Waterproof backpack

Any suggestions for the best waterproof backpack? I am looking for something with a capacity of 3500 and up and am curious which one has performed the best.

Thanks....

Top of my head, Arcteryx Naos. Also, check out Arctic 1000.com. They had some neat ideas with dry sacks and pulled a 21 day trip without resupply, something like 43lbs of food each. Walked 600 miles.

Those dry packs @ Arctic1000.com were actually made by ULA-Equipment, but only for a small run of packs made for backpackinglight.com. They are no longer available new.

But why waterproof? Why not just a dry bag inside your pack?

CWF- I have all my gear stowed away in dry bags inside my pack already. But when I cross rivers, which is often, my backpack seems to hold a lot of the water that gets in it making it heavy. Plus with this occurring frequently I get mold build up inside the pack. That is why I would prefer a water proof pack over dry bags.

I know klattermusen have a couple of waterproof rucksacks. They have no zips, the top and bottom openings are roll-up, and the larger rucksacks also have waterproof liners inside the main compartment.

The down-side is they cost a fair amount of cash. Bullet-proof build though.

http://tinyurl.com/yjztqmy

i have an arcteryx RT45 that has a roll top (no lid) - waterproof fabric and zippers - little smaller than your target volume, but bombproof and incredibly convenient to get in and out of with that roll top closure - not sure if they still make that model, but probably something close by newer, "cooler" name - definitely not big enuff for multi-day trips, overnighter at best

I have a couple of truly waterproof backpacks, one by Eureka, sold only in Europe apparently and intended for kayakers who will need to portage. But like Steven, I have found that a standard backpack combined with the superlight dry bags that have become available in the last 4 or 5 years work far better and make for a much lighter load (except for the water that gets into the outer pack, which you can empty out easily enough).

Thank you Tomas!!! I've never heard of Klattermusen (sorry, I don't know how to get an umlaude on my keyboard) before, and boy do they have some very functional stuff. Their posted philosophy really rings true with me, and I think I have found the source for my next backpack, hardshell pant, down vest, softshell pant...

It's not unusual you haven't heard of them, there are a lot of famous Scandinavian brands with good international reputations (Primus, Silva, Haglofs, Hilleberg...) but KM have never really become famous outside of Scandinavia and Germany. But they are generally considered as the best you can get.

They really are indestructible, and they are kind of the BMW/Apple/Scania of outdoor gear, in that their customers are very very hardcore and loyal. I know they also have a good feedback relationship with their users, so niggles are resolved quickly.

The downside is the price, but I am one of those people that don't mind extra cost or weight if the pay-off is durability.

I also love they include whistles, recco reflectors and compasses in their jacket range, very well thought out.

Three years ago I got an e-mail from a customer who had been winter climbing in Sarek National Park with a friend. They skied for 25 km, put up the tent in rather bad weather below the climb and then went for an evening stroll, without equipment, to check out the start of the climb. Unfortunately, the weather was so bad that they were unable to find the tent again. They were forced to spend the night standing close together in a crevice in the rock face. At first light they were still unable to find the tent and had to follow the emergency compass fastened on the arm of the jacket back towards civilisation. They had to walk 25 km, without skis. They ate some snow to keep hydrated but had no food. Finally, late in the evening they saw some lights and were able to get help after 36 hours of continuous effort. The one who was not equipped with a hood with visor had frostbite on the nose and chin.

I have an Arc Naos and I'm supper happy with it but the main reason I pick it is because of the rotated disk at the back - it's simply so comfortable. I used to go in and out of rivers in N.Z and I know the felling of extra weight with non waterproof pack but the Naos does have the silly side zip and I'm not sure how it'll work being inside water for too long, I think that some water will go in but I haven't tested it yet river crossing. I'm dreaming about KM jacket for long time and it's the best you can get but I'm not sure it's the same with the packs but I can't tell as I never played with one. My newest pack is a CiloGear worksack and I think it will work out well. I took it only for a desert hike so far but the material should be waterproof but there is no seem tape etc but again it'll not let water in as easy as other packs and I do with my Naos didn't had the size zip.

On a recent backpacking trip I ran into a guy from Georgia who was using a Naos 55 and here are some fotogs:

This one shows his big black german shepherd and how the top of the pack rolls up.

Sort of like a rubberized duffel bag "with wings".

I'd probably be carrying one of these babies if they came in a size larger than about 80 liters, something around 6500 cubic inches, but they don't. (All fotogs from the South Fork Citico).

Here is the info for the Naos 85:
Short
2.8 kg / 99 oz
82 L 92 L max
Regular
2.9 kg / 102 oz
85 L 93 L max
Tall
3 kg / 106 oz
88 L 96 L max