resins. Standard textile manufacturing protocols do not require this for nylon durability.
Source, ATSDR ↗Antimony in polyester or nylon
The Anza is nylon, not polyester, so antimony catalyst residues are not a concern. Nylon production does not typically involve antimony additives.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Marmot is owned by Soar Capital and has not issued comprehensive PFAS transparency commitments comparable to brands like Patagonia or Arc'teryx. The company does not prominently disclose water-repellent coating chemistry on product pages or in environmental reports available to consumers. This silence makes it difficult to assess whether the Anza uses legacy fluorinated treatments or newer alternatives like wax or silicone-based coatings.
How it compares in its category
Mid-range outdoor backpacks typically use nylon with water-repellent coating treatment; the Anza is standard in this regard. Competitors like Osprey and Gregory increasingly disclose non-fluorinated water-repellent coating options, while some premium brands explicitly market PFAS-free water treatments. Marmot's lack of transparency puts it in the middle of the pack for disclosure standards, neither leading nor lagging egregiously.
If you buy it
Wash the backpack by hand in cool water with mild soap; avoid commercial dry cleaning solvents that may strip or degrade the water-repellent coating. The water-repellent coating will gradually wear off with use and weather exposure, typically over 2-3 years of heavy use, at which point water repellency diminishes but the pack remains functional. Do not machine dry or expose to high heat, as this can damage nylon. If water-repellent coating concerns are critical to your decision, contact Marmot directly to request confirmation of the coating type before purchase.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Marmot has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More 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.