Aerio Backpack vs Refugio Day Pack 26L: which is safer?
Patagonia Refugio Day Pack 26L is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.
Arc'teryx
Aerio Backpack
PFAS grade
F 20/100
Overall grade
F 0/100
Verdict
Skip
Hazard flags
⚑ 2
Material
nylon/polyester with water-repellent coating treatment
Confidence
45%
PossibleAntimony in polyester
Likelywater-repellent coating leaching and migration (non-PFAS chemistry unknown)
Our pick
Patagonia
Refugio Day Pack 26L
PFAS grade
F 45/100
Overall grade
analysis pending
Verdict
pending
Hazard flags
none flagged
Material
recycled nylon with non-fluorinated water-repellent coating treatment
Confidence
72%
Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →
More waterproof outdoor gear: see the full ranking