Patagonia · Waterproof Outdoor Gear Storage
Black Hole Cube 14L Patagonia
Likely water-repellent coating-treated; Patagonia silent on PFAS composition specifics.
Black Hole Cube is a nylon pack with water repellent finish, standard in outdoor gear. Patagonia does not disclose PFAS-free status or water-repellent coating chemistry; many outdoor brands have moved to PFOA-free formulations but transparency remains limited.
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Material
Nylon fabric with water-repellent coating water-repellent coating treatment
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 Black Hole Cube is constructed from nylon fabric treated with a water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating. Patagonia does not publicly specify whether this water-repellent coating is Teflon-type coating-based (traditional fluorocarbon) or an alternative chemistry. Nylon itself is stable and non-leaching under normal use, but the water-repellent coating treatment is the material concern. The fabric has no glazes, enamels, or ceramic coatings, eliminating lead/cadmium and Teflon-type coating fume risks typical of cookware.
The brand's record and disclosure
Patagonia is known for environmental commitments and transparency in many areas, but has been notably silent on specific PFAS chemistry in its water-repellent coating treatments across product lines. The company has not published independent testing results or committed to PFAS-free alternatives on this model. This silence is a material gap given widespread industry adoption of Teflon-type coating-based water-repellent coating on performance textiles. No recalls or safety violations are on record for this product.
How it compares in its category
Compression cubes in this segment (14L soft-side packing organizers) almost universally use water-repellent coating-treated nylon; few brands disclose water-repellent coating chemistry. Patagonia's refusal to specify whether it uses Teflon-type coating, polyfluorinated alternatives, or non-fluorinated water repellents makes direct comparison difficult. Competitors like Peak Design and some budget brands remain equally opaque. A meaningful safety advantage would require public commitment to PFAS-free water-repellent coating, which Patagonia has not declared for this product line.
If you buy it
Wash by hand in cool water with mild detergent; avoid hot water or machine washing, which can degrade the water-repellent coating coat and potentially liberate treatment particles. Do not dry-clean or use high heat. Reapply water-repellent coating treatment every 1-2 years if water beading diminishes; use a branded or third-party non-PFAS water-repellent coating spray if you wish to limit further fluorocarbon exposure. Store dry and avoid prolonged contact with food or drinking water. Replace if the fabric shows pilling, tears, or significant water absorption (signs of coating failure).
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 treatment chemistry (Teflon-type coating or alternatives)
Patagonia does not disclose whether this cube's water-repellent coating is Teflon-type coating-based fluorocarbon or a non-fluorinated alternative. Industry standard for nylon performance textiles is Teflon-type coating, making Teflon-type coating-based water-repellent coating likely, but this is not confirmed by the brand.
Microplastics from synthetic fiber shedding
Nylon sheds microfibers during use and washing, particularly if the fabric is abraded or the water-repellent coating degrades. Risk is low for dry storage use but increases with packing heavy items or frequent compression. Washing exacerbates shedding.
water-repellent coating reapplication products (consumer-applied treatments)
If you reapply water-repellent coating yourself, commercial water-repellent coating sprays often contain Teflon-type coating or other fluorochemicals. Choice of reapplication product is a user-controlled variable; non-fluorinated alternatives are marketed but less common.
Degradation and coating failure over time
As the water-repellent coating coat wears, nylon can absorb moisture and may release treatment particles into contact with contents. No data on whether failed water-repellent coating on nylon poses direct chemical risk, but it signals material breakdown.
Azo dyes (black dye risk)
Black nylon fabric typically uses azo or non-azo dyes; Patagonia does not specify dye class for this product. No safety recalls or contamination reports are on record. Risk is low for a storage cube with minimal skin contact.
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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⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
More waterproof outdoor gear storage 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.