Rucksack Rain Covers, Dry Bags & Accessories

Rain cover, dry bag or both?

A rain cover stops the pack itself soaking up water and weight, and sheds the worst of a downpour. Dry bags inside the pack keep your kit dry even when rain gets past the cover or the pack sits in a wet porch. Most hillwalkers use both, and keep a sleeping bag and spare layers in dry bags whatever the forecast.

What size rucksack rain cover do I need?

Match the cover to your pack's capacity. Highlander rain covers come in sizes for 18L to 90L packs, with taped seams and a drain hole. If you are between sizes, go up one.

Dry bag sizes

• 5L: phone, wallet, keys and first aid.
• 10L: a warm layer or the day's food.
• 15–25L: spare clothes or a down jacket.
• 35L: a sleeping bag, or a liner for the whole of a daypack.

LifeVenture's ultralight dry bags use coated ripstop nylon with taped seams and a roll-top closure: roll the top three times and clip it shut. See all dry bags.

More rucksack accessories

• Compression sacks squeeze a sleeping bag down to make room in the pack.
• Waterproof map and phone cases from Silva and LifeVenture.
• Rucksack transit bags protect your pack and its straps on flights.
• Anti-theft pack protectors from PacSafe for travel.
• Hip packs from Osprey and Lowe Alpine for runs and short walks.

Looking for a new pack? See all hiking backpacks and rucksacks.