Black Diamond · Waterproof Outdoor Bags & Luggage
Black Diamond Distance 22 Backpack
Likely uses water-repellent coating treatment; brand offers no PFAS transparency.
Black Diamond backpack uses durable nylon with water-repellent coating. No public PFAS disclosure or third-party testing found. water-repellent coating finishes often contain PFAS, but coating type unconfirmed.
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Material
Nylon fabric with water-repellent coating water-resistant coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Distance 22 is constructed from nylon fabric with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the exterior. water-repellent coating coatings are designed to shed water without being fully waterproof, and most commercial water-repellent coating treatments rely on fluorochemicals (PFAS-class compounds) to achieve this performance. Nylon itself is stable and does not leach; the chemical concern centers on the coating, which can degrade with washing and UV exposure, potentially releasing or washing out treated compounds over the pack's life.
The brand's record and disclosure
Black Diamond is an outdoor-gear manufacturer owned by Clarus Corporation; the company does not publicly disclose PFAS content, restriction timelines, or transition plans on any of its product lines. No major recalls or chemical safety controversies are documented for this specific pack. The brand offers no third-party certifications (Bluesign, GOTS, or similar) that would signal chemical screening or safer water-repellent coating alternatives. This silence on PFAS is consistent with much of the outdoor-apparel industry, where fluorochemical water-repellent coating remains standard and largely unregulated.
How it compares in its category
Most mid-range hiking and climbing packs use nylon with fluorochemical water-repellent coating, making the Distance 22 typical rather than exceptional in this regard. Some premium brands (e.g., Patagonia) have begun phasing to PFOA-free water-repellent coating or wax-based treatments, but these remain niche. In absolute terms, a hiking pack poses lower PFAS exposure risk than cookware or textiles worn close to skin, since contact is limited and food does not come into contact with the coating. The pack's outdoor durability focus means the water-repellent coating is functional and intentional, not an incidental layer.
If you buy it
Rinse or dry-clean the pack rather than machine-wash to minimize coating breakdown and release of water-repellent coating compounds; avoid prolonged heat drying. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, as UV exposure degrades water-repellent coating and may increase particle shedding. Replace the pack if the coating visibly peels or delaminates, or if water no longer beads on the surface; a worn water-repellent coating coat loses function and may shed microparticles. Do not allow children to mouth or chew pack straps or seams, as a precaution against any incidental coating contact.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
water-repellent coating shedding and degradation
Fluorochemical water-repellent coating coatings on nylon naturally degrade with washing, friction, and UV exposure. Shedding of coating particles or washout of treatment residues into environment is common and documented across the outdoor-gear industry, though specific ingestion or inhalation risk to user is low.
Nylon microfiber release during use
Nylon textiles can shed microfibers through abrasion and wear, particularly at seams and where straps contact skin or other materials. This is a general property of synthetic textiles and not specific to this brand, but cumulative exposure over years of pack use may contribute to microplastic burden.
Adhesive or seam-tape off-gassing
Sealed seams in outdoor packs may use polyurethane or other synthetic adhesives that can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in new state. Black Diamond does not disclose seam-tape or adhesive composition; no off-gassing complaints are documented for this model. Airing the pack for 24-48 hours before heavy use is standard practice.
Lead or cadmium in hardware or dyes
Nylon itself does not bioaccumulate heavy metals, and zippers, buckles, and dyes used in outdoor-gear packs are generally subject to consumer-product safety standards in major markets. No recalls or testing evidence of lead or cadmium contamination in Black Diamond packs is on record.
Antimony in polyester threads or components
The Distance 22 is primarily nylon, not polyester. Some internal webbing or stitching threads may contain polyester, but antimony contamination in outdoor-gear textiles is not a documented concern and would not exceed typical exposure thresholds even if present in trace amounts.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 45% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
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⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Keen
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More waterproof outdoor bags & luggage 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.