Backpacker Magazine – Online Exclusive

How to Waterproof Everything

From your tent, to your bivy sack, to yourself, learn how to stay dry and comfortable.

by: Kristin Hostetter

Staying dry. It is as important to backpackers as wind is to sailors. A well-equipped backpacker can happily exist (and thrive!) in even the most monsoon-like weather. Our guide will walk you through all the ins and outs of waterproof gear.

Want Waterproof Boots?
Check out these key features to keep your toes dry.

>>Gore-Tex, eVent Sympatex or some other waterproof/breathable-membranes. If you're from the Great NorthWet, or if you often find yourself slogging through rain-soaked trails elsewhere, don't leave home without them. Some folks find that lined boots are too hot for their tastes, but if it's true waterproofness you want, membranes are the only way to go.

Note: Clad in Gore-Tex eVent boots you can literally stand in a stream for hours without getting wet...as long as the water doesn't seep over the top of the boot! To keep that from happening, step into a pair of waterproof gaiters. Now you are a veritable fortress (from the knee down)!

>>Seamless, full-grain leather. Boots that are simply built from a single sheet of sturdy leather are sufficient to battle the liquid intruders that most backpackers face. Think of it this way: the more seams, the more needle holes, the more potential leaking points.

>>Height. The higher your boot, the deeper the puddle you can safely slosh through.


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