Sea to Summit · Waterproof Outdoor Gear Storage Bags
Sea to Summit Evac Compression UL Dry Bag
Dry bag uses water-repellent coating; Sea to Summit silent on PFAS.
This compression dry bag uses nylon with water-repellent coating to stay waterproof. Sea to Summit provides no PFAS data.
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Material
Nylon fabric with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What Sea to Summit Evac Compression UL Dry Bag is made of, ingredients and materials
This product is nylon fabric with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating. Nylon itself is a synthetic polymer that does not leach known toxins under normal use conditions. The water-repellent coating is the chemical component of concern, most commercial water-repellent coating treatments historically used PFAS (PFAS "forever chemicals") to achieve water repellency, though some manufacturers have shifted to fluorine-free alternatives. Sea to Summit does not publicly disclose whether this specific bag uses PFAS-based or PFAS-free water-repellent coating chemistry.
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
Nylon dry bags typically rely on fluorinated water-repellent coating treatments. Sea to Summit does not disclose whether this model uses PFAS-based or PFAS-free formulations, leaving chemical composition unconfirmed.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating degradation and particle shedding
Over extended use and washing cycles, the water-repellent coating may degrade and shed microparticles into water or onto skin. The composition of these particles is unknown if PFAS status is not disclosed.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in nylon
No recalls or safety alerts have been reported for azo dye content in Sea to Summit nylon products. Standard nylon textiles used in outdoor gear comply with CPSIA and OEKO-TEX requirements in most markets.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Nylon fabric does not typically use formaldehyde-based finishing resins; no formaldehyde risk is documented for this product category or brand.
Source, ATSDR ↗Fragrance or chemical odor sensitivity
No reports of allergenic fragrance additives or strong off-gassing from Sea to Summit dry bags; nylon with water-repellent coating typically has minimal volatile organic compound emissions compared to adhesive-heavy gear.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Sea to Summit is a New Zealand outdoor gear manufacturer with a mixed sustainability profile. The company does not maintain a published PFAS position statement or commitment to fluorine-free water-repellent coating treatments on its website. No major product recalls or chemical safety controversies are publicly documented for this brand. Their silence on water-repellent coating chemistry is notable given industry-wide pressure (particularly from outdoor brands like Patagonia and REI brands) to disclose and phase out PFAS.
How it compares in its category
Compression dry bags are a small, specialized subcategory within outdoor textiles. Most competing brands (Arc'teryx, Patagonia, REI Co-op) either disclose PFAS-free water-repellent coating or explicitly commit to phasing out PFAS. Sea to Summit's lack of disclosure places it behind market leaders in transparency, though the product itself does not carry reports of higher risk than peers. Nylon dry bags with any water-repellent coating carry inherent uncertainty about PFAS content unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise.
If you buy it
Store the bag dry and away from direct sunlight to extend the water-repellent coating life. Do not machine wash with high heat or aggressive detergents, as these can degrade the water-repellent layer and potentially release coating particles. Avoid prolonged contact with skin if the bag is wet and newly manufactured, as residual coating chemicals may not be fully cured. If environmental PFAS exposure is a personal concern, contact Sea to Summit directly to request water-repellent coating chemistry disclosure 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
- Sea to Summit has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Waterproof Outdoor Gear Storage Bags
REI Co-op
Trailgate Gear Bin Green 140 L
- Polypropylene storage bin, no water-resistant coating mentioned
- UV degradation and additive leaching
3 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Marmot
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- Nylon, polyester, cotton blend; details unspecified
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from polyester and nylon manufacturing
5 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Patagonia
Disperser Roll Top Pack 40L
- 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.