The North Face · Waterproof Outdoor Gear Storage Bags
The North Face Base Camp Dry Bag
Waterproof bag with unknown water-repellent coating treatment; no PFAS disclosure from brand.
Base Camp Dry Bags use durable waterproof coatings but The North Face does not publicly disclose PFAS status or water-repellent coating chemistry. Material composition and treatment details remain unclear.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
TPE/PVC drybag with waterproof 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 Base Camp Dry Bag uses TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) or PVC as its primary material, both common in waterproof gear because they form airtight seals without requiring fabric. TPE is generally considered lower-risk than PVC for leaching, but the real concern here is the coating applied to achieve waterproofing, which is where PFAS chemicals or other persistent substances typically hide. The brand has not disclosed what water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment was applied, leaving the actual chemical composition opaque.
The brand's record and disclosure
The North Face has not published clear PFAS reduction commitments or ingredient transparency for waterproof gear, despite parent company VF Corporation facing some pressure on sustainability. The company does not routinely disclose water-repellent coating chemistry on product pages or tags, which is standard practice across most outdoor brands. No major recalls or contamination reports specific to this drybag model are on record, but the silence on chemical treatment is notable in an industry where fluorocarbon coatings remain common.
How it compares in its category
Most competitive drybags (from brands like Sea to Summit, Watershed, and even budget alternatives) also use TPE or PVC with undisclosed coatings, making this product typical rather than exemplary. A few brands now offer PFOA/PFOS-free certification or publish water-repellent coating alternatives, but they remain niche. For a mainstream outdoor brand, The North Face's transparency is unremarkable and below emerging best-practice standards.
If you buy it
Store the bag in a cool, dry place away from prolonged heat or direct sunlight to slow any potential coating breakdown. Do not expose it to extreme temperatures or abrasive surfaces that could degrade the waterproof layer prematurely. Rinse with fresh water after saltwater exposure to prevent salt accumulation in seams. Replace the bag if the waterproof coating visibly peels, cracks, or loses water-shedding ability, as degradation can release trapped coating particles.
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 (water-repellent coating) coating composition
The waterproof finish is almost certainly a fluorocarbon or alternative chemical treatment, but The North Face does not disclose which one. PFAS is a leading risk here (graded separately), but other persistent polymeric coatings used as PFAS alternatives also carry unknown leaching profiles.
PVC/TPE thermal leaching
Both materials can release plasticizers or residual monomers when heated significantly above ambient temperature. A drybag is unlikely to reach dangerous temperatures in normal use, but prolonged storage in hot vehicles or near heat sources could accelerate leaching into contents.
Coating degradation and microparticle shedding
Waterproof coatings on drybags degrade over time and with friction. Peeling or flaking coatings can shed into packed items or water; composition of shed particles is unknown without ingredient disclosure.
Seal seam integrity and off-gassing
Seams are sealed with adhesives that may off-gas VOCs (volatile organic compounds) when new. Airing the bag before first use and storing it ventilated can reduce this, but chemical identity is not published.
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.
More waterproof outdoor gear storage 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.