The North Face · Sleeping Bags
The North Face Wasatch Pro 40 Sleeping Bag
Wait for The North Face to disclose whether water-repellent coating contains PFAS.
This nylon ripstop bag has a water-resistant coating, but The North Face won't say if it contains PFAS. No PFAS pledge or third-party testing exists for this model.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon ripstop shell with water-repellent coating treatment (composition unspecified)
Lab data
No public lab test
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What The North Face Wasatch Pro 40 Sleeping Bag is made of, ingredients and materials
The Wasatch Pro 40 uses a nylon ripstop shell with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment applied to the outer surface. Nylon ripstop itself is a stable, non-degrading synthetic polymer with no established leaching concerns under normal use. The unknown composition of the water-repellent coating finish is the critical unknowable, many legacy and current water-repellent coating treatments rely on long-chain PFAS, while some newer formulations use short-chain alternatives or non-fluorinated chemistry. The North Face has not publicly disclosed which class of water-repellent coating is used on this model.
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
The nylon ripstop shell is treated with an unspecified water-repellent coating. Composition unknown; may contain long-chain or short-chain PFAS, non-fluorinated chemistry, or legacy fluorinated compounds. The North Face does not disclose which.
Source, ATSDR ↗water-repellent coating degradation and microfiber shedding
As the water-repellent coating finish wears, nylon fibers may shed into the environment with residual fluorinated or water-repellent compounds. Washing and reuse will accelerate this; risk is low during normal use but increases with age and laundering.
What’s reassuring
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No recalls or public reports of formaldehyde contamination in The North Face sleeping bags. Nylon ripstop and modern synthetic dyes typically do not rely on formaldehyde-releasing finishes, but this is not confirmed for this specific product.
Source, ATSDR ↗Heavy metals
No established incidents involving banned azo dyes or heavy metal pigments in The North Face apparel or sleeping bags. Nylon dyes used in outdoor gear are generally subject to standard safety limits, but composition is not published.
Source, FDA ↗Off-gassing or odor from synthetic materials
Nylon ripstop does not off-gas volatile organic compounds under normal sleeping bag use conditions. Odor at unboxing is typically residual manufacturing scent, not a health hazard.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
The North Face has not published a comprehensive PFAS policy or ingredient disclosure for its apparel or gear lines, despite industry pressure from outdoor advocacy groups. The brand has not announced a transition away from PFAS-based water-repellent coating treatments, nor has it committed to transparency on which products contain them. Without direct contact with The North Face, it is not possible to confirm whether this sleeping bag uses legacy PFAS, newer short-chain alternatives, or non-fluorinated water repellents.
How it compares in its category
Many mid-to-premium sleeping bag manufacturers (including some competitors) have begun disclosing water-repellent coating chemistry or transitioning to PFAS-free water repellents, though the market remains mixed. The Wasatch Pro 40 occupies a mainstream performance tier where water-repellent coating treatment is standard but chemical transparency is uncommon across the industry. Brands like Patagonia and some others have made public commitments to reduce PFAS in outdoor gear; The North Face's silence places it in a lower-disclosure segment of the market.
If you buy it
Before purchase, contact The North Face directly to ask whether the water-repellent coating on this model contains PFAS or long-chain fluorinated compounds. Follow the care label closely; avoid washing in hot water, and use mild detergent without fabric softeners, which can degrade water repellency. Do not dry-clean, as solvents may interact with the water-repellent coating. The water-repellent coating treatment will degrade naturally over 1-3 years of use and may be refreshed with commercial water-repellent coating sprays; choose products labeled PFAS-free if reapplying.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- The North Face has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to The North Face Wasatch Pro 40 Sleeping Bag?
- Down fill + nylon or polyester shell with water-repellent coating treatment
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- PFAS
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore sleeping 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.