REI Co-op · Waterproof Outdoor Gear Storage Bags
REI Co-op Roadtripper 60 Duffel
Durable duffel with unknown water-repellent coating chemistry; REI silent on PFAS details.
REI Co-op duffels typically use durable ripstop nylon with water-resistant finish, but the brand doesn't publicly disclose water-repellent coating treatment specifics or PFAS content.
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Material
Nylon ripstop with water-repellent coating
Lab data
No public lab test
What REI Co-op Roadtripper 60 Duffel is made of, ingredients and materials
The Roadtripper 60 uses nylon ripstop fabric treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating. Nylon ripstop itself is a stable synthetic polymer with no established toxicity concerns during normal use. However, water-repellent coating coatings historically relied on PFAS chemistry (perfluorinated compounds), and REI has not publicly disclosed whether this bag uses PFAS-free alternatives like paraffin or fluorine-free polymer coatings. This ambiguity is the primary safety question for this product.
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
REI has not disclosed whether this duffel uses PFAS-based or PFAS-free water-repellent coating. Given industry prevalence of legacy PFAS chemistry in ripstop gear and REI's silence, PFAS presence cannot be ruled out.
Source, ATSDR ↗VOC off-gassing from adhesives or coatings
Nylon ripstop bags may contain adhesives in seam taping or coating lamination. New duffels occasionally emit mild solvent odor; this typically dissipates within days to weeks with airing.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon ripstop bags may undergo formaldehyde-based resin finishing for wrinkle resistance or shape retention. No specific formaldehyde data is available for this model; direct skin contact during use is minimal.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes in fabric color
The Roadtripper 60 is available in neutral colors (black, gray, navy). REI does not disclose dye chemistry; standard nylon ripstop for outdoor gear typically uses non-azo dyes, but verification is unavailable.
Antimony in polyester thread or trim
Antimony is occasionally used as a catalyst in polyester production. This duffel's seams and stitching are likely polyester; no health risk during normal handling unless fabric is ingested.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
REI Co-op has not published detailed chemical composition or PFAS transition timelines for its duffels and soft-sided gear, despite increasing retailer pressure to disclose these details. The brand markets sustainability credentials but remains opaque on water-repellent coating chemistry specifically. No recalls or safety controversies are on record for this model. REI's general transparency on apparel hazards (formaldehyde, dyes, flame retardants) is limited compared to outdoor brands like Patagonia.
How it compares in its category
Travel duffels of this type are standard nylon construction; REI's version is middle-of-the-road for material transparency. Competitors including Arc'teryx and The North Face similarly use nylon ripstop with undisclosed water-repellent coating coatings. Brands explicitly certifying PFAS-free alternatives (e.g., some Fjallraven models) are rarer but available. The Roadtripper 60 is competitively priced but offers no explicit chemical safety advantage over peers.
If you buy it
Wash infrequently to preserve the water-repellent coating and minimize potential leaching into soil or waterways. Avoid machine drying or heat exposure, as high temperatures can degrade synthetic coatings and release volatile components. Do not expose the bag to direct flame or near heat sources. If the water-repellent properties degrade noticeably after 2-3 years, consider replacement rather than chemical re-treatment, which may introduce additional coatings.
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
- REI Co-op has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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- UV degradation and additive leaching
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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.