MSR · Waterproof Outdoor Gear Storage Bags
MSR Snowshoe Carry Pack
Unknown water-repellent coating treatment. MSR silent on PFAS. Skip.
MSR's pack likely uses water-repellent coating on nylon, standard for outdoor equipment. MSR offers no PFAS disclosure or testing results for your review.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon pack with water-repellent coating-treated exterior
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What MSR Snowshoe Carry Pack is made of, ingredients and materials
The MSR Snowshoe Carry Pack is constructed primarily from nylon fabric with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the exterior. Nylon itself is a stable synthetic polymer with no established leaching risk under normal use conditions. The water-repellent coating treatment is the material concern, historically, these coatings used PFOA-based chemistry, though many modern treatments have shifted to formulations not linked to PFAS. MSR has not publicly disclosed which water-repellent coating formulation is used in this model, making assessment incomplete.
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. fluorine-free)
Unknown whether this pack uses legacy PFOA-based water-repellent coating, modern PFAS alternatives, or fluorine-free water repellents. MSR silence on this point leaves the hazard profile ambiguous. Fluorinated water-repellent coating poses bioaccumulation risk; fluorine-free options are lower hazard but less water-resistant.
Coating degradation and microfiber shedding
As water-repellent coating coatings age and degrade, nylon can shed microfibers, particularly if repaired or abraded. Frequency depends on care and storage conditions. This is a physical durability issue rather than acute chemical toxicity, but relevant to product lifecycle.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No formaldehyde-based wrinkle-resist or antimicrobial finishes are standard in nylon pack manufacturing. MSR does not appear to employ these chemistry classes in snowshoe carry packs based on available product information.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes
Nylon packs sold in North America typically use fiber-reactive or disperse dyes rather than azo dyes. No evidence of azo dye use in MSR packs; this hazard class is not a documented concern for this brand or material.
Heavy metals
Modern nylon dyes rarely use heavy metals; MSR products are not known to employ such colorants. This hazard is not established for this product category or brand.
Source, FDA ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
MSR (Mountain Safety Research) is a subsidiary of Cascade Designs and has not published comprehensive chemical transparency reports or PFAS commitment statements in the public domain. The company does not maintain a detailed hazardous substance disclosure policy comparable to outdoor brands that have adopted bluesign or similar certifications. No recalls or documented chemical safety controversies have been recorded for MSR pack products. The lack of proactive disclosure is notable given industry movement toward transparency, but does not indicate active harm.
How it compares in its category
Nylon packs without explicit water-repellent coating disclosure are common across the outdoor category; MSR's approach is neither exceptional nor outlier in transparency. Many competitors (e.g.Osprey, Patagonia) now specify water-repellent coating type or commit to lower concern treatments; MSR has not adopted this standard. For a technical snowshoe pack, material durability and water resistance are functional necessities, so water-repellent coating treatment is typical. The real differentiation point is whether the water-repellent coating is fluorinated or fluorine-free, which MSR does not clarify.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct heat or sunlight, which can degrade synthetic coatings over time. Avoid machine washing; hand clean with mild soap and water, and air dry fully before storage. Do not apply additional water treatments or water-repellent coating re-coatings without confirming compatibility with the original finish. If durability declines noticeably (water no longer beads), consider replacement rather than attempting to restore the coating, as reapplication introduces additional chemical exposure variables.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- MSR has made none
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.