How to protect your backpack from the rain
Protecting your backpack of the rain is an essential precaution whenever you do outdoor activities: inside it you can carry the things you'll need while you're outdoors. In this article, we'll help you avoid getting your backpack wet and ruining its contents.
You can throw on some waterproof trousers and a jacket and you'll probably be pretty comfortable. But what happens if all your gear gets wet: your down sleeping bag - oh my friend... you're in for a hell of a night - your mobile phone, dry clothes? And so on: documents, food, electronic items such as cameras and phones or medicines. Imagine the disastrous results if any of these things were to get soaked. In the mountains, items such as sleeping bags or clothing getting soaked can put us at risk.
Of course, in general, before planning an outing, it is normal to check the weather conditions. However, often a rain shower that was not detected by the weather service can be enough to ruin the most enjoyable of outings if the right precautions were not taken.
To protect your backpack from rain, or from possible immersion in a watercourse or lake, it is important that you protect your backpack both inside and out.
(YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: Stay dry on the trail: tips for hiking in the rain)
External protection
- WATERPROOF COVER. In general, special backpacks for hiking are usually equipped with a backpacking backpack. waterproof cover. There is a wide variety of waterproof backpack covers. When choosing the most suitable one you should check that it fits the volume of the backpack (choose a cover of the "size" of your backpack). Similarly, some waterproof ponchos are designed to also cover the backpack we carry.
When it rains, or before, if you notice any signs of instability, it is a good precaution to attach the cover to the backpack. Also, if you are wearing a poncho, you can place the rucksack underneath it, so that it will be somewhat more protected.
However, do not be overconfident: in a forest there are many elements that can snag the cover, or even tear it, so be careful on the move to prevent this from happening.
Pnterior protection
Rainfall can often last for extended periods of time, even a whole day. Or your rucksack may accidentally fall into a river or lake. In this case, neither the cover nor the waterproof poncho will protect the inside of your rucksack from a good splash. Caution! TIP: Don't assume that water will only enter your rucksack from the outside. If you have a water bottle or similar inside your rucksack, it can leak. Protect yourself against that as well.
- Line the INSIDE of the backpack with a PLASTIC BAG.. An interesting option may be to opt for cover the inside of the rucksack with a plastic bag. Sure, your backpack will get soaked, but it's the stuff in it that matters. For this purpose, you can use a simple rubbish bag, placing all the objects in it.
The trick is to choose a liner that is much larger than your backpack. If your backpack is, for example, 65L, use a 100L plastic bag. This way, you can fit it into the corners of your pack, maximising space, and you'll have plenty left over to close it.
- Store your equipment in DRY BAGS. There are also heavy duty dry bags (CLICK HERE TO VIEW)which will have great durability. I would consider this option if you are going to be in the rain for several days.
Small resealable plastic bags to store the most delicate things you want to protect. Yes, we are talking about the freezer bags sold in supermarkets, with hermetic seals. They come in all shapes and sizes. You can store documents, electronics, clothes and food in them, and be more confident that you are protecting them from moisture.
I carry things like my first aid kit, headlamp, lighter, battery pack and a notepad and pen in a small 2-litre dry bag. These are things I don't want to get wet, so it's worth it.
(YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN: How do we protect our electronic devices when we are outdoors?)
If you want to be cautious, you can choose to do a combination of the methods for protect your backpack from the rainThe following is recommended: place a plastic bag and, at the same time, place the contents in small bags that should not be moistened. And in fact, this is the most advisable thing to do.
More modern backpacks
As in many other fields, technology has improved the tools for outdoor activities. And when it comes to backpacks in particular, waterproof backpacks and watertight or waterproof backpacks - especially if they are intended for activities in the aquatic environment - are available on the market.
The difference between these models of backpacks lies precisely in their resistance to water, with the water-resistant backpack being the most susceptible to water seepage, while the waterproof backpack is the one that does not really allow any water to penetrate into it.
- Waterproof backpacks. As the name suggests, this type of backpack will withstand the impact of water for some time, but eventually, it will leak out and wet the items inside.
- Waterproof backpacks. For a backpack to be considered watertight, it must be made entirely of a material that does not allow water to pass through: it could be submerged for a long time, and whatever is inside will remain completely dry.
Most of the backpacks we use for hiking and mountaineering are waterproof backpacks.
Materials
In order for a material not to allow water to pass through, its molecules must be so "tightly packed" together that they do not allow any substance to pass through. In other words, even if water exerts pressure on the fabric, its molecules will not pass through it.
To fully waterproof the fabric, some kind of coating is used that will cause water droplets or other liquids to slide off the fabric. This coating can be made of polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride or thermoplastic elastomers, or even teflon wax.
However, for a backpack to be truly watertight, it is not only the fabric that must have these characteristics: all elements of the backpack must be waterproof. In other words, the closures must also be waterproof. There is no point in having a backpack made of a fully waterproof fabric if its zips are not waterproof: when it is subjected to water, it will end up leaking and dampening the inside.
Ultimately, it's all about identifying what your real needs are when using a backpack for outdoor activities.
For those who want to spend some quality time outdoors without exposing themselves to extreme conditions, a waterproof backpack, combining the methods of the pouch and the plastic bags inside itThe new, more efficient and more efficient, it will be enough to preserve what is inside it.
On the other hand, for those who are exposed to more severe weather conditions in their outdoor activities, a waterproof backpack may be an option.
