Think Tank Photo · Waterproof Camera & Lens Protection Cases
Think Tank Emergency Rain Cover
Rain cover needs waterproofing; brand silent on PFAS.
This Think Tank rain cover uses treated nylon ripstop for water resistance but the brand provides no material transparency or PFAS statements. Waterproof coatings frequently contain PFAS.
The better-graded swap
Tiffen
Tiffen Photo Twin Pack
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Nylon ripstop with waterproof coating, composition unspecified
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Think Tank Emergency Rain Cover is made of, ingredients and materials
Think Tank Emergency Rain Cover is nylon ripstop with an unspecified waterproof coating. Ripstop nylon itself is inert and durable, but the waterproofing layer is the chemical unknown. Most rain covers use either polyurethane, PVC, or Teflon-family coating-based coatings to repel water. The brand has not disclosed which coating is used, making independent hazard 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.
Unspecified waterproof coating chemistry
The coating type (polyurethane, PVC, or Teflon-family coating) is not disclosed. Teflon-family coating-based coatings carry PFAS risk (graded separately). Polyurethane and PVC coatings may release volatile organic compounds during manufacturing or if heated.
Volatile organic compound (VOC) off-gassing
New nylon ripstop fabrics and their coatings may off-gas odors and low levels of solvents during initial use. Airing the product before use may reduce exposure. This is temporary and dissipates over days to weeks.
Coating degradation and microparticle release
As the waterproof coating ages or is flexed repeatedly, it may flake or shed particles. These particles are not known to pose ingestion risk (product is not for food storage), but inhalation of degraded coating dust should be minimized by replacing worn covers.
Mildew and bacterial growth (maintenance failure)
If stored wet or in humid conditions, nylon ripstop can harbor mold and bacteria. This is a use and storage issue, not an inherent product defect, but requires user discipline.
What’s reassuring
Lead
No testing or recalls for heavy metal contamination in Think Tank rain covers are on record. Nylon ripstop is typically dyed with modern azo or reactive dyes rather than heavy-metal-based pigments, but the brand provides no color safety data sheet.
Source, ATSDR ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Think Tank Photo is a specialty camera-gear manufacturer with no publicly available certifications (OEKO-TEX, GOTS, Bluesign) or chemical disclosure statements. The company has maintained silence on PFAS use in waterproof products, which is typical for this industry segment but limits transparency. No recalls or safety warnings have been documented for this product.
How it compares in its category
Rain covers are a niche product category with minimal regulatory oversight. Competitors (Manfrotto, Peak Design) similarly disclose little about coatings. Think Tank's design is durable and well-reviewed; the trade-off is chemical opacity common to all fabric-based rain covers. Alternatives include rigid cases (zero coating hazard) or uncoated fabric (less water protection).
If you buy it
Store in a dry location and avoid prolonged contact with skin or eyes if wet. Do not machine wash or heat-dry, as this may degrade the coating and potentially release volatiles. Replace if coating peels, tears, or visibly degrades, as structural waterproofing will fail. Ensure it is fully dry before storage to prevent mildew growth inside.
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
- Think Tank Photo has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Think Tank Emergency Rain Cover?
- Optical glass lens with multi-coated optical surfaces
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- No PFAS statement found from the brand
- Glass lens (borosilicate or soda-lime glass)
- Optical coating degradation
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Optical glass, aluminum frame, non-coated optical surfaces
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Optical glass fragility and sharp edges
More waterproof camera & lens protection cases 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.