Waterproof camera backpack? (No RAIN COVER)

duarted

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Hello everyone,

I'm looking for a waterproof camera backpack. I'm not looking for a bag with a RAIN COVER since I already have one but it's not practical to use when you are in the rainforest and rain comes and goes all the time. Also it's not practical to take your camera out.

So what I'm looking for is a backpack made of a waterproof textile. I've searched a lot but the ones I found are very expensive, starting at 180€

My budget goes up to 130€

And it would also be important if I could fit a 15" laptop and a attach a tripod.

Can anyone help me?

Thanks! :sexywink:
 
Well the ones that are actually made of waterproof textile are pretty expensive as a generally rule, but if you wanted something a bit less expensive I'd probably get a standard camera backpack and do the waterproofing myself. They make stuff that comes in a can that you can use to waterproof standard fabric, add a bit of seam sealer and that should do the trick I would think. As a disclaimer I've never tried it on a backpack myself, but I did use a similar technique for a duffle bag and it worked great.
 
Thank you for your reply Robbins. I haven't tought about that, I'm going to search about it and see if I can make it.

Meanwhile if anyone knows some cheaper waterproof backpacks please let me know ;)
 
Lowe Pro has their Dry Zone range of backpacks which are fully water sealed - they are even supposed to be able to take a swim without getting any water inside. They might prove expensive but in harsher conditions and especially if you're ending up in wetter situations they might prove the better longer term investment.

Must admit I'm oft quite surprised how few backpacks are fully weather proofed (sometimes I think product designers live in a dream land where bad weather never happens ;P)


EDIT- it seems they've added to the range. The Dry Zone 200 appears to be fully watertight whilst their yellower newer packs appear to be high splashproof resistant. Still more than enough to survive the rains though not for a dunking in the water (though it could likely take a few moments without much trouble).
 
Sometimes easier to carry a couple of large trash bags and some clothes pegs. One for the camera bag and one for you. Built in raincovers are a pain to dry before repacking. Whatever you get will get holed eventually, trash bag is easily replaced.
 
Using trash bags isn't practical either, for that I would prefer to use the rain cover.

The Dryzone 200 is amazing but out of my budget.

By the way I'm NOT looking for a bag to take into the water, I just want the textile to be waterproof but not necessarily to trow into the water.
 
waterproofing is actually more difficult than you think.

It's not the textile that is the problem, it usually is the zippers and stuff. Thus making them water resistant with a raincover is so much easier than getting one that is completely waterproof. And if you end up with *any* zipper issues it probably won't be totally waterproof anymore.
 
waterproofing is actually more difficult than you think.

It's not the textile that is the problem, it usually is the zippers and stuff. Thus making them water resistant with a raincover is so much easier than getting one that is completely waterproof. And if you end up with *any* zipper issues it probably won't be totally waterproof anymore.

Well no, I never thought it was easy - it was actually a royal pain in the keester when I did it to the duffle bag. The actual fabric spray on stuff was easy enough, but boy the edge sealer was a royal pain - for the zippers and such. Lol

As for the OP, I did some poking around:

Photo Studio Water Resistant Camera Case Carry Bag Photography Backpack | eBay

That might be worth a look.
 
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"water resistant" is not water proof. "Material: 600D for Water Resistant"

the material looks to be water proof - either with a spray on fabric waterproofer or via gortex (higher end), etc.
just the zipper edges/corners usually are the areas of concern for water penetration.


The Lowepro one would be the one to go with (overread stated above)
DryZone is the world’s first totally waterproof, soft-sided camera backpack.
Even fully loaded, it floats, so your gear is always protected.
The inner drypod with patented, waterproof TIZIP™ zipper provides 100% watertight protection.
DryZone 200 Camera bags, backpacks and rolling cases
 
"water resistant" is not water proof. "Material: 600D for Water Resistant"

the material looks to be water proof - either with a spray on fabric waterproofer or via gortex (higher end), etc.
just the zipper edges/corners usually are the areas of concern for water penetration.

The Lowepro one would be the one to go with (overread stated above)
DryZone is the world’s first totally waterproof, soft-sided camera backpack.
Even fully loaded, it floats, so your gear is always protected.
The inner drypod with patented, waterproof TIZIP™ zipper provides 100% watertight protection.
DryZone 200 Camera bags, backpacks and rolling cases

Astro, if I understood his original posting and follow up he's not looking for water proof, but rather water resistant (rain). I think he specified he wouldn't be dunking the thing, and your not getting water proof on the stated budget. Also I think he already stated the Dryzone was out of his budget range.
 
Yes you are right
sorry

thought it might be good to for him to understand what the problems are .. the zipper all away round.
I'd hate for him to have something with "waterproof textile" and it gets water inside and kills his laptop without understanding why water still gets into it.

of course, the answer is a rain cover ... but ...

Good luck.
 
Yes you are right
sorry

thought it might be good to for him to understand what the problems are .. the zipper all away round.
I'd hate for him to have something with "waterproof textile" and it gets water inside and kills his laptop without understanding why water still gets into it.

of course, the answer is a rain cover ... but ...

Good luck.

Lol... yup.. pretty much. Only so much you can do sometimes on a budget.
 
As for the OP, I did some poking around:

Photo Studio Water Resistant Camera Case Carry Bag Photography Backpack | eBay

That might be worth a look.

That's the kind of textile I was looking for, something that repels the water. Unfortunately they don't ship that bag to Portugal. And I'm always suspicious with Chinese products. Altogh 80% of my good are probably made in China...

"water resistant" is not water proof. "Material: 600D for Water Resistant"

the material looks to be water proof - either with a spray on fabric waterproofer or via gortex (higher end), etc.
just the zipper edges/corners usually are the areas of concern for water penetration.


The Lowepro one would be the one to go with (overread stated above)
DryZone is the world’s first totally waterproof, soft-sided camera backpack.
Even fully loaded, it floats, so your gear is always protected.
The inner drypod with patented, waterproof TIZIP™ zipper provides 100% watertight protection.
DryZone 200 Camera bags, backpacks and rolling cases

Yeah I understand it's not easy but most photography backpacks aren't even water resistant. For example my Lowepro Mini Trekker has a protection over the zippers and if the textile was water repellent it would help a lot. I know I couldn't dug it into the water but I think under the rain it would help a lot.

Anyway if someone finds more WATER RESISTANT backpacks, please let me know ;)
 
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
just be careful. many water resistant products use a spray on product. And if it gets washed, or even wet and dried off, that spray on products may no longer be there 100%.

Sometimes you get what you pay for.

I learned that lesson years ago when I washed my winter jacket. It was great at water repellent, until it was washed, then it was a great sponge.
 

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