Hiking backpacks are complex, modular beasts, with multiple compartments, zippers, drawcord openings, hydration hose ports and seams... so many seams. This makes it relatively difficult for manufacturers to create truly waterproof packs. Sure, there are some fully waterproof packs and even standard backpacks are usually made from water-repelling materials. However, to keep the drink off your contents, you're gonna need to give your pack some hep.
We asked two of our hiking experts to share their wisdom on how to waterproof a backpack, thus keep your prized possessions dry on the trail.
How to waterproof a backpack
Here, we reveal four ways to waterproof a backpack. None are perfect, but all are effective. For more detail on each, click the link or scroll further down the feature.
- 1) Waterproofing spray and seam sealer – caring for your kit extends its lifespan
- 2) Use the rain cover – most packs come with one, though they're not without drawbacks
- 3) Use a pack liner – use a sealable, waterproof liner within your main compartment
- 4) Use internal dry bags – individual dry bags are a great way to organise kit too
Meet our experts
Julia has been hiking since her youth, when the Munros of the Southern Highlands were her stomping ground. Having moved to the US for university, she developed her love of the mountains on the Colorado 14ers. Now back in her native Scotland, she knows a thing or two about hiking in the wet , often braving the trails to test kit in proper "dreich" Scottish conditions.
Alex hates hiking in heavy rain. Unfortunately, having grown up near the English Lake District and having developed a passion for the British mountains, it's a scenario that rears its head all too often. However, as a qualified Mountain Leader, he knows the tricks of the trade when it comes to keeping himself, and his kit, dry. Besides, the wet days make those magical days worth it... Right?
Why is it important to waterproof your backpack?
The best hiking backpacks are made using water resistant materials and come with double taped seams that are sufficient against light rain. However, even the very best in the business won’t hold up against a proper, sustained downpour. Knowing how to waterproof a backpack is useful to protect your electronics and lunch on a day hike, and can be life-saving when need to keep your spare clothes and sleeping bag dry in a deluge to avoid hypothermia on a multi-day thru-hike.
Fortunately, there are a few really easy fixes to waterproof your backpack and protect the gear inside it so you can keep getting miles underfoot in your hiking boots. Read on for our four simple solutions for hiking in the rain with a backpack.
Waterproofing spray and seam sealer
In the same way that you can waterproof a tent and other outdoor gear, you can use waterproofing spray on your backpack. You always want to start with a clean item so to begin, follow the steps in our article on how clean a backpack, allow your pack to dry completely, then apply one or two coats of waterproofing spray.
Often, a lot of the moisture gets in through the seams, zips and any holes from wear and tear, so after the backpack has dried you can reinforce your efforts by using a seam sealer on those areas. You’ll want to let the treatment dry completely before using your bag, so this is all work you’ll want to do at least the day before you head out.
This option is definitely the most labor intensive, and requires you to prepare your backpack in advance of getting on the trail. However, if you’re going on a long backpacking trip, or you just live and hike somewhere that gets a lot of rain, it’s a good preventative measure. However, the protection doesn't last forever, so you'll need to reproof fairly regularly.
Use the rain cover
I'm actually totally against using a backpack's rain cover, as these things litter the backcountry. There are options that are better for the environment, while others are also neater solutions in terms of organization on the trail.
Alex Foxfield, Mountain Leader
This option requires no advance preparation other than buying a rain cover that fits your backpack, and remembering to carry it with you. Many modern packs have a raincover bundled in, often in a dedicated compartment towards the bottom. Then, if the skies start to darken while you’re out on a hike, just whip it out, pull it over your backpack and everything inside will stay nice and dry. Rain covers are inexpensive, lightweight and pack down small.
However, this option does have a couple of drawbacks. Firstly, the raincover usually smothers the entirety of your backpack, making it difficult to quickly grab items you may need from its various compartments.
Secondly, the backcountry is littered with covers that have been caught by the wind, blown away and lost. If you think about it, a raincover doubles up as a rather effective, wind-catching sail, something that often happens when you open it up to pop on your daypack. The challenging conditions that often require a cover to be employed in the first place are exactly the kind of wet and windy conditions that will steal them away.
So, there's an argument that these kinds of covers end up being bad for the environment, which makes options 3 and 4 more desirable.
Use a pack liner
This option is perfect for those who don’t want to stop on the trail and start fussing around with gear, but also don’t want to spend time with waterproofing spray. Instead of packing your gear directly into your backpack, you can place it all in a sealable, waterproof liner that fits inside your backpack, so even when your pack gets soaked, your spare hiking socks and camping stove stay bone dry. A pack liner is another affordable option and doesn’t add weight, and if you’re on a budget, you can even use a trash bag. When you get home, just remember to let your backpack dry out before you pack it away.
Use internal dry bags
This is my go to for keeping kit both dry and organized. Everything gets grouped accordingly and I know exactly where everything is. It's a particularly useful system when wild camping.
Alex Foxfield, Mountain Leader
This option is similar to the pack liner approach but rather than a single waterproof liner, it uses multiple dry bags of differing size. So, while your backpack itself may get a bit wet, all your clothes, electronics, food and maps will be fine.
The big advantage of this approach is organization. For example, if you have several dry bags, you can use one for electronics, one for food, one for midlayers, one for camping equipment and another for items like hats and gloves. Coming up with your own system is half the... fun. Dry bag sets usually come in different colors, so this will appeal to organized individuals who love a bit of color coding.
