10 BEST Weatherproof Backpacks (for all budgets!)

[@Nomads.Nation]

Learn more about Safety Wing Travel Insurance here 👉 bit.ly/4gLLW8o

[@kennycao547]

Hey aaron quick question on the travel and sling. When is the time table for their release? I just join the community and say that the nomad nation page it took you 2 years to develop the fyro T22. And how often are the T22 gonna be restock cause i want to buy one. Thank you!

[@Aewsam]

Appreciate the brief explanation of the level of weather proofness of each bag materials 👌 Keep it up Aaron & Nomads Nation!

[@Nomads.Nation]

Thanks for your feedback!

[@maicco333]

(Apologies for the long, annoying comment, but I used to be obsessed with this issue and I wish I knew more about it before learning through [bad] experiences.) Awesome video from my favorite reviewer, as usual! So many cool packs I didn't know about, including that Alpaka. Glad you mentioned the "hood," because though many folks find the zipper issue a hassle, I think rain flaps, like the hood, are more weather resistant than even PU-coated zippers 99.9% of the time (as you said). As for the Rhake, it'd be super hard to get water into the central compartment because of its "floating" quality, yet the inner lining still has stitched seams, which means it's possible. The Weathershed has taped seams, so it goes one step further. Some Arc'teryx packs and a few others do the same. Aside from true submersibles, I'd call a few of ILE's packs the most weather resistant. They have a floating main compartment like some MW packs, but it's welded/bonded, which means no stitches (i.e., truly waterproof but not submersible because the rolltop doesn't form a watertight seal). So if you left an ILE Default standing up in a big puddle of water, none would get in the main compartment, whereas the Rhake would eventually let some in with its untaped seams. As for submersibles, welding/bonding is notoriously fickle, which is why even expensive submersibles often have super short warranties. But there are a few--Seal Line, Osprey, and Filson--that offer true, welded submersibles with a lifetime warranty. Speaking of all this stuff, I'd love to know what Black Ember's patented "bond-stitch" tech actually is, as it sounds like an oxymoron: bonded/welded AND stitched? I asked them, but they said it was a secret. Anyway, if you're in a true downpour for a good length of time, you'd be good with an ILE (though only its welded main compartment), most likely a Rhake, most likely a Weathershed (unless water gets in the side via crazy splashes, which would be unlikely), but not with any of the other packs. I did that test with two packs that had fancy waterproof fabrics and AquaGuard zippers, and the contents got absolutely soaked. A pack with another fancy waterproof fabric and flaps over almost all its zippers also got soaked. Probably posted that test twice before, but here it is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6K3XmaVerhpnLM. Rain covers and/or internal dry bags usually do the trick for all packs, so unless you want one of the "select few," I think that's the way to go for most folks. At least that's my 2,397 cents. Once again, sorry for the length and the lecture-like quality of the comment--you obviously know way more about packs than I do, but I realize it's hard to put it all in one video overview unless it's super boring and an hour long. Lol.

[@n2boston]

Can you redo this with some kind of semi-realistic rain tests to see how they actually do? Maybe run them all under light shower for a couple of minutes.

[@Nomads.Nation]

maybe in the future, cheers!

[@CallMeTonyga]

gonna be fun watching aaron get garden hosed by the team.

[@tacticalpencil]

​@@Nomads.NationYes make sure ur drenched in water while ur at it aaron thanks😂

[@maicco333]

I posted this above, but the rain is pretty extreme, so I wouldn't call it "realistic" for most scenarios--unless you work in the Amazon rainforest like I do. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6K3XmaVerhpnLMsi=ykX7poiF-gmLR6g2

[@CryingCroc.]

For my own hosteling type trips, I carry a travel umbrella on my trips - so "semi-water-resistant" is all I care for my travel pack (YMMV). As sexy as they might look, I avoid 'retro' cotton or leather materials as these can absorb water, add weight, and take a long time to dry. I much prefer modern synthetics. But at the end, I rarely (if ever) walk for miles in the rain anyway - there's almost always a cafe or shop or doorway to duck into. But for wild camping, keeping gear (like a down sleeping bag) dry is critical. But instead of paying for significant added cost (and weight) for a 'waterproof' pack - I just line my pack with a yard-waste size garbage bag (say 2-mil for robustness) - pack everything inside (except for items I need during the day which go into pack's side pockets and hipbelt pockets) - twist the garbage bag end shut - bend it into a "J" - and close up. If extra rainy or canoeing, I may rubber band it as well. Never a mishap. No need for specialized pack - at least for my kind of non-technical multi-day trail hikes / canoeing trips.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Garbage bags work wonders against water!

[@BigFuzzyGuy11]

No Arc’teryx Granville?

[@maicco333]

Taped seams help a ton.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Haven’t reviewed that bag yet but I’ve heard great things

[@BigFuzzyGuy11]

@ Mariana is going to buy the purple one soon. Should have her send it to you for a review.

[@RonsarLo]

I'm surprised Black Ember didn't make the list. They are one of the few backpacks that's actually doing taped/welded seams. The same kind you find on goretex jackets

[@maicco333]

The question with Black Ember is which seams are welded/bonded and which are just stitched. They call it "bond-stitch technology," but it's proprietary and they won't tell me what it means--though they did give me a non-expiring 10% discount for asking the question! Ha.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Should have added them for sure

[@kennycao547]

Hey aaron quick question on the travel and sling. When is the time table for their release? I just join the community and say that the nomad nation page it took you 2 years to develop the fyro T22. And how often are the T22 gonna be restock cause i want to buy one. Thank you!

[@bani_niba]

AER has many of its bags available in X-Pac fabrics as well as it's new Ultra collection. X-Pac is slightly less expensive, but probably just as weather-resistant. Both the X-Pac and Ultra versions have all PU-coated zippers (I believe).

[@Nomads.Nation]

for sure!

[@tenka__]

I'm currently rocking the Travel pack 3 small X-pac, and yes, all zips are PU coated. They are much harder to open but I have rubbed on a small coating of dielectric grease to make my life just a little easier.

[@nrylanb]

Messengers bags with a tarp liner can be a great option. Also insideline equipment out of Berkeley make some great cycling bags with a liner.

[@Nomads.Nation]

great call!

[@mynamesjeffhardly]

Could anyone tell me if the weather resistance is good with the vacuum seal backpack or if a backpack cover will be needed in tropical weather? TIA.

[@Nomads.Nation]

I haven't reviewed any vacuum sealed bags so I can't say for sure

[@mohammedfaiisal]

I think you should have done your Fyro T22 as well but in actual heavy rain

[@Nomads.Nation]

💪🏻

[@RoyJblack]

Anything from the smaller side of the Frenchie Co? (16L 18L 23L..) I just got from Hong Kong and would've loved having something like that.

[@Nomads.Nation]

Able Carry 13 is a great pick

[@arijeanz]

would you ever review the unit torch backpack? it looks AWESOME and I've barely seen it covered by anyone. It's a commuter/cyclist centric bag, but it seems so thoughtfully made that i feel it could work well for many people

[@Nomads.Nation]

I'll be sure to check it out!

[@500gtsnake]

Great video as always, thanks.

[@Nomads.Nation]

my pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@Scott__C]

The Alpaka Metro Pro zipper hood at least on the Axoflux one for me was terrible for using that zipper. The 12L one I don't have a problem with. Seems like the hood is larger on the Pro. Unfortunately, I had to send it back for that.

[@Nomads.Nation]

yea its a big hood, but good for weather resistance !

[@DeputyNomNoms]

I hope 2025 is the year we can finally bring color into our gear :') almost everything is the same 1-3 colors

[@Nomads.Nation]

Those colors sell best! It’s tough for bag companies to take risk on colors that don’t sell, they usually lose money on them

[@xRmxAmri]

Do a sling bag/small bags version!

[@Nomads.Nation]

great suggestion!

[@Hi-how-are-you-today.]

All the peak design fan bois are going to be mad the 30l travel backpack didn’t make the list 😂

[@Nomads.Nation]

😬

[@kohweiming536]

Can’t believe the black ember’s bags are not included

[@Nomads.Nation]

should have!!

[@thebermudatr1angle]

Great review! Though…I hate to be that guy, but it’s ‘fewer zippers’ etc not ‘less zippers’. *runs and hides*

[@Nomads.Nation]

🙂

[@jgsk78]

Aaron, when it comes to water resistance , the only way to know is actually trying it. So more testing less assuming please. All these are just assumptions. I can tell you for sure for example millican soaks water through like nobody's business. i have 3 bags from them. From what I've tried, only dyneema and xpac work, as in they're are water proof (not talking submerging).. You can forget the rest.. even ever goods with their custom fabric were disappointing. Wouldn hold the inside of the bag dry for 15 mins walk in the rain

[@wick3dheathen]

did you say hail or hell?? bahahhahahha🤣

[@Nomads.Nation]

I never know lol

[@YooperRev88]

Makes video about great bags and leaves out the bag he designed that is also super weather resistant… Integrity move.

[@Nomads.Nation]

✊

[@YooperRev88]

@@Nomads.Nationand to be clear, the fyro is my edc 💯

[@galivanstraten4087]

What about ucon acrobatics????

[@Nomads.Nation]

Solid brand, just not sure how weather resistant their bags are

[@galivanstraten4087]

@ so test them out! 😉😜 wait for a super rainy day and don’t bring anything electronic inside the backpack for primary safety 🤣