Hiker with a backpack rain cover walking a rainy forest trail

Do Backpack Rain Covers Work? 6 Honest Answers to Keep Your Gear Dry on Wet Trails

What a rain cover actually protects, where water still gets in, and the simple liner-and-dry-bag system many hikers pair it with.

You reach camp after an afternoon of steady rain, open your pack and find a damp sleeping bag and soggy spare socks. The rain cover was on the whole time, so what went wrong?

Backpack rain covers help, but they are only one part of keeping gear dry. This guide gives six honest answers about how covers work, where they fall short, and the layered system that keeps the important things dry.

Key Takeaways

  • Rain covers shed most surface water, but water can still reach the pack through the back panel and straps.
  • A waterproof pack liner or dry bags inside the pack protect the gear that matters most.
  • Covers work best in steady rain; strong wind and dense brush can pull them loose.
  • Ponchos can cover both you and your pack, which suits warm, light rain.
  • Keeping your sleeping bag and warm layers dry matters for safety, since hypothermia can occur above 40°F when you are wet.

Table of Contents

  1. Why Rain Covers Leave Some Hikers Disappointed
  2. Answer 1: Yes, Covers Shed Most Surface Rain
  3. Answer 2: No, They Do Not Make a Pack Waterproof
  4. Answer 3: Add a Liner or Dry Bags Inside
  5. Answer 4: Wind and Brush Are the Weak Spots
  6. Answer 5: A Poncho Can Cover You and Your Pack
  7. Answer 6: Pack So the Critical Gear Stays Dry
  8. Common Beginner Mistakes
  9. Quick Checklist
  10. Summary
  11. FAQ: 10 Questions Beginners Ask

Why Rain Covers Leave Some Hikers Disappointed

Most disappointment comes from expecting a cover to make a pack fully waterproof. A cover protects the top, front and sides, but the side against your back stays open.

Rain runs down your jacket, soaks the shoulder straps and wicks into the back panel. Over a few hours, that moisture can reach the gear inside.

Hiking keeps growing. The Outdoor Industry Association’s hiking report counts 63.4 million American hikers in 2024, and more than 13 million people started hiking between 2019 and 2024. Many of them will meet their first long, wet day on the trail.

Answer 1: Yes, Covers Shed Most Surface Rain

A well-fitted cover keeps most rain off the pack fabric. That stops the outer fabric from soaking up water and getting heavier.

Most covers have an elastic edge and a drawcord that hold them around the pack. Pick one sized to your pack volume, since a loose cover flaps and a tight one rips at the seams.

Already shopping for a pack? Our guide to backpacks with built-in rain covers compares packs that store a cover in a bottom pocket.

Close-up of a fitted rain cover with drawcord on a hiking backpack
Close-up of a fitted rain cover with drawcord on a hiking backpack.

Answer 2: No, They Do Not Make a Pack Waterproof

Water still gets in through the back panel, the zippers and seams. Covers also collect water at the bottom if they have no drain hole.

This is why many experienced hikers treat the cover as the first layer, not the only one. Waterproof pack fabrics help, but seams and zippers can still let water through over time.

A pack made from waterproof nylon, like the 50L waterproof climbing backpack, gives a better starting point than untreated fabric. You should still protect the gear inside.

Answer 3: Add a Liner or Dry Bags Inside

The most reliable approach is a waterproof layer inside the pack. If the pack gets wet, the gear inside stays dry.

  • Pack liner: A large waterproof bag or trash compactor bag that lines the main compartment.
  • Dry bags: Smaller roll-top bags for your sleeping bag, warm layers and electronics.

A roll-top waterproof dry bag in a few sizes keeps your sleeping bag and spare clothes sealed. For river crossings or very wet trips, a fully waterproof 60L dry bag backpack (IPX7, according to its listing) is another option.

Answer 4: Wind and Brush Are the Weak Spots

Covers work best in steady rain, not in strong wind or thick brush. Gusts can lift a loose cover, and branches can snag and tear it.

Tighten the drawcord and clip the cover to a pack strap if it has a loop. In dense brush, check every so often that the cover has not slid off one side.

Colorful dry bags being packed into a lined hiking backpack
Colorful dry bags being packed into a lined hiking backpack.

Answer 5: A Poncho Can Cover You and Your Pack

A large poncho drapes over both your body and your pack. It also covers the back panel and straps, which a pack cover leaves exposed.

The 3-in-1 waterproof hooded poncho measures about 210 x 140 cm when spread out, and its listing says it can also work as a ground sheet or shelter. A lighter hooded rain poncho suits shorter hikes.

Ponchos can flap in wind and feel clammy on steep climbs, so they suit warm, light rain more than cold, windy storms.

Answer 6: Pack So the Critical Gear Stays Dry

Plan for the gear you cannot afford to get wet. Your sleeping bag, warm layers and phone are top priorities.

The U.S. Forest Service notes that hypothermia can occur above 40°F when people are chilled by rain or sweat. A dry sleeping bag and dry layers at camp make a real difference.

  • Put the sleeping bag in its own dry bag at the bottom.
  • Keep a dry set of camp clothes sealed and separate.
  • Store your phone and map in a small waterproof pouch.
  • Carry rain gear near the top so you can reach it quickly.

For more ways to stay safe in wet weather, read our guide to hiking in the rain, and see how to stay dry in your tent during heavy rain once you reach camp.

Common Beginner Mistakes

  • Relying on a rain cover alone and skipping a liner or dry bags.
  • Choosing a cover that is too small or too loose for the pack.
  • Packing the sleeping bag without its own waterproof bag.
  • Leaving rain gear buried at the bottom of the pack.
  • Forgetting that straps and the back panel soak up water.
  • Storing a wet pack and cover without drying them out afterward.

Quick Checklist

  • ☐ Check that your rain cover fits your pack volume.
  • ☐ Line the main compartment with a waterproof liner.
  • ☐ Pack your sleeping bag in its own dry bag.
  • ☐ Seal spare clothes and electronics separately.
  • ☐ Keep rain gear near the top of the pack.
  • ☐ Tighten the cover drawcord before rain starts.
  • ☐ Consider a poncho for warm, light rain.
  • ☐ Dry the pack and cover fully after the trip.

Summary

Backpack rain covers do work, but only for part of the job. They shed surface rain while water can still reach the pack through the back panel and straps.

Pair a well-fitted cover with a liner or dry bags inside, and pack your sleeping bag and warm layers so they stay dry no matter what.

FAQ: 10 Questions Beginners Ask

Do backpack rain covers really work?

They keep most rain off the outside of the pack, but they do not make the pack waterproof. Use a liner or dry bags inside for important gear.

Is a pack liner better than a rain cover?

A liner protects the gear inside more reliably, while a cover keeps the pack fabric dry. Many hikers use both.

Can I use a trash bag as a pack liner?

Yes. A heavy-duty trash compactor bag is a cheap and light liner option.

Why is my gear wet even with a rain cover?

Water often enters through the back panel, straps and zippers, or pools at the bottom of the cover.

Should I use a poncho instead of a rain cover?

A poncho covers both you and your pack, which suits warm, light rain. It can flap in strong wind.

What size rain cover do I need?

Match the cover to your pack volume in liters. Most covers list a size range on the label.

Are waterproof backpacks worth it?

They reduce how much water gets in, but seams and zippers can still leak. Keep critical gear in dry bags.

How do I keep my sleeping bag dry while hiking?

Pack it in a dry bag or waterproof stuff sack at the bottom of a lined pack.

Do rain covers work in snow?

Yes, they help keep snow from soaking into the pack fabric. Brush off snow before it melts.

How do I dry a wet backpack?

Empty it, open all pockets and hang it in a well-ventilated area away from direct heat.

Related Reading

Sources

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