MSR · Waterproof Outdoor Gear Storage Bags
New MSR US Military Pack Shower 30L Camping Shower Dry Bag MSR-03485
Dry bags use water-repellent coating; skip until MSR reveals coating.
MSR's shower dry bags almost certainly use durable water-resistant coating but won't say what it is or if PFAS is present. Without material details or test data, risk stays elevated.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon dry bag with water-repellent coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What New MSR US Military Pack Shower 30L is made of, ingredients and materials
This is a nylon fabric dry bag treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating to shed water without sealing seams. Nylon itself is a thermoplastic polyamide that does not leach known endocrine disruptors when used at room temperature and is chemically stable in normal camping conditions. The water-repellent coating treatment is the chemical variable, historically, most performance outdoor dry bags used PFOA-based fluorinated coatings, though some brands have shifted to PFAS-free alternatives. MSR has not publicly disclosed which chemistry they use for the MSR-03485, leaving the water-repellent coating safety profile unverified.
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 (undisclosed)
MSR has not published the specific water-repellent coating chemistry used on this bag. If fluorinated (PFOA, PFOS, or similar PFAS), it may leach or off-gas at low levels during manufacturing or aggressive washing; if non-fluorinated, risk is minimal. Absence of brand disclosure prevents definitive hazard rating.
Microplastics
Nylon fibers can shed microplastics when abraded or washed, particularly if the bag is machine washed or stored in high-friction conditions. This risk is inherent to all synthetic dry bags and is not specific to MSR, but is relevant if the bag is used in or near aquatic environments.
Source, EPA ↗What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon fabric may receive formaldehyde-based dyes or finishes during manufacturing, but this is not documented as a concern for MSR's dry bags or nylon textiles used in outdoor gear. No recalls or complaints on record.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes in fabric coloring
The bag is typically offered in neutral colors (black, gray) common in technical nylon. Azo dye toxicity is rare in outdoor gear manufacturers meeting basic safety standards, and no issues are reported for MSR.
Antimony in polyester components (if present)
MSR-03485 is primarily nylon; if any polyester straps or accents are present, antimony catalysts used in polyester synthesis could theoretically leach. No evidence of this in documented product composition or safety complaints.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
MSR (Mountain Safety Research, owned by Cascade Designs) does not maintain a public stance on PFAS in its product line or a transparent chemical disclosure policy. No recalls or safety violations specific to PFAS or chemical leaching are documented for MSR dry bags. The brand's silence on water-repellent coating chemistry is typical of many outdoor gear manufacturers who have not yet committed to ingredient transparency, though industry leaders like Arc'teryx and some Patagonia lines have begun phasing PFAS-based treatments.
How it compares in its category
Nylon dry bags are standard in camping and water sports; the MSR-03485 is a mid-tier capacity product (30L) competing against similar offerings from Sea to Summit, Granite Gear, and others. Most competitors also use undisclosed water-repellent coating coatings, making this product representative of a broader category transparency gap. A small number of PFAS-free alternatives (e.g., wax-canvas or silicone-coated bags) exist but are less common and may trade water performance for environmental safety.
If you buy it
Wash the bag gently with cool water and mild soap; do not machine wash or tumble dry, as heat and abrasion can degrade the water-repellent coating and potentially release or concentrate residual coating particles. The bag is not designed for contact with drinking water or food storage, so it poses no ingestion risk. Replace it when seams begin to leak or the water-repellent coating visibly flakes; typical lifespan is 3-7 years with moderate use. If water-repellent coating transparency is a priority, contact MSR directly to request coating specifications before purchase.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% 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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REI Co-op
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- UV degradation and additive leaching
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Marmot
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- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from polyester and nylon manufacturing
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Patagonia
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- 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. See all of them.
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.