PSA: that $40 'waterproof' backpack cover saved nothing in Seattle rain

I bought this pricey pack cover from REI back in March, figured it would keep my laptop dry on my bike commute. First real downpour last week and my stuff was soaked anyway, water got in through the seams and the top flap. Took me 2 hours to dry out my work notes and my charger started acting weird after. Turns out the cover only works if you also treat the pack itself with a waterproofing spray, which nobody told me. I ended up buying a cheap dry bag liner for $12 and it actually does the job way better. Has anyone else been burned by gear that promises full protection but needs extra steps to work?

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1 Comment

wade7671mo ago

Figured this out the same way a few years back. Those covers are more like a rain jacket for your pack, they shed water off the outside but they don't do much once moisture gets past the zipper or the stitching. I switched to lining the inside with a trash compactor bag, costs about a dollar and it's basically the same thing as your dry bag liner. Also worth checking if your pack has a built-in rain flap under the lid, most do, but people forget to use it.