Warning: Dropped $400 on a "waterproof" backpack for job sites and it soaked through in 2 weeks

I bought a brand called DryTec off Amazon after seeing a bunch of positive reviews. First real rainstorm on a pour job in Portland and my lunch and spare shirt were totally wet. Has anyone else found a bag that actually holds up to concrete dust and rain, or is that just a myth?

4 comments

4 Comments

kimw571d ago

Used to roll my eyes at these posts. Not anymore.

karen_carter1d ago

Grab a roll of Nikwax TX-Direct spray-on waterproofing and hit your seams and zippers with it before you even take that bag outside. I had the same problem with a "heavy duty" tool backpack that failed on a drainage job in Seattle. @kimw57 knows what I'm talking about, that Portland rain is no joke. Also get a dry bag for your clothes inside, Outdoor Research makes a solid one for like $30. The canvas bags just don't hold up to concrete dust either, it eats the coating.

violag801d ago

Kimw, do you ever feel like you wasted years fighting with soggy gear before you finally listened? I'm right there with you, I used to think waterproofing was just marketing hype until I had to bail out a job site with a soaked laptop and tools. The Nikwax trick is solid, I swear by it on my packs too. And you're totally right about canvas and concrete dust, that stuff is like sandpaper on a microscopic level. It's frustrating when "heavy duty" means "heavy and not actually field tested." Glad you're seeing the light though, better late than never!

smith.elliot1d ago

Man, you're absolutely right about the dry bag thing. I learned that the hard way after a soggy commute left me with a damp lunch and a dead backup battery for my phone. The Nikwax trick is a lifesaver too, I hit all my zippers with it after a rainy season ruined a perfectly good duffel.