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lunyou

lunyou

Joined
Oct 24, 2005
Threads
184
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2,404
Location
Cuba, MO
hey everyone.....i know that alot of fellow mudders are serious campers and hikers. And I am assuming that most all you hikers and campers use water proof backpacks so that everything doesn't get wet when you get caught in a rain storm.


I need a waterproof backpack, not to camp, but to use as a bag to carry my homework and expensive calculator in. I got caught in a down pour, 4 or 5 inches in a few minutes, and had to walk home. When i got back to class the next day i notice the rain almost ruined my $300 calculator.

I looked around on the internet and found some bags that claimed to be water resistant and submersable down to 300 ft deep, WOW. Then i see the price $100-$150. Those might be good prices, i don't know but...i really can't afford to spend 20%-30% of the monthly income on a backpack even if i could scuba dive with it.

What i am hoping is one of you hikers/campers has a water proof backpack laying around the house not being used because you bought a better one. And that you might be willing to sell it at a fair price. I'm not asking for a handout or a freebie(unless of course you want to give it away) just a good deal on a backpack to save my books and calculator.

Thanks in advance

lunyou
 
There is really no such animal as a water proof back back IMHO.

There are lots of coated nylon covers available. I have a Kelty book bag/backpack that has one integrated. It works. After four years though the bag is showing signs of age and I am not sure I would replace it with another Kelty.

When I am doing field work in areas where rain is possible I use a plastic bag. I have some 3 mil bags that fit my work packs pretty well and they have never failed. The bag itself gets wet, but my contents do not.

Ross
 
i would recommend just picking up a dry bag from REI for $15-20 and call it a day. you pick the size and slip it into your existing backpack, roll it up and it's all but impermeable to water. they have large sized ones that can line the whole insides of a backpack.

if that doesn't work, you're looking getting an Arc'teryx style weather proof bag which will be a little spendy as you already know.
 
hey thanks for the comments.....so these Waterproof back packs on the web are semi resistant?

lunyou
 
throw the calculator into a tupperware or a ziplock bag inside your backpack and call it good :)
 
The Dude said:
throw the calculator into a tupperware or a ziplock bag inside your backpack and call it good :)
Click to expand...

great ideal.

keep a couple ziplock bags handy in your pack for your calculator. toss it in there when you encounter rain.



You don't necessarily need something that's submergable...just something that'll keep the contents dry.
 
www.nrsweb.com has some good stuff for kayaker, rafters, etc.

Here's a bag that might fit the bill for you.

click here

2887.JPG
 
Try this one Ortlieb is known for it's waterproof bags.
 
The Lowepro DryZone series is another alternative...

http://www.lowepro.com/Products/Backpacks/waterproof/DryZone_100.aspx

Although pricey brand-new, You can find these occasionally on E-bay for less than 75 bucks.

If zipped-up properly, this bad-boy is about as water-proof as you can get, it protects anything in it against impacts, plus it floats LOADED with gear ( I actually swam across frigid pools during a 40+ mile deep-canyon hike using it as my own personal floatation device ! )

If interested, I do have a like-new 100 series (smaller of the two) that I bought, but found it was just too tight to carry all of my equipment so I never used it..however, I want a $100 (shipped) for mine. :)
 
I have a kelty with the integrated rain cover. It works well. Though I've never had it out in a torrential down pour.

I've also had a Lowe Alpine courier bag that was coated on the inside. Also seemed to work well.
 
Like others said, ZIPLOCK for calculator and cheap poncho that will cover you and backpack.
 
+10. Ziplock for calculator. And then any pack that fits the other 99% of your needs.
 
After 10 days in the rain in Illiumna Alaska last year, zip locks might work for the quick down pour, but if your planning on being being near water for any amount of time buy a small dry bag for the calculator and anything important and put that in your cheap back pack. Zip locks will pop open bouncing around in a backpack and even if they don't, there is a good chance they will end up with a hole in them from being in the backpack. A high grade tuppperware might work out, but I would just spend the money and be done. You can always use it in your camping gear in order to justify the cost.
 
Get a boat duffel they are water resistant enough for what your are describing. Basically a PVC coated duffel with overlapping material at zippers and a hard bottom.

However a dry bag is the only totally waterproof solution.
 
so...okay lunyou...


what was your final decision?



  • a large household garbage bag with holes cut out for head and arms?
  • ziplock for the calc?
  • top dollar for a new waterproof backpack?
  • an old umbrella?
  • a 40-dollar mattress held overhead?



what?
 
If you want to spend a little dough, around $140 or so, then go with an Arcteryx RT25 backpack. Arcteryx invented the waterproof zipper you see on every gore-tex parka from all companies. Arcteryx is arguably the best gear made, period. The pack is of a waterproof sythetic fabric, comes with several pockets on the outside, and has a roll-down top just like a plastic drybag. You could probably fill it with rocks, and sink it in the bottom of a creek or pond for a day, and the rocks would still be dry. Not to mention that all arcteryx stuff is still made in canada, not china or vietnam. Look up arcteryx.com, click under packs, and see their ascent line. They also have other styles of waterproof bags, some that are stitch free even, with welded seams if you have lots of money to burn.
 
Unless you have a lot of other expensive gear you absolutely need to keep dry, I think a waterproof backpack is way overkill for taking a stroll in the rain. Did the rain actually soak through the material or get into one of the seams?

Get a $10 rain cover, or a $20 dry bag to put inside your backpack, and you'll be fine. My favorite dry bags are these

http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_...T<>prd_id=845524442583776&emssrcid=GoogleBase

but you can get a really big (heavy) cheap one at walmart for $12. Even then, the only time I use a waterproof bag is to store my sleeping bag, or if I'm expecting to be doing a lot of river crossings or other similar activity. Too much weight and hassle for just rain though.
 
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